In early January, the D.C. Department of Transportation erected a stoplight at Missouri Avenue and 2nd Street NW, where Petworth residents had been lobbying for a signal for years. A functioning signal, however, is still in the future: Nearly four months later, the signal is still wrapped in plastic, waiting to be activated. The new delay is tiresome, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Renee Bowser says: “We’re just saying, ‘Get on the ball.’” According to Department of Transportation spokesperson Bill Rice, the agency switched contractors after the signal was put up but before electrical engineering work was finalized. That portion of the job is nearly done, Rice says, but PEPCO still has to hook it up to the electric grid. PEPCO will connect the signal “as soon as we get [the city’s] check,” spokesperson Mary Beth Hutchinson says. “We can’t actually install the job until we get paid.” —Mike DeBonis