Traffic signal

[Jet380]

Out in the sprawl of Vancouver, WA is what initially looks like a standard signalized T-intersection. However, looking around, there are signals for the fourth approach, ped signals to cross it, and, until recently, there were pushbuttons for that crossing and a doghouse signal for a protected left turn. Unlike a normal road that never got built situation, however, there is no gap in the sidewalk or driveway curb cut or anything other than the signal to show that a road was ever intended to go here.

Hahaha what the F? That's hilarious. I've heard of a mast arm being installed ahead of time (sometimes even the signals) but I've never seen the signals turned on and operational.

Since there's a bike lane there, perhaps the signals are for the benefit of cyclists doing a hook turn?

[jakeroot]

Out in the sprawl of Vancouver, WA is what initially looks like a standard signalized T-intersection. However, looking around, there are signals for the fourth approach, ped signals to cross it, and, until recently, there were pushbuttons for that crossing and a doghouse signal for a protected left turn. Unlike a normal road that never got built situation, however, there is no gap in the sidewalk or driveway curb cut or anything other than the signal to show that a road was ever intended to go here.

Hahaha what the F? That's hilarious. I've heard of a mast arm being installed ahead of time (sometimes even the signals) but I've never seen the signals turned on and operational.

Since there's a bike lane there, perhaps the signals are for the benefit of cyclists doing a hook turn?

In retrospect, perhaps yes. But I highly doubt that was the purpose. I'd be willing to bet that less than 5 cyclists perform that maneuver a week (Vancouver is the opposite of Portland in most respects -- see this video).

FWIW, the signal appears to have been installed in the late 90s.

[freebrickproductions]

Interesting that they still maintain the bulbs in those signals, as they're incandescent while the rest of the intersection is LED. Looking at the visible reflectors in the abandoned pedestrian signals on that side (as they're missing the lenses), looks like they would've been hand/man peds.

[jakeroot]

Couple of interesting signals I spotted while zooming around Tucson on Street View:

Lots of signals for not having pro/per phasing: https://goo.gl/AdQZxR



City/state removed the median-mounted pro/per signal, leaving the far-left signal head as the only pro/per head for the left turn: https://goo.gl/ru5feA4

[SignBridge]

The second photo with just the far-left left-turn signal doesn't seem like normal practice. I'm guessing the median signal-head was either knocked down in an accident and will be replaced or an error of omission was made in the installation.

[jakeroot]

The second photo with just the far-left left-turn signal doesn't seem like normal practice. I'm guessing the median signal-head was either knocked down in an accident and will be replaced or an error of omission was made in the installation.

They removed the signal in the median (I mentioned as much in my post). I'm sure a new signal will replace the one that was removed at some point.

[jay8g]

Strictly speaking, this isn't a signal, but... I've never seen a mast arm that looks like this before!

[Ian]

Strictly speaking, this isn't a signal, but... I've never seen a mast arm that looks like this before!

There are a bunch of those around California, especially closer to the Bay Area. Here's one in Marina...

[SignBridge]

That is really funky, weird looking.

[jakeroot]

I think there's a couple examples in Spokane, WA but I can't remember where (not out of question given its proximity to the original sign from Kennewick, WA). Definitely an odd mast arm. No idea what they were smoking when they decided that looked even remotely acceptable.

[UCFKnights]

I wasn't really trying to be overly precise with my points. I was just trying to point out how minimal our standards are compared to other industrialised nations (not necessarily similarly-sized ones).

the reflective strip is only allowed to be yellow.

Didn't realise this until just now. I thought it was required to be reflective. I've seen white used on several occasions, so I didn't rule out the possibility of white being allowed.

That said, white should be the color. Yellow is used because British Columbia uses yellow backplates, so naturally, they used a reflective yellow strip when they first tried out the idea (because it blended in with the border during the day, but stood out at night). We could just as easily use white. Makes more sense too, because signals are regulatory devices, not warning devices.

When I was driving around Orlando I noticed they started using the fluorescent yellow retroreflective borders on traffic lights that are for schools instead of the standard yellow...

They also switched the bike trail sign from yellow to fluorescent yellow again... after switching it from fluorescent yellow to yellow probably about 2 years ago. They're so inconsistent between the two... its like the YIELD TO PEDS / STOP FOR PEDS signs, they can't decide which one they want for either of them (those are even worse, as they can't decide the color OR whether we need to yield or stop, whatever the difference is, sometimes there is a mix of all the combos at the same intersection)

[jakeroot]

This is a follow-up to an earlier discussion on the shortest traffic signals. I think I've found a new contender for Washington State:

116 St NE @ Smokey Point Blvd in Marysville, WA has a railway crossing on one side of the intersection. For one reason or another, Snohomish County decided that a mast-arm would not be used for the WB approach to the intersection. So, interestingly for Washington State, there is not only a near-side signal, but also three far side signals: one on the far left, one on the far right, and, most interestingly, one in the median (see overall setup here). The median-mounted signal is the odd one here. It is mounted much lower than any of the post-mounted corner signals. The signal is split phased, hence the arrow on the bottom:

[freebrickproductions]

This is a follow-up to an earlier discussion on the shortest traffic signals. I think I've found a new contender for Washington State:

116 St NE @ Smokey Point Blvd in Marysville, WA has a railway crossing on one side of the intersection. For one reason or another, Snohomish County decided that a mast-arm would not be used for the WB approach to the intersection. So, interestingly for Washington State, there is not only a near-side signal, but also three far side signals: one on the far left, one on the far right, and, most interestingly, one in the median (see overall setup here). The median-mounted signal is the odd one here. It is mounted much lower than any of the post-mounted corner signals. The signal is split phased, hence the arrow on the bottom:

Looks like it was done to avoid blocking the railroad crossing signal behind it.

[Throckmorton]

   
The thread title is pretty generic so I'm just going to throw this in the mix.   
   
https://goo.gl/maps/Qdzn6zRZGZr
   
85th and The Paseo, Kansas City, MO. This view is looking east. The flow of traffic at this spot is not complicated. When east/west is green, north/south is red and vice versa. That's it.   
   
There are nine signal lights. Three are suspended. Two of those are above the intersection for southbound and westbound traffic. You can see the third for eastbound in the near distance. The others are mounted on utility poles.   

The three yellows in this view sit about 30- 40 feet back from the intersection.   
   
Someone asked in another thread if there were any four ways left. This intersection could use one. Or something.   
   
   

[SignBridge]

Yeah, that looks like a really cheap, garbage quality installation.

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

I don't see how they thought this was the best option, in terms of installation.

How did they assure themselves that everyone and every type of vehicle could see this four-section?
What about vandals?

[jakeroot]

https://i.imgur.com/6CGk88k.png

Looks like it was done to avoid blocking the railroad crossing signal behind it.

Most likely. Although, you could setup the signals to avoid getting in the way of the railway lights. California does this a lot.

I don't see how they thought this was the best option, in terms of installation.

How did they assure themselves that everyone and every type of vehicle could see this four-section?
What about vandals?

Visibility seems pretty good. I just went through the intersection today. There are three other signals for the approach: one to the left of this light, one to the right, and one on the near-side of the intersection. If you can't manage to see any of these, you aren't trying.

Vandals aren't a big problem in Snohomish County. Besides, what are they gonna steal? The "keep right" sign? They could beat the shit out of the signal, but it's far from the only post-mounted signal in the area. It's just the lowest.

[jakeroot]

In Denver, at the off-ramps from Peña Blvd to East 56th Ave, there are signals facing the wrong-way. In addition to three signal facing the off-ramp, there are two signals (two 8-8-8 post-mounted heads) facing up on the on-ramps, seemingly at no one.

https://goo.gl/ygHwG1 --&-- https://goo.gl/zHBHz4

I'm not sure if they were meant to be pedestrian heads, but there is zero pedestrian accommodation in the area, so I'm not sure why Denver would bother at all.

[freebrickproductions]

In Denver, at the off-ramps from Peña Blvd to East 56th Ave, there are signals facing the wrong-way. In addition to three signal facing the off-ramp, there are two signals (two 8-8-8 post-mounted heads) facing up on the on-ramps, seemingly at no one.

https://goo.gl/ygHwG1 --&-- https://goo.gl/zHBHz4

I'm not sure if they were meant to be pedestrian heads, but there is zero pedestrian accommodation in the area, so I'm not sure why Denver would bother at all.

Maybe that was the original plan, to add pedestrian walkways later?

[roadfro]

In Denver, at the off-ramps from Peña Blvd to East 56th Ave, there are signals facing the wrong-way. In addition to three signal facing the off-ramp, there are two signals (two 8-8-8 post-mounted heads) facing up on the on-ramps, seemingly at no one.

https://goo.gl/ygHwG1 --&-- https://goo.gl/zHBHz4

I'm not sure if they were meant to be pedestrian heads, but there is zero pedestrian accommodation in the area, so I'm not sure why Denver would bother at all.

There are pedestrian crossing buttons for crossing the street here (newer looking buttons at that). So these signal heads facing the wrong way allow for peds to use the green phase for crossing–with the minimal pedestrian facilities/traffic at the intersection, this way makes more sense than installing ped heads for one little-used movement.

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

In Denver, at the off-ramps from Peña Blvd to East 56th Ave, there are signals facing the wrong-way. In addition to three signal facing the off-ramp, there are two signals (two 8-8-8 post-mounted heads) facing up on the on-ramps, seemingly at no one.

https://goo.gl/ygHwG1 --&-- https://goo.gl/zHBHz4

I'm not sure if they were meant to be pedestrian heads, but there is zero pedestrian accommodation in the area, so I'm not sure why Denver would bother at all.

There are pedestrian crossing buttons for crossing the street here (newer looking buttons at that). So these signal heads facing the wrong way allow for peds to use the green phase for crossing–with the minimal pedestrian facilities/traffic at the intersection, this way makes more sense than installing ped heads for one little-used movement.

So, is it ture that crosswalk buttons don't work-- now that some crossing signals are integrated into the signal timing.

[cl94]

In Denver, at the off-ramps from Peña Blvd to East 56th Ave, there are signals facing the wrong-way. In addition to three signal facing the off-ramp, there are two signals (two 8-8-8 post-mounted heads) facing up on the on-ramps, seemingly at no one.

https://goo.gl/ygHwG1 --&-- https://goo.gl/zHBHz4

I'm not sure if they were meant to be pedestrian heads, but there is zero pedestrian accommodation in the area, so I'm not sure why Denver would bother at all.

There are pedestrian crossing buttons for crossing the street here (newer looking buttons at that). So these signal heads facing the wrong way allow for peds to use the green phase for crossing–with the minimal pedestrian facilities/traffic at the intersection, this way makes more sense than installing ped heads for one little-used movement.

So, is it ture that crosswalk buttons don't work-- now that some crossing signals are integrated into the signal timing.

Depends on where you're talking about. In New York City, most crosswalk buttons haven't worked for decades. In other places, they definitely work.

[kphoger]

In Denver, at the off-ramps from Peña Blvd to East 56th Ave, there are signals facing the wrong-way. In addition to three signal facing the off-ramp, there are two signals (two 8-8-8 post-mounted heads) facing up on the on-ramps, seemingly at no one.

https://goo.gl/ygHwG1 --&-- https://goo.gl/zHBHz4

I'm not sure if they were meant to be pedestrian heads, but there is zero pedestrian accommodation in the area, so I'm not sure why Denver would bother at all.

There are pedestrian crossing buttons for crossing the street here (newer looking buttons at that). So these signal heads facing the wrong way allow for peds to use the green phase for crossing–with the minimal pedestrian facilities/traffic at the intersection, this way makes more sense than installing ped heads for one little-used movement.

I'm also curious to know if bicycles are allowed to use the highway shoulder opposite the flow of traffic.  If so, then the stoplights could also be for bicycles.  And even if not, what about a cyclist heading up the ramp who changes his mind and heads back down?

[freebrickproductions]

In Denver, at the off-ramps from Peña Blvd to East 56th Ave, there are signals facing the wrong-way. In addition to three signal facing the off-ramp, there are two signals (two 8-8-8 post-mounted heads) facing up on the on-ramps, seemingly at no one.

https://goo.gl/ygHwG1 --&-- https://goo.gl/zHBHz4

I'm not sure if they were meant to be pedestrian heads, but there is zero pedestrian accommodation in the area, so I'm not sure why Denver would bother at all.

There are pedestrian crossing buttons for crossing the street here (newer looking buttons at that). So these signal heads facing the wrong way allow for peds to use the green phase for crossing—with the minimal pedestrian facilities/traffic at the intersection, this way makes more sense than installing ped heads for one little-used movement.

So, is it ture that crosswalk buttons don't work-- now that some crossing signals are integrated into the signal timing.

Depends on where you're talking about. In New York City, most crosswalk buttons haven't worked for decades. In other places, they definitely work.

NYC is installing some new ped buttons that don't do anything other than give an audible signal for blind people, apparently.

[jakeroot]

In Denver, at the off-ramps from Peña Blvd to East 56th Ave, there are signals facing the wrong-way. In addition to three signal facing the off-ramp, there are two signals (two 8-8-8 post-mounted heads) facing up on the on-ramps, seemingly at no one.

https://goo.gl/ygHwG1 --&-- https://goo.gl/zHBHz4

I'm not sure if they were meant to be pedestrian heads, but there is zero pedestrian accommodation in the area, so I'm not sure why Denver would bother at all.

There are pedestrian crossing buttons for crossing the street here (newer looking buttons at that). So these signal heads facing the wrong way allow for peds to use the green phase for crossing–with the minimal pedestrian facilities/traffic at the intersection, this way makes more sense than installing ped heads for one little-used movement.

Ahh, didn't notice the pushbuttons.

Something odd though: the diagram attached to the pushbuttons indicate to pedestrians to cross on the white man and wait on a red hand! (doh!)... https://goo.gl/YwhfGD

And as it relates to that, how many pedestrians instinctively know to cross with a green signal? Such a setup is exceedingly rare these days. If anywhere needed a custom diagram, it would have been these crossings.