By Dave Hofmeister
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Question: There is a new traffic light at the exit ramp off Interstate 74 west and Rybolt Road. The timing of that light seems to be very short. Only eight to 10 cars can make the light at one time and the ramp backs up sometimes to the expressway. However, the light at I-74 east and Rybolt is timed much longer. Twenty to 24 cars can make that light. Is there a reason for this?

Sandra Bender, Cleves

Answer: The signal in question at I-74 and Harrison Road (Rybolt intersects Harrison near the interchange) does not have loop detectors installed yet, according to Ron Mosby of the Ohio Department of Transportation. These detectors send a signal to the traffic controller when a vehicle passes over them. With improving weather, the contractor should be back to install detectors soon, Mosby said. Once they are in, the timing will be adjusted to get better flow.

Question: Fields Ertel Road at the McCauley Road intersection in Sharonville desperately needs left-turn storage lanes and replacement of the flashing red light with a left turn/stoplight. A cheaper and immediate alternative solution is a new stoplight with a staggered east-west cycle to permit left turns and straight-ahead traffic for eastbound Fields Ertel traffic while westbound traffic is stopped, and vice versa.

Milton H. Bortz, Sharonville

Answer: Ted Hubbard, Hamilton County chief deputy engineer, said the engineer's office participated in a 2002 corridor safety study of Fields Ertel Road from Interstate 71 to U.S. 42 that included the intersection at McCauley. Putting a signal there was not recommended. Rather, widening and signals were recommended for the Conrey Road intersection, less than a quarter-mile east, Hubbard said.

Because Fields Ertel borders Hamilton, Butler and Warren counties, as well as the city of Sharonville and Sycamore Township, cooperation will be needed among them all to develop improvement plans, Hubbard said.

FROM THE COLUMNIST: In a recent letter to the editor, Sherie Kelly of Colerain Township wondered why only dog owners must license their pets. Why not do the same to cat owners? "Hey, Dusty Rhodes, just imagine the possibilities of where that cash could go," she wrote.

So, does Rhodes think it's a good idea?

"Not particularly," he said. "I don't see the value in it."

More important, imposing a cat-licensing system is not something the county can do, Rhodes said. That would have to be mandated by the state legislature.

Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, said she wasn't aware of any recent legislation to license cats, but given the financial pinch that many animal shelters are in, cat licensing "is something we could take a look at."

But Harold Dates, general manager of the Hamilton County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, isn't enthusiastic about cat licensing. Enforcement would be difficult, he said, imposing additional burdens on dog wardens. Cat licensing would not generate enough money, he said, and without addressing the issue of spaying and neutering, "it could create more problems than it solves," he said.

Have a question? Send it to Dave Hofmeister, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester, OH 45069, or e-mail to dhofmeister@enquirer.com.