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[rawmustard]

Also, am I the only one who thinks those cameras on the mast arms like in MDOTFanFB's second picture are just hideous?  Can't they put a light there too?  It just looks so unfinished otherwise. 

I know the rationale for having the video detectors in a higher position, but for whatever reason, a lot of agencies (Wayne County in this particular instance) choose not to install a streetlamp at the end of that arm. It isn't like each one would need a lamp, though.

[realjd]

Still, this being mostly a span wire state, that should really be accompanied by a secondary tether across the bottom of the signals, as they get blown around a lot more. 

Interestingly, single-cable span wire installations are significantly more resistant to wind damage than those with a secondary tether:
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/research-center/Completed_Proj/Summary_STR/FDOT_BD545_57_rpt.pdf

Not that Ohio has to deal with hurricane force winds very often!

[jjakucyk]

Interestingly, single-cable span wire installations are significantly more resistant to wind damage than those with a secondary tether:
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/research-center/Completed_Proj/Summary_STR/FDOT_BD545_57_rpt.pdf

Interesting, but they're talking about a tether across the top of the signal, with a pole connecting it to a load-bearing catenary higher up, as in:  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=orlando,+fl&sll=39.16748,-84.534789&sspn=0.386493,0.624847&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Orlando,+Orange,+Florida&ll=28.450374,-81.400701&spn=0.001722,0.002441&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=28.450368,-81.400785&panoid=pbOEw4cq_AMdiviXKbHtiw&cbp=12,155.83,,0,-8.6

I can see how that would add stresses to the support pole without significantly reducing swinging in heavy winds.  But what I'm talking about is a tether across the BOTTOM of the signal, which also helps to keep signs from flopping around too much as well, like so:  http://maps.google.com/maps?gl=us&om=0&ie=UTF8&ll=39.108352,-84.431973&spn=0.001519,0.002441&z=19&layer=c&cbll=39.108475,-84.432062&panoid=UyFLeuo3AMzXij1WRLFw8w&cbp=12,15.16,,0,-9.14

Of course, Indiana takes it to a somewhat absurd extreme, with a catenary, top tether, AND bottom tether, and no poles.  It seems they don't really like the red arrows much either.  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=indianapolis,+in&sll=28.450369,-81.400784&sspn=0.001722,0.002441&gl=us&g=Orlando,+Orange,+Florida&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Indianapolis,+Marion,+Indiana&ll=39.926983,-86.158237&spn=0.001493,0.002441&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=39.926987,-86.158033&panoid=XXP0JujHZ32GtjhdTx1-kA&cbp=12,220.14,,0,-6.37

Sorry to stray a bit off topic. 

[hm insulators]

I've not seen them yet, but apparently a few of these flashing yellow left turn signals have made it to Chandler, Arizona, according to an article in the Arizona Republic the other day.

[tchafe1978]

WisDOT pointing to benefits of new flashing yellow turn arrows in Milwaukee County

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/opencms/export/nr/modules/news/news_2458.html_786229440.html

I guess Wisconsin is getting on the bandwagon now. I still have yet to see one of these in operation. I hadn't even heard of them until reading this thread. Guess I better get up to speed.

[Crazy Volvo Guy]

Of course, Indiana takes it to a somewhat absurd extreme, with a catenary, top tether, AND bottom tether, and no poles.  It seems they don't really like the red arrows much either.  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=indianapolis,+in&sll=28.450369,-81.400784&sspn=0.001722,0.002441&gl=us&g=Orlando,+Orange,+Florida&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Indianapolis,+Marion,+Indiana&ll=39.926983,-86.158237&spn=0.001493,0.002441&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=39.926987,-86.158033&panoid=XXP0JujHZ32GtjhdTx1-kA&cbp=12,220.14,,0,-6.37

I wouldn't call that an absurd extreme at all.  Indiana's span wire installations are among the only ones I've ever seen that actually look alright - with New York being the only other span-wire state I could say that for.

Side note: I used to live right at that intersection when I was a wee little lad.  Behind the McDonalds when what was there were really cool 1970s (loosely) Bavarian styled apartments.

[Scott5114]

I just saw the first FYA that I know of in Oklahoma on the way to get milk. It's at the corner of 12th Ave SE and Lindsey Street in Norman. The way they cycle to red before going to FYA is going to take some getting used to. I could see it causing problems if someone ignores the red assuming that it's going to cycle to FYA next and they can go, but instead the light stays on red.

I kind of wonder if 12th and Lindsey is serving as Norman's "test intersection". It is at this point the only intersection in the city that I know of that is using green mixed-case mastarm signage (to comply with the '09 MUTCD) instead of the red and blue signage the rest of the city uses.

[roadfro]

I just saw the first FYA that I know of in Oklahoma on the way to get milk. It's at the corner of 12th Ave SE and Lindsey Street in Norman. The way they cycle to red before going to FYA is going to take some getting used to. I could see it causing problems if someone ignores the red assuming that it's going to cycle to FYA next and they can go, but instead the light stays on red.

Scott, are you saying that the signal cycles like this: Green arrow > Yellow arrow > Red arrow > FYA?  Is this a leading left turn?

If that's the case, the MUTCD does not require that the red arrow follow the steady yellow arrow in this manner. The installations I've seen in Carson City go straight from steady yellow arrow to FYA. This would seem to be the preferred operation, especially since the FYA is supposed to be tied with the opposing green.

[Scott5114]

I believe it is a leading left (I may be off on my terminology)—the green arrow comes with the green light for one direction, then switches to FYA, then the opposing direction gets a green light.

[Revive 755]

Found a bunch of the flashing yellow arrows around Peoria, IL today.  There's one on IL 8 in East Peoria just east of I-74, a lot more on US 150 just east of IL 6, possibly one on IL 9 in Pekin east of IL 29 - couldn't tell for sure, this one might have just been a flashing beacon for a sign - and one on IL 29 south of IL 9 in Pekin.

EDIT:  Forgot to mention that signage with them was not consistent - some had "Left turn yield on flashing yellow arrow," some had the same sign but with a picture of the arrow, and some didn't have any sign.

[algorerhythms]

Today I went through the intersection at 12th and Lindsey in Norman, OK, where the flashing yellow signal has been installed, and ended up thinking about the familiarity aspect of this signal. Despite having previously seen the Norman Transcript article about it and having seen Scott's post a couple days ago, when I arrived at the intersection, my first thought on seeing the signal was still "a flashing yellow arrow? What the hell does that mean?" If some random person comes up on such an intersection, are they going to be able to figure it out (i.e. are they going to read the sign that explains it)?

[roadfro]

During the studies, researchers found that the FYA made the most sense intuitively to study participants; there was no sign used to explain FYA displays in the study.

[US71]

Bentonville, AR has recently added FYA signals near the High School

Addendum: Batesville, AR recently added FYA at a couple intersections.

[rawmustard]

The city of Kalamazoo is now on a FYA kick. Most of the intersections where they're popping up near downtown had undergone signal upgrades within the last 3-5 years, and one intersection in particular (Water and Edwards) had just been upgraded with doghouses in the latter part of last year. I believe I've mentioned that the Kalamazoo signal engineer liked to use lagging lefts with the doghouses, so I consider this a positive development.

[Revive 755]

The FYA aren't performing well in Peoria, IL:
http://www.pjstar.com/homepage/x945639503/Flashing-yellow-lights-signal-confusion

[Scott5114]

Today I went through the intersection at 12th and Lindsey in Norman, OK, where the flashing yellow signal has been installed, and ended up thinking about the familiarity aspect of this signal. Despite having previously seen the Norman Transcript article about it and having seen Scott's post a couple days ago, when I arrived at the intersection, my first thought on seeing the signal was still "a flashing yellow arrow? What the hell does that mean?" If some random person comes up on such an intersection, are they going to be able to figure it out (i.e. are they going to read the sign that explains it)?

Not sure if you have utilities through the City of Norman or not, but with last month's bill they included a brochure on FYA's.

[mgk920]

WisDOT pointing to benefits of new flashing yellow turn arrows in Milwaukee County

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/opencms/export/nr/modules/news/news_2458.html_786229440.html

I guess Wisconsin is getting on the bandwagon now. I still have yet to see one of these in operation. I hadn't even heard of them until reading this thread. Guess I better get up to speed.

There is now one of these at the US 41/WI 26 interchange in Oshkosh.

Mike

[andytom]

There are so many in Beaverton, now, that you have to remember to stop at the few that haven't been changed yet and in neigboring cities that haven't started yet.

--Andy

[roadfro]

What is Nevada DOT doing with $1 million...installing (converting?) about 58 FYAs around Reno/Sparks, Carson City & Douglas County.

"Flashing yellow lights are coming"

Truckee Meadows motorists will soon notice flashing yellow lights at intersections across Northern Nevada as part of a program to make them more cautious when making left turns.

Fifty-eight signals will be installed at intersections in Reno-Sparks, elsewhere in Washoe County, Carson City and Douglas County at a cost of about $1 million. The program is administered by the Nevada Department of Transportation, the Regional Transportation Commission and other agencies.

The yellow signals -- flashing arrows -- will be placed over left turn lanes and are designed to emphasize motorists must be cautious when making left turns, yielding to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians. Experts said they believe the yellow lights are more effective than circular green lights previously used.

For more information visit www.nevadadot.com/flashingyellow

According to a February 8th interview at KOLO8-TV News: There are going to be over 100 intersections within these areas. The first Reno area install was to have been finished on February 27th, with two more installs per day as they move forward through March.


I haven't seen any Reno ones yet, but I haven't had occasion to do too much driving lately. Interesting, since as I recall the FYA as adopted by the MUTCD started off here in Reno, but has not been seen on the city's streets for the last 10+ years. I am wondering how drivers will take to it now...

[roadfro]

Following up to my previous post... I've been seeing more and more of these installations pop up around Reno lately. Every site I've seen them at thus far, they've all been replacements where previously a protected/permitted 5-section doghouse (mastarm) or 5-section vertical (far pole mount) displays had been used. I've seen nothing new as of yet.

[cu2010]

I saw one in Michigan during my trip there a few weeks ago...just off I-94 along 26 Mile Rd/Marine City Highway. It was...well, odd to me, being a New Yorker and never having seen one before...I think I prefer the doghouse.

I still haven't seen any here in western NY...though NY has been quickly jumping on the stupid "must make street blades mixed-case and uber-reflective so we waste taxpayer money...and while we're at it let's use Extra Large Leading Letters in our directional blades and ugly NY shields" bandwagon, so seeing the FYA soon wouldn't surprise me one bit...

(and to think of how much money spent that could be better spent elsewhere!)

[Revive 755]

More of them coming to Illinois, this time in Chillicothe:

http://www.chillicothetimesbulletin.com/news/x243993208/Chillicothes-three-traffic-signals-to-have-yellow-arrows-installed-this-week

[Brandon]

More of them coming to Illinois, this time in Chillicothe:

http://www.chillicothetimesbulletin.com/news/x243993208/Chillicothes-three-traffic-signals-to-have-yellow-arrows-installed-this-week

Looks like District 4 (Peoria) is using them.  We'll see if District 1 (Chicago) uses them.  They have a thing for towers.

[Ace10]

I think they're putting one up in a new intersection on County Road 535 in Orange County, just north of the Magic Kingdom (the intersection itself is not on Disney property). The signal isn't operating yet, but I noticed the left turn signal has four signal heads, and it appears that there is one green, two yellow, and one red. Will be interesting to see how these Florida drivers can handle it.

[realjd]

They're coming to Brevard County, FL also:
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110610/NEWS01/106100322/New-type-traffic-signal-coming-Brevard?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home

It sounds like they're going to completely replace doghouse signals whenever they redo intersections. It also is interesting that they're using a 4-head signal instead of the 5-head signal that I usually see for FYA.