AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: Brian556 on January 01, 2020, 11:43:39 PM

Title: Strange Signal Setup Involving RR Crossing in Baton Rouge LA
Post by: Brian556 on January 01, 2020, 11:43:39 PM
Signal heads before crossing have small yellow lights on bottom instead of green...one is illuminated while the signals beyond the crossing are red. If you move around, the signal heads before the crossing disappear...looks like they have recently been removed

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4695983,-91.1636381,3a,36.4y,12.25h,92t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D131.38976%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4695983,-91.1636381,3a,36.4y,12.25h,92t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D131.38976%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656)
Title: Re: Strange Signal Setup Involving RR Crossing in Baton Rouge LA
Post by: US 89 on January 02, 2020, 12:44:02 AM
I believe that is known as a queue cutter - this one has a flashing yellow in the bottom section (as do some other examples I've seen in California, but I've also seen RYG installations like this one in North Salt Lake, Utah (https://i.imgur.com/8GwQRzd.jpg)). The idea is that when a downstream traffic signal is red or railroad crossing is activated, the queue cutter turns red so that traffic won't back up onto the upstream crossing.

In my opinion, it's a stupid signal because you should be able to correctly determine whether you have enough room on the other side before you enter the first crossing.

Edit: on second thought, you can't even stop on the other side of the train tracks in the LA example. Perhaps the front signal only turns red when a train is coming?
Title: Re: Strange Signal Setup Involving RR Crossing in Baton Rouge LA
Post by: Amtrakprod on January 02, 2020, 01:20:32 PM
Quote from: Brian556 on January 01, 2020, 11:43:39 PM
Signal heads before crossing have small yellow lights on bottom instead of green...one is illuminated while the signals beyond the crossing are red. If you move around, the signal heads before the crossing disappear...looks like they have recently been removed

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4695983,-91.1636381,3a,36.4y,12.25h,92t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D131.38976%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4695983,-91.1636381,3a,36.4y,12.25h,92t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D131.38976%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656)
look at recent street view, it is gone.
Title: Re: Strange Signal Setup Involving RR Crossing in Baton Rouge LA
Post by: US71 on January 02, 2020, 01:35:26 PM
Quote from: Amtrakprod on January 02, 2020, 01:20:32 PM
Quote from: Brian556 on January 01, 2020, 11:43:39 PM
Signal heads before crossing have small yellow lights on bottom instead of green...one is illuminated while the signals beyond the crossing are red. If you move around, the signal heads before the crossing disappear...looks like they have recently been removed

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4695983,-91.1636381,3a,36.4y,12.25h,92t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D131.38976%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4695983,-91.1636381,3a,36.4y,12.25h,92t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D131.38976%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656)
look at recent street view, it is gone.

Remind me of old fire department signals
Title: Re: Strange Signal Setup Involving RR Crossing in Baton Rouge LA
Post by: roadman on January 02, 2020, 03:43:16 PM
Quote from: US71 on January 02, 2020, 01:35:26 PM
Quote from: Amtrakprod on January 02, 2020, 01:20:32 PM
Quote from: Brian556 on January 01, 2020, 11:43:39 PM
Signal heads before crossing have small yellow lights on bottom instead of green...one is illuminated while the signals beyond the crossing are red. If you move around, the signal heads before the crossing disappear...looks like they have recently been removed

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4695983,-91.1636381,3a,36.4y,12.25h,92t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D131.38976%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4695983,-91.1636381,3a,36.4y,12.25h,92t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DG6wyiGdL_i8roo0mc0zEbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D131.38976%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656)
look at recent street view, it is gone.

Remind me of old fire department signals

My guess is that the 12-12-8 traffic signals predated the crossing signals, and perhaps the regular traffic signals at this intersection as well.  That would explain the use of flashing yellow instead of flashing or steady green for the 8 inch lens.
Title: Re: Strange Signal Setup Involving RR Crossing in Baton Rouge LA
Post by: royo6022 on January 02, 2020, 11:52:34 PM
This similar setup is seen at Morgan Ave and Burkhardt Rd in Evansville, IN

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.9945113,-87.4738371,3a,75y,1.97h,82.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDSXaKWFH47KY1jIsGUlv-w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Title: Re: Strange Signal Setup Involving RR Crossing in Baton Rouge LA
Post by: mrsman on January 10, 2020, 02:24:39 PM
Quote from: royo6022 on January 02, 2020, 11:52:34 PM
This similar setup is seen at Morgan Ave and Burkhardt Rd in Evansville, IN

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.9945113,-87.4738371,3a,75y,1.97h,82.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDSXaKWFH47KY1jIsGUlv-w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

They really put the signal far back from the RR crossing.  Also, don't like how they do not have a crossing arm for the traffic making right turns.
Title: Re: Strange Signal Setup Involving RR Crossing in Baton Rouge LA
Post by: kphoger on January 10, 2020, 02:34:43 PM
Quote from: US71 on January 02, 2020, 01:35:26 PM
Remind me of old fire department signals

Hey, remember old fire department signals?
:-D
Title: Re: Strange Signal Setup Involving RR Crossing in Baton Rouge LA
Post by: royo6022 on January 11, 2020, 12:43:56 PM
Quote from: mrsman on January 10, 2020, 02:24:39 PM
Quote from: royo6022 on January 02, 2020, 11:52:34 PM
This similar setup is seen at Morgan Ave and Burkhardt Rd in Evansville, IN

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.9945113,-87.4738371,3a,75y,1.97h,82.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDSXaKWFH47KY1jIsGUlv-w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

They really put the signal far back from the RR crossing.  Also, don't like how they do not have a crossing arm for the traffic making right turns.

I agree. It really was a dangerous setup until recently. I believe a few years ago they stopped using those tracks as well as some others around town. Last year, they completely removed tracks from a similar intersection on US 41 that really would've been really dangerous had they still be running trains through. They've since built alternate routes but the traffic is too prevalent through the area for the removal of it to make any sense. Still an interesting crossing to say the least.

Here's the intersection at US 41 I was talking about:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0173775,-87.5390278,3a,75y,1.42h,93.73t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sJFwMhd_WikssRs69Sv7Wfg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DJFwMhd_WikssRs69Sv7Wfg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D38.449802%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Notice how the tracks go diagonally through the 4 lane highway...