I live in the burbs and every day twice I drive through a 4-way intersection (E/W - N/S) that is controlled by a red light at which one has to stop from all directions and may pass in the order of arrival. The lines are unbearably long in the morning and evening but almost no wait any other times. One has the feeling that the scheme is designed for the rich folks that do not have to go to work but live E/W (back road) and screw those that live N/S that travel the state road as I.
My question: would a normal red/(yellow)/green traffic light speed up the intersection for the hoi-polloi travelling N/S during work hours?
(Assume some ideal rate of arrivals, say, exponential at a 4-way intersection. Which gives higher flow rate: a fixed time red/green light to control the traffic flow or all must stop and 1st to arrive to cross?)