Favorite era in traffic signal history

[traffic light guy]

My favorite era is obviously the 1970s.The most important era in Pennsylvania's traffic signal history. This eta was when signals begun having doghouse signals with arrows, and were mounted on mast-arms, as opposed to wires and pedestals. Signals installed in Pennsylvania during the 1970s, were 12-inch Eagle flatbacks with curved brackets, mounted on mast-arms. Pedestrain signals were also introduced in this time period.

[freebrickproductions]

For me, it was the 2000s. Many places had adopted LEDs and were rolling them out, while many older incandescent signals that would be upgraded/replaced still existed on the streets. It was just the perfect blend of old and new.

[jakeroot]

As far as the signal heads themselves, I quite like modern, LED signal heads. Older signals seem to almost fade over time, gradually making them harder to see. Modern signals don't seem to suffer as much. As far as where the signals are placed, and how they're phased, definitely today. Around Seattle, the old method used to be: one signal for the left turn (protected only), and two for the through lanes. No more, no less. Nowadays, left turns with permissive phasing are replacing signals that previously only used protected phasing. And I'm finally starting to see a mix of secondary and auxiliary signal heads on the mast and on side-posted poles (so visibility is much better). That said, agencies around the Seattle area have lately had a problem of placing signal heads way too close together. This really, really bugs me. It's not super common, but it's more common than I wish it were.