Traffic signal

[jakeroot]

Something funky here in Hazelwood, MO.

Overhead is a standard doghouse, although it has the Chicago-style "Left On Green Arrow Only" message. Annoying, but okay. However, post-mounted off to the left is an RYG left turn signal. So coming up to this intersection you can see two overhead green orbs and a red orb to the left. Only during the protected phase do things sort-of look okay, with two green arrows.

Clearly the protected phasing is used because of sight-distance issues. But then why not use a standard left turn signal overhead?

[SkyPesos]

Something funky here in Hazelwood, MO.

Overhead is a standard doghouse, although it has the Chicago-style "Left On Green Arrow Only" message. Annoying, but okay. However, post-mounted off to the left is an RYG left turn signal. So coming up to this intersection you can see two overhead green orbs and a red orb to the left. Only during the protected phase do things sort-of look okay, with two green arrows.

Clearly the protected phasing is used because of sight-distance issues. But then why not use a standard left turn signal overhead?

I wouldn't be surprised if it's a doghouse just to meet the 2 green lights for the straight movement requirement, though that can easily be done by installing a green bulb on the side and turn the doghouse into a protected only signal. Though that area is pretty dead now with St Louis Mills dead and closed (I thought it was weird to place a mall in a mainly industrial zone and close to a floodplain for the two times I've been inside the mall, but that's a topic for the dead malls thread).

[jakeroot]

Though that area is pretty dead now with St Louis Mills dead and closed (I thought it was weird to place a mall in a mainly industrial zone and close to a floodplain for the two times I've been inside the mall, but that's a topic for the dead malls thread).

My father took my sister and I to "Saint Louis Mills" in 2011 with the expressed purpose of viewing a dead mall. No surprise that it has bit the dust completely since then. It was strange then, with the themed areas that were all very quiet, although the race track was fun.

[SkyPesos]

Another traffic signal set for a dead mall in the St Louis area: Crestwood Court. Something interesting about this setup is that there were never overhead signals for either the mall exit or Old Sappington; the overhead poles were up there only to display the street name lane configuration and red light camera. When the mall closed, the signals for Old Sappington were changed from a green ball to green left arrow, but none of the signals on I-366 was modified. The straight arrow/right arrow bimodal on WB 366 was changed to displaying the straight only instead of replacing the whole signal, and the protected left turn to the mall on EB 366 was covered up instead of removed.

[Caps81943]

A rare red-ball flashing yellow arrow:

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4620107,-98.4910055,3a,27.2y,364.45h,96.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1si6PGsIjfq486p6kjSqGO0A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[mrsman]

An interesting doghouse equivalent in Brooklyn, NY:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6687397,-73.9283679,3a,75y,103.66h,88.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVfoxMo5HEmAbx7sgIbMAuQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[RestrictOnTheHanger]

An interesting doghouse equivalent in Brooklyn, NY:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6687397,-73.9283679,3a,75y,103.66h,88.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVfoxMo5HEmAbx7sgIbMAuQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

While NYC does use that setup in place of a normal doghouse (when FYA isnt otherwise used) similar to LI or WV, usually pole mounted signals are all vertical. Nice find.

[SignBridge]

Here in Nassau County we have some side-by-side pole-mounted signals installed by County DPW, though I agree that a vertical stack looks better on a pole-mount.

[UnumProvident101]

this intersection in Chattanooga, TN doesn't get much traffic even though the traffic lights are off
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0060267,-85.2160262,3a,75y,29.83h,91.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stA0_8A73vX-txHjFaCkPwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[jakeroot]

An interesting doghouse equivalent in Brooklyn, NY:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6687397,-73.9283679,3a,75y,103.66h,88.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVfoxMo5HEmAbx7sgIbMAuQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

That's really cool! The spacing, if it was any further apart, would look wonky. But they hit it just right for me to still like it.

[mapman]

this intersection in Chattanooga, TN doesn't get much traffic even though the traffic lights are off
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0060267,-85.2160262,3a,75y,29.83h,91.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stA0_8A73vX-txHjFaCkPwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

That's interesting that all the signal heads are still there even though the the signal is no longer operating.  Under the standard California Vehicle Code, at a traffic signal that's not operating (for example, if the power goes out), traffic must treat it as an all-way stop.  Hence, if the signal was turned off, the city would have removed all of the signal heads and added stop sign(s), rather than just turning off the power and leaving it to rust.

[UCFKnights]

this intersection in Chattanooga, TN doesn't get much traffic even though the traffic lights are off
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0060267,-85.2160262,3a,75y,29.83h,91.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stA0_8A73vX-txHjFaCkPwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

That's interesting that all the signal heads are still there even though the the signal is no longer operating.  Under the standard California Vehicle Code, at a traffic signal that's not operating (for example, if the power goes out), traffic must treat it as an all-way stop.  Hence, if the signal was turned off, the city would have removed all of the signal heads and added stop sign(s), rather than just turning off the power and leaving it to rust.

Street View seems to indicate it is set to flash mode, as of 2019, not turned off

[betfourteen]

this intersection in Chattanooga, TN doesn't get much traffic even though the traffic lights are off
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0060267,-85.2160262,3a,75y,29.83h,91.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stA0_8A73vX-txHjFaCkPwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

It looks like it's functioning....to some extent: https://goo.gl/maps/eDeyCRxbtxayum2Z8

[UnumProvident101]

this intersection in Chattanooga, TN doesn't get much traffic even though the traffic lights are off
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0060267,-85.2160262,3a,75y,29.83h,91.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stA0_8A73vX-txHjFaCkPwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

It looks like it's functioning....to some extent: https://goo.gl/maps/eDeyCRxbtxayum2Z8

a lot of times those traffic lights in that intersection are usually flashing yellow

[wanderer2575]

Streetcar signal mounted on top of a vehicular signal on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit: 
https://goo.gl/maps/GEwJPeHSxbDT8Wxr9

Note also that the mast arm wiring comes out of the arm and connects to a box mounted on the pole.  This provides a quick disconnect of the electrical when the mast arms are removed for the annual Thanksgiving Day parade.

[plain]

Streetcar signal mounted on top of a vehicular signal on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit: 
https://goo.gl/maps/GEwJPeHSxbDT8Wxr9

Note also that the mast arm wiring comes out of the arm and connects to a box mounted on the pole.  This provides a quick disconnect of the electrical when the mast arms are removed for the annual Thanksgiving Day parade.

This can fit into the Thickest Mast Arms thread as well

[JoePCool14]

Streetcar signal mounted on top of a vehicular signal on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit: 
https://goo.gl/maps/GEwJPeHSxbDT8Wxr9

Note also that the mast arm wiring comes out of the arm and connects to a box mounted on the pole.  This provides a quick disconnect of the electrical when the mast arms are removed for the annual Thanksgiving Day parade.

This can fit into the Thickest Mast Arms thread as well

Actually the most interesting point for me is that we're finally seeing Street Views from 2020. I haven't noticed much up to this point.

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/JZqS5N9iUjanAGu48
Not one but two visors missing.

Oh how about four visors missing.
https://goo.gl/maps/xvBA6QMTqceWJAjH7

[RestrictOnTheHanger]

this intersection in Chattanooga, TN doesn't get much traffic even though the traffic lights are off
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0060267,-85.2160262,3a,75y,29.83h,91.42t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stA0_8A73vX-txHjFaCkPwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Go back one space and there is a yellow arrow where the yellow ball should be on the shared signal. Wonder what the phasing was when the signals were fully operational.

[jakeroot]

https://goo.gl/maps/JZqS5N9iUjanAGu48
Not one but two visors missing.

Oh how about four visors missing.
https://goo.gl/maps/xvBA6QMTqceWJAjH7

I noticed this intersection in Chehalis, WA has a signal with a couple missing visors. Rare to see that around here.

I also remember around New Orleans that a substantial number of downtown signals were missing visors. But that was seven years ago.

[ErmineNotyours]

I was fooled by this light as a driver, thinking the pedestrian countdown would go to yellow, but the yellow started early.  Maybe the city did this to discourage driving by the countdown.  Then I found out ped signals are supposed to get three seconds of clearance before the next green, but they don't here.  Renton has been responsive to inquiries in the past, so you never know.

[STLmapboy]

Though that area is pretty dead now with St Louis Mills dead and closed (I thought it was weird to place a mall in a mainly industrial zone and close to a floodplain for the two times I've been inside the mall, but that's a topic for the dead malls thread).

My father took my sister and I to "Saint Louis Mills" in 2011 with the expressed purpose of viewing a dead mall. No surprise that it has bit the dust completely since then. It was strange then, with the themed areas that were all very quiet, although the race track was fun.

When I was 9 I went to a classmate's birthday party there (miniature golf course inside). Even in 2013 it was struggling.

[SkyPesos]

Another traffic signal set for a dead mall in the St Louis area: Crestwood Court. Something interesting about this setup is that there were never overhead signals for either the mall exit or Old Sappington; the overhead poles were up there only to display the street name lane configuration and red light camera. When the mall closed, the signals for Old Sappington were changed from a green ball to green left arrow, but none of the signals on I-366 was modified. The straight arrow/right arrow bimodal on WB 366 was changed to displaying the straight only instead of replacing the whole signal, and the protected left turn to the mall on EB 366 was covered up instead of removed.

There's 2 more signal sets to Crestwood Court I decided to take a look today. The easternmost of the trio had a disused FYA. The one in the middle have new looking overhead signals for the former mall exit.

Unrelated to Crestwood, this left turn signal set on MO 340 for I-64 is a minor annoyance for me, that they don't match each other (this used to be a single left turn lane, until it was expanded to two later on), the new signal is slightly angled away from the left turn lane, and that the left turn plaque is on the overhead mast arm instead of below the two vertically mounted signals. I thought St Louis is trying to replace their signals with yellow backs on them with the standard black backs.

[jeffandnicole]

I was fooled by this light as a driver, thinking the pedestrian countdown would go to yellow, but the yellow started early.  Maybe the city did this to discourage driving by the countdown.  Then I found out ped signals are supposed to get three seconds of clearance before the next green, but they don't here.  Renton has been responsive to inquiries in the past, so you never know.

Watching the time on the video, it's actually very close to 3 seconds.  Maybe 2.5 seconds.

[Amtrakprod]

I was fooled by this light as a driver, thinking the pedestrian countdown would go to yellow, but the yellow started early.  Maybe the city did this to discourage driving by the countdown.  Then I found out ped signals are supposed to get three seconds of clearance before the next green, but they don't here.  Renton has been responsive to inquiries in the past, so you never know.

This is known as FDW on yellow. It's an idea that I personally love, because it's more pedestrian friendly.


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