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Newton transformer suffers meltdown, takes local power grid down with it

A transformer on Homer Street had a bit of a fire late this morning, the Newton Fire Department reports, adding that is probably why the power went out in parts of the Garden City.

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It affected a lot of busy intersections since traffic lights were out over a large area. Driving to my optometrist's office was an unexpected adventure.

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In other parts of the country, traffic lights have battery backup.

I've known some lights around here that are timed so badly that traffic flowed BETTER when they went dark during a power outage.

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I think people are just more cautious *and* more collaborative when the traffic lights go out -- leading to good turn-taking and not blocking the intersection (since they're not trying to beat the light).

I don't know that it would actually last if the lights were simply removed. :-)

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In other parts of the country, lights are timed well, and throughput depends on that. Never mind a total outage -- a broken sensor or loss of synchronization would have obvious negative effects.

Here, a working sensor or a pair of synchronized lights is a very rare oddity. Remember this the next time you (or the bus you're riding) are sitting at a long red light on the main street while the side street has a long green nobody is using, along with solid hands all around for pedestrians. Or you get a green, only to have the next light turn red in your face.

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The tweet that you linked to says Homer Street, which is where the Newton public library is located.

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I misread, sorry about that.

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d'oh!

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Why is there a Transformer in Newton at all?
Is there an impending Decepticon invasion?
be aware. robots in disguise. roll out.

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