Wharton High School's student parking lot sits directly across from the intersection of Bruce B Downs Boulevard and Oak Preserve Boulevard in New Tampa. 

At peak hours of the morning and afternoon, the crush of commuter traffic, student traffic and pedestrians creates significant traffic backups.

Kat Holloway uses the road regularly and says the traffic signal is to blame for a large part of those delays.

"Sometimes traffic is so backed up and everyone seems to be just stopped at the light waiting ... With no cars going?" she said.

Holloway is referring to the way the traffic signal interacts with the pedestrian crossing to Wharton High School.

Aaric Chavez rides his bike through the intersection every day and said the amount of time permitted for pedestrians to cross is the issue.

"Whenever somebody used the crosswalk, it actually counts down from 50, which is a little longer than most of the other lights here on Bruce B. Downs," Chavez said. "And the cycle for the actual green light is shorter than the crosswalk cycle, so all the cars will be sitting here at red lights."

Unlike most intersections, the pedestrian crossing here operates independently from the traffic signal. It does not allow for a walk signal unless the crossing button is pushed. Once initiated, traffic is stopped in all directions and pedestrians may cross safely.

Chavez says the average walker crosses in about 20 seconds. The crossing is timed at 50 seconds, so waiting traffic must wait another 30 seconds before getting a green signal.

Jean Duncan with the City of Tampa's Traffic Department says the city intends to rebuild and redesign this crossing as part of the planned widening of Bruce B Downs Boulevard past Wharton High School.

"This vehicle/pedestrian conflict will be eliminated when a new east/west pedestrian crossing is built on the north side," he said "At that point we will change the phasing and remove the exclusive pedestrian phase, allowing other vehicle movements to run concurrently."

The current independent crosswalk was put in place because turning traffic would not yield to pedestrians.