History of "Modular" traffic signal poles in Gilbert, Arizona

[Pink Jazz]

For those who don't know what I am talking about, the "modular" traffic signal poles are these large boxy posts that have inbuilt traffic signals and a large integrated illuminated street name sign.  These type of traffic signal poles are used extensively by the cities of Tempe and Goodyear in the Phoenix area.  However, there are also a few poles of this type in northwestern Gilbert.

I was wondering, does anyone have a history of when these poles were installed in Gilbert?  Gilbert has since went back to the standard ADOT-style poles for all new installations. 

Perhaps those poles may have been a movement by the mayor at the time to freshen up the town. I actually thought that Gilbert should make its street name signs more distinctive like the brown street name signs in Chandler; in another thread I showed a picture of an idea for a street name sign with a pink background and the town emblem in the upper left corner.  However, pink is not an approved background color by the MUTCD (only green, blue, brown, or white).

[ARMOURERERIC]

Went to the SCA's Estrella War in 1995 and 2003, they were not there in 1995, but all over the place in 2003

[nexus73]

For those who don't know what I am talking about, the "modular" traffic signal poles are these large boxy posts that have inbuilt traffic signals and a large integrated illuminated street name sign.  These type of traffic signal poles are used extensively by the cities of Tempe and Goodyear in the Phoenix area.  However, there are also a few poles of this type in northwestern Gilbert.

I was wondering, does anyone have a history of when these poles were installed in Gilbert?  Gilbert has since went back to the standard ADOT-style poles for all new installations. 

Perhaps those poles may have been a movement by the mayor at the time to freshen up the town. I actually thought that Gilbert should make its street name signs more distinctive like the brown street name signs in Chandler; in another thread I showed a picture of an idea for a street name sign with a pink background and the town emblem in the upper left corner.  However, pink is not an approved background color by the MUTCD (only green, blue, brown, or white).

Here is what a search based on the term "modular traffic signals" revealed for pix:

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrSbDUyeO5UlKoAVZlXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByNWU4cGh1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=Modular+Traffic+Signals&fr=yfp-t-901

Since these pix are not even close to what you describe, can you please do one of two things.  Find the correct nomenclature or else post pix of the AZ signs you refer to.

Rick

[blanketcomputer]

These are the traffic signals in question.

In Gilbert


In Tempe


In Goodyear

[Pink Jazz]

Here is what a search based on the term "modular traffic signals" revealed for pix:

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrSbDUyeO5UlKoAVZlXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByNWU4cGh1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=Modular+Traffic+Signals&fr=yfp-t-901

Since these pix are not even close to what you describe, can you please do one of two things.  Find the correct nomenclature or else post pix of the AZ signs you refer to.

Rick

This is what the City of Tempe calls them.  Not sure what they would actually be called.  Apparently these were short-lived in Gilbert.  Perhaps why Gilbert stopped installing them might be cost related, since I am pretty sure these are more expensive than the standard ADOT-style masts.

[blanketcomputer]

I have been searching around for a bit but cannot seem to dig up much. CAID Industries seems to provide the traffic signals. Tempe has this order form on their website that lists prices for mast arms and other components, so maybe those prices can be compared to ADOT's standard signal. I could not find any mention of both CAID and the Town of Gilbert, however.

[nexus73]

Thank you for posting the pix BlankComputer.  I have never seen such signals before.  They do have a modern upscale look to them in my eyes.

Rick

[DTComposer]

Thank you for posting the pix BlankComputer.  I have never seen such signals before.  They do have a modern upscale look to them in my eyes.

Rick

These types of signals were put in downtown Long Beach in the 1980s; many of them have since been replaced by standard traffic signals - I would agree with the guess that maintenance/replacement costs are much less on more traditional installations.

Perhaps it's because of when I first saw them (1985), but to me they seem extremely dated now.

[ARMOURERERIC]

For those who wonder and ask about the poles with the "stop sign" shape brackets in downtown Pittsburgh PA along Liberty and 6th above the 1982 "T" subway path. It was intended back then for all of Downtown Pittsburgh to have these signals.  Plans changed.

[mrsman]

Thank you for posting the pix BlankComputer.  I have never seen such signals before.  They do have a modern upscale look to them in my eyes.

Rick

These types of signals were put in downtown Long Beach in the 1980s; many of them have since been replaced by standard traffic signals - I would agree with the guess that maintenance/replacement costs are much less on more traditional installations.

Perhaps it's because of when I first saw them (1985), but to me they seem extremely dated now.

To me, I remember similar set-ups years ago in Inglewood, CA, Glendale, CA, and Jamaica, NY.  All removed now.  I think the idea was that they were separate signal formations to really designate the CBD of those cities from the rest of the city.  But they were probably removed because it was too hard to maintain a distinct signal for a small section of the city.

Here is a current set up at 125th / Lenox in Harlem (NYC):   http://goo.gl/maps/Nk7iT

Tell us more about the signals in Arizona.  Are they all over Gilbert, Tempe, and Goodyear, or are they only in very specific streets and/or neighborhoods.

[Pink Jazz]

Tell us more about the signals in Arizona.  Are they all over Gilbert, Tempe, and Goodyear, or are they only in very specific streets and/or neighborhoods.

They are used extensively in Tempe and Goodyear (except in Downtown Tempe), however, in Gilbert they are mostly concentrated in the northwestern part of the town.  The farthest east I have seen these in Gilbert is at the intersection of Gilbert Road and Warner Road.  Otherwise most signals in Gilbert are the standard ADOT style, although in Downtown Gilbert there are posts with straight mast arms instead of the arched ADOT style.

FYI, I have also seen these in Downtown Tucson when I visited, except without the built-in lighted sign.

[swbrotha100]

These are the traffic signals in question.

In Gilbert


In Tempe


In Goodyear

Other than Tempe and parts of Goodyear, I don't see more of these new signals being installed. For instance, with all the new construction around various I-10 and Loop 303 ramps in Goodyear, virtually all the new signals are ADOT style.

[Pink Jazz]

Other than Tempe and parts of Goodyear, I don't see more of these new signals being installed. For instance, with all the new construction around various I-10 and Loop 303 ramps in Goodyear, virtually all the new signals are ADOT style.

Are you sure those signals are owned by the City of Goodyear?  I know some freeway ramps around the Valley have ADOT-owned signals.

[swbrotha100]

If you can see the signal poles, this is at the current intersection of Cotton Lane and McDowell Road. The flyover is SB Loop 303 to EB I-10.

There are actually modular traffic signals along I-10 at Bullard Ave and Estrella Parkway in Goodyear, and most of the signals along the freeway intersections in Tempe use the "Tempe style" signals as opposed to a typical ADOT setup.

[blanketcomputer]

This is only a guess, but I think that there is difference between city ownership of freeway cross streets and cities maintaining freeway cross streets. In the case of the I-10/Loop 303 interchange, ADOT owns a roughly one square mile right-of-way centered at the interchange, but the City of Goodyear maintains the streets. Because ADOT owns the land, ADOT signals are used even though Goodyear is in charge of installing and maintaining them. This is done with the promise that ownership of the land will be passed to Goodyear once the interchange is completed in a few years. I think Goodyear could install modular traffic signals if they wanted once they have ownership.

I think ADOT holds on to ownership of certain intersections for a variety of reasons. Mill Avenue at US 60 in Tempe uses ADOT signals, but all other Tempe freeway intersections use the modular signals. I think Mill Avenue is owned by ADOT across US 60 because the bridge is not nearly as wide Rural or McClintock, and will probably need a major reconstruction at some point.

[myosh_tino]

These are the traffic signals in question.

In Tempe

The only other area using these types of signals, that I know of, is downtown Reno along Virgina Street.

http://goo.gl/maps/PsYvt

[Pink Jazz]

The only other area using these types of signals, that I know of, is downtown Reno along Virgina Street.

http://goo.gl/maps/PsYvt

Downtown Tucson, Arizona also uses these, although without the large illuminated signs.

Also, Virginia Beach, Virginia uses these along Atlantic Avenue at the Oceanfront.

[swbrotha100]

The only other area using these types of signals, that I know of, is downtown Reno along Virgina Street.

http://goo.gl/maps/PsYvt

Downtown Tucson, Arizona also uses these, although without the large illuminated signs.

Also, Virginia Beach, Virginia uses these along Atlantic Avenue at the Oceanfront.

Tucson used to have a few with the illuminated signs. I think the only ones around today are at I-10/Congress St and Mission Rd/Ajo Way.

[Pink Jazz]

Tucson used to have a few with the illuminated signs. I think the only ones around today are at I-10/Congress St and Mission Rd/Ajo Way.

I think the ones on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach have illuminated signs that are only half the height of the ones in Tempe/Goodyear/Gilbert.  Not sure if the sign in that posted Reno example is illuminated or not.

[roadfro]

The only other area using these types of signals, that I know of, is downtown Reno along Virgina Street.

http://goo.gl/maps/PsYvt

There are a couple on Center Street and Sierra Street in downtown Reno as well (at intersections with 1st and 2nd Streets). Virginia Street has them at all signals from 2nd to 6th Streets (and street name signs only at 7th).

I think the ones on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach have illuminated signs that are only half the height of the ones in Tempe/Goodyear/Gilbert.  Not sure if the sign in that posted Reno example is illuminated or not.

The Reno street name signs are illuminated. Those fixtures are the same height/type as the standard illuminated street name signs in Nevada (pre-LED era).

[seicer]

Portsmouth, Ohio uses these signal types: http://goo.gl/maps/HZFQa; these posts are not very flexible: http://goo.gl/maps/8bPOS
Cincinnati, Ohio uses a variant with horizontal signals: http://goo.gl/maps/SUHja; a newer variant from around 2003: http://goo.gl/maps/q79fp

[Pink Jazz]

Portsmouth, Ohio uses these signal types: http://goo.gl/maps/HZFQa; these posts are not very flexible: http://goo.gl/maps/8bPOS
Cincinnati, Ohio uses a variant with horizontal signals: http://goo.gl/maps/SUHja; a newer variant from around 2003: http://goo.gl/maps/q79fp

Not sure if the horizontal signal variant you posted is the same manufacturer (CAID Industries), since they have round vertical posts and have the pedestrian signals mounted externally.

[Milepost61]

A couple cities around Denver have them (Greenwood Village, Louisville). They look exactly like the the ones in Tempe.

The big boxy ones are a specialty of Valmont Industries. Here's a photo from the Valmont site:
http://ww2.valmont.com/userfiles/Image/gallery/transportation_trafficd8.jpg

[swbrotha100]

You may want to try sending an email to someone in traffic engineering in the town of Gilbert. Maybe a town employee may have a better idea of when and why Gilbert actually used certain types of traffic signals.

I've emailed various transportation departments in the past with mixed results. Whoever answered my email regarding traffic signal poles within the city of Phoenix was just a jerk to me. I wanted to know why Phoenix uses poles with straight mast arms and why they've mostly gone away from ADOT style signals. Someone working for the city of Tucson was better. The guy with the city of Tucson was better at explaining the reasoning for Tucson having mostly permissive-protected dual left turn signals within the city limits, when most places would use protected left signals.

[Mark68]

A couple cities around Denver have them (Greenwood Village, Louisville). They look exactly like the the ones in Tempe.

The big boxy ones are a specialty of Valmont Industries. Here's a photo from the Valmont site:
http://ww2.valmont.com/userfiles/Image/gallery/transportation_trafficd8.jpg

Most of the Denver-area installations of these are in the southeastern portions of Denver Metro, near the technology centers of DTC, Greenwood Village, and Inverness, however, I don't think these are being installed any more.

This one is at E Union Av & DTC Blvd in Denver (but part of the DTC).

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This one is at E Orchard Ave & Greenwood Plaza Blvd in Greenwood Village.

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Another at E Dry Creek Rd and S Clinton St/Inverness Dr E in Inverness.

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