AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: Brian556 on March 28, 2020, 11:25:49 PM

Title: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: Brian556 on March 28, 2020, 11:25:49 PM
Just WTF...
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7446723,-92.2749567,3a,15y,101.63h,89.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPlSeakHOfIVwFNOG2GOvqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7446723,-92.2749567,3a,15y,101.63h,89.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPlSeakHOfIVwFNOG2GOvqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: wanderer2575 on March 29, 2020, 10:20:43 AM
Another instance of design taking precedence over functionality.
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: jt4 on March 29, 2020, 11:07:00 AM
What exactly are the signals for? I assume the red/yellow/green lights are redundant, but are the two right bulbs for buses?
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: jeffandnicole on March 29, 2020, 11:40:46 AM
It meets the requirement of dual signal heads at the intersection.

It's an odd way of doing it, and doesn't meet other requirements such as the 8 foot "social distancing" required between signal heads.
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: roadfro on March 29, 2020, 01:19:12 PM
I am not a fan of these modular signal frame structures. (Reno has a bunch downtown, and I've never liked them.) Interestingly, this intersection seems to be the only one around, and nearby traffic signals in three other directions appear to be a bit more normal style.

Quote from: jt4 on March 29, 2020, 11:07:00 AM
What exactly are the signals for? I assume the red/yellow/green lights are redundant, but are the two right bulbs for buses?

If you look closely (https://goo.gl/maps/NuJiYTCdkYPCDQwq7), you'll see that the two right side aspects aren't actually in use at all. Looks like 5-section heads where two sections are covered up. Perhaps there were some arrows here previously, but not now.
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: -- US 175 -- on March 29, 2020, 04:59:53 PM
Actually, the next intersection, Capital/Center, has them on 3 sides of the intersection.  Those do not have the extra 2 unlit aspects, although there is room for them.
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: Rick1962 on March 29, 2020, 06:52:34 PM
On the 5-lamp signals, those are straight and right arrows painted over. Original indications were:

R-R-Y-Straight Arrow-Right Arrow
R-R-Y-Straight Arrow-Right Arrow

1980s weirdness at it's best.



SM-T580

Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: US71 on March 30, 2020, 11:26:23 AM
I think I've seen similar near Wichita.
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: Amtrakprod on March 31, 2020, 11:39:28 AM
These are incredibly weird. They should've just done one signal on the right and one on the left side.


iPhone
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: TBKS1 on April 03, 2020, 02:11:56 PM
Lol these are classic. I posted about them some time back in the Traffic Signal thread.
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: US71 on April 03, 2020, 04:28:55 PM
Here's one without the extra blank outs: Capitol Ave and Center St in Little Rock

(https://live.staticflickr.com/4669/26560338618_3f632222d9_z_d.jpg)
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: RG407 on April 05, 2020, 10:00:38 PM
Well, they look kind of cool, but confusing, and confusing is not a desirable trait in traffic signal design.

Tampa did it better.
https://goo.gl/maps/UcwVpdLK5gZb44vD9
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: RobbieL2415 on April 05, 2020, 11:21:21 PM
They look like reject Seattle signals.
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: jakeroot on April 06, 2020, 12:16:31 AM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on April 05, 2020, 11:21:21 PM
They look like reject Seattle signals.

What's a Seattle signal?
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: formulanone on April 06, 2020, 09:19:43 AM
The first example reminds me of one-half of the FIA-spec race starting lights:
(https://c8.alamy.com/comp/EWC7WN/red-start-lights-in-a-racing-circuit-EWC7WN.jpg)

Facing the other direction - basically for TV viewers:
(https://www.electrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/fia-formel-e-formula-e-season-6-2020-11-min.png)
Title: Re: Inclredibly Strange Signals in Little Rock AR
Post by: Road Hog on April 06, 2020, 12:18:16 PM
The Little Rock lights date back to the late 1970s. At around the same time many of LR's downtown streets were closed to traffic and turned it into an outdoor pedestrian mall. I don't know how long it lasted but by the 90s the streets were open.