While traveling around the Denver area the last couple of days, I noticed that CDOT is starting to implement the yellow-bordered backplates on it's traffic signals, which is already starting to become common in states like Ohio.
Unfortunately, with camera issues, I was unable to get a shot or two of the lights in the wild, and GSV is not recent enough. However, the ones I have seen were along CO-74/Evergreen Parkway in Evergreen, CO as well as the signals at the C-470/Alameda Parkway interchange, all in the western Denver area. I was surprised on the latter location since the exit itself was only a few years old.
There are also some along Parker Rd (CO 83) also that have been around for awhile, but CDOT uses them pretty sparingly, usually only on higher-speed approaches. Of local agencies around here Lakewood seems to use them the most. I don't think I've seen a single one put up by Denver.
The city of Missoula received some yellow backplates a few weeks ago while they were installing a new traffic light at Dore Lane and Brooks Street (US 12/93 Business) so I do believe Missoula may be in the works of phasing in some yellow backplated signals. As for Colorado, I'm not entirely sure because I've only been in CO a few times in Loveland, Greeley and Fort Collins so I wouldn't know exactly if the state is implementing yellow backplated signals or not.
And on the other side of the country, I've noticed Region 10 of NYSDOT is starting to put black backplates with reflective yellow borders up. They put it along NY 27A in Bay Shore and there was just a bunch installed at NY 112 at Suffolk CR 16 in Medford.
Quote from: Milepost61 on June 08, 2014, 07:08:11 PM
I don't think I've seen a single one put up by Denver.
Denver is still in the "dark ages" with a lot of the secondary intersections with span-wire signals.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.667473,-104.931534,3a,90y,284h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sL7R8KK098WoUK-JDsMrhJg!2e0!6m1!1e1
I don't foresee Denver to invest in new/upgraded backplates unless they are on actual State or US Routes through town.
Denver actually has a fairly aggressive signal upgrade program. The span wires are beginning to become the exception rather than the rule. Any new or upgraded installation uses mast arms and backplates.
Can someone give more background to these new backplates?
I've seen some from IDOT recently as well on US 12.
They first came up as an interim update to the 2003 MUTCD. The 2009 MUTCD allows them as an option on any signal. There's some background studies at the bottom of this page:
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/res-interim_approvals.htm
The only ones I've ever seen are at an intersection with a school driveway. They don't appear to materially affect the signal's visibility, in my opinion.
Not sure if Utah was was mentioned yet as staring to use yellow-border backplates, but there were many along US-191 in downtown Moab when I went through there last week.