AARoads Forum

Missouri currently installs black horizontal mast arm signals (like this: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6812045,-90.4768507,3a,73.7y,301.53h,81.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sn3LnApcuupmOd4JEX35dWw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656. That Fee Fee/Olive install dates from 2017.
In fact I don't believe there are any yellow-fronted signal heads left in the STL area (this ancient one was replaced in the past year: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.653473,-90.5577002,3a,74.4y,308.83h,97.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sX4TwxDJ-AqSRsZbeMNPNHw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656.

For WisDOT, it is always black in front.  the rear uses black or yellow.

For the purpose of the poll, we'll do signals that appear black from the front. That means that signals with yellow backs (a la Kansas or Wisconsin) would be considered black.

The current-gen ConnDOT signals have black faces with yellow rear-ends and yellow reflector plates.  All new installations include IP video monitoring and many are being upgraded.
Municipalities are still free to use whatever they want.

Black, though modern ones are sometimes also grey.

Traditional one:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lysator.liu.se%2F%7Eriiga%2FBilder%2FFoton%2FP1020389.jpg&hash=7a6af5c09e0feadaeec1ecaa9f449c3b915470d5)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lysator.liu.se%2F%7Eriiga%2FBilder%2FFoton%2FP1020375.jpg&hash=1d488ca62cc29f159a5a19454855bdd21720057f)

Modern ones, flatter and with a grey casing/border:
(https://img10.ntm.eu/pt/public/img/10934667/0801120041/trafiksignalen-i-korsningen-ti)

NYSDOT currently installs black (more like a dark olive green) signals with back plates with the yellow surround. Many local agencies (like NYC, Rochester and Buffalo) install yellow signals with or without back plates.

Predominantly black, but occasional yellow.

Depends on the district.
Most towns use Black signals with yellow reflective backplates. Some towns use yellow frames and visors. Other places use all gray signals. Also certain towns use forest green traffic signal housings. Basically it's just a mess but the front of the signal is typically black or gray.


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Florida used to use yellow, but in the 1980's the state changed over to black.  It took up until the late 90's to rid most, but once in a while you will still find the original yellow colored like in Downtown Palatka.

New Jersey used dark green or light green, but then in the 1980's switched to yellow.  Cities like Newark and Jersey City always used yellow in many places previously as well.

Texas has a mix as some areas use black while others use yellow.  Galveston uses black heads as well as part of Houston, but Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio and US 59 cities north of Houston use yellow I have seen.  I believe its up to the TexDOT district or maybe municipalities.  The former was mentioned here about the installation of vertical verses horizontal, as some districts like the vertical while most of the districts like horizontal mounts.  San Antonio and Fort Worth you will find the traditional vertical primarily.

PennDOT's signals are typically plain yellow with black backplates. In recent years, they've begun outlining the backplates with reflective yellow, but the plain black backplates are still overwhelmingly more common.

MNDOT installs black signals and has since at least the mid-2000s, right around the time MNDOT switched to the unpainted galvanized poles. Before that, it was mostly yellow signals with black fronts and backplates to match the yellow-painted poles. My personal favorite was a short-lived "in between" phase that only lasted a short time where MNDOT installed black signals on the painted poles (https://goo.gl/maps/NJWjoCNVZxbXiHh6A). Most new signals are on unpainted galvanized steel poles and utilize black backplates, but over the past year or so there has been a push to install yellow reflective tape at some higher-risk intersections.

Here's what a typical new installation looks like pretty much anywhere in Minnesota, minus the reflective tape:
https://goo.gl/maps/3o1BnzNf2QZKd5iA7

Quote from: STLmapboy on May 26, 2020, 11:36:56 AM
In fact I don't believe there are any yellow-fronted signal heads left in the STL area (this ancient one was replaced in the past year: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.653473,-90.5577002,3a,74.4y,308.83h,97.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sX4TwxDJ-AqSRsZbeMNPNHw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656.

Did MoDOT get the partially yellow signal at US 61-67 and Litzsinger Road too? (https://goo.gl/maps/oipm8bS58aEAu6iF9)

Depends on the agency. UDOT signals are almost always yellow, but several cities (most notably Salt Lake City) install black signals.

We got this far in and no one responded "red, yellow and green"?

Fine.  As noted above, yellow for NJ.

Nevada signals tend to be all black in newer installs. Older signals were sometimes dark green.

Quote from: Roadrunner75 on May 27, 2020, 12:11:11 AM
We got this far in and no one responded "red, yellow and green"?

That was my first thought when seeing the thread...just got here a day late.  :)

Quote from: Revive 755 on May 26, 2020, 10:39:53 PM

Quote from: STLmapboy on May 26, 2020, 11:36:56 AM
In fact I don't believe there are any yellow-fronted signal heads left in the STL area (this ancient one was replaced in the past year: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.653473,-90.5577002,3a,74.4y,308.83h,97.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sX4TwxDJ-AqSRsZbeMNPNHw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656.

Did MoDOT get the partially yellow signal at US 61-67 and Litzsinger Road too? (https://goo.gl/maps/oipm8bS58aEAu6iF9)

Drove by a few days ago. They haven't nixed it yet. I thought they were going to redo the Lindbergh/Litzsinger light when the Lifetime Fitness went in, but apparently not.

Black with a yellow outline, as seen here:

https://goo.gl/maps/UX6virEGSPfpqBkG8 (https://goo.gl/maps/UX6virEGSPfpqBkG8)

MDOT SHA historically used yellow signals (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3618049,-77.1638604,3a,73.7y,39.99h,88.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4PolTJjconGjI9LyPSZyEQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en), but currently uses black signals (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.22466,-76.6979777,3a,75y,208.2h,86.14t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVzqNNbYaNnSODTQ80fj8AQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en). Yellow-outlined backplates (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5837515,-76.9896777,3a,75y,334.11h,87.55t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s81QeGCyN-laoxdI2mSV6gw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1?hl=en) are also starting to appear in some of their newest installations.

Yellow-outlined backplates (regardless of signal head color) appear to be spreading rapidly in many parts of the nation. In my area, Illinois has many of them in St. Louis' metro east. They appear to be common throughout other parts of the state as well. MoDOT does not seem quite as keen, especially in urban areas. I've seen precisely zero in STL and only a few  (https://www.google.pl/maps/@37.4427047,-89.6364799,3a,60y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVr8i_8Rbg-BWaiHaOP4eSA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192/) in rural areas.

Mostly the black (or very dark olive as described above) in Connecticut. When a backplate is installed, it's usually the kind with the yellow border, though I've seen some new installations without that. Yellow signals seem like they are on their way out here. Even the masts are black, so I guess that all around dark color scheme helps the installation blend in with the environment a bit more than silver poles and yellow signal housings.

From the front, Illinois' signals are black.  It doesn't matter if they're new or old.  The will be the occasional yellow outlines that pops up in places, but they're not too common, in my experience.

The paint on the back, though, is black on any newer installations.  It's also black on any signal that has been replaced or repainted.  Prior to painting signals black, the paint was green in Chicago and yellow everywhere else.

INDOT used to be yellow, but they have been replacing it with black over the past few years...

Quote from: roadfro on May 27, 2020, 12:13:08 PM
Nevada signals tend to be all black in newer installs. Older signals were sometimes dark green.

This is a trend I've seen in Washington as well, and maybe California too. Dark green was very common for older signals, but black now dominates.

You can see a good before/after along Canyon Road in Pierce County, WA (https://goo.gl/maps/JdqHdbjcfVtnjoXm6). The county added supplemental signals over the last couple years, which are newer McCains and are painted black. The original PEEK signals (everything overhead) are dark green, as was specified when the road was rebuilt in the late noughties.

---

Washington State is a mix between black and yellow. King County (where Seattle is located) installs all-yellow signals (usually painting the entire backside of the backplate yellow too), and a couple jurisdictions within King County (maybe now just Renton) follow this practice. Everywhere else, black signals now dominate. Dark green was standard for decades.

Quote from: STLmapboy on May 27, 2020, 04:32:25 PM
Yellow-outlined backplates (regardless of signal head color) appear to be spreading rapidly in many parts of the nation. In my area, Illinois has many of them in St. Louis' metro east. They appear to be common throughout other parts of the state as well. MoDOT does not seem quite as keen, especially in urban areas. I've seen precisely zero in STL and only a few  (https://www.google.pl/maps/@37.4427047,-89.6364799,3a,60y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVr8i_8Rbg-BWaiHaOP4eSA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192/) in rural areas.

MO 30 west of Fenton used to have a good number of reflective backplates. (https://goo.gl/maps/1nKmVRMoK6Ms4vpx9)

There are also a few on MO 94 between US 40 and MO 364. (https://goo.gl/maps/HA6sM6rHDAGhaYGd7)

And a couple locations (https://goo.gl/maps/bfrCA3sKZDewiqbBA)  on Veteran's Memorial Parkway in St. Peters (not sure who maintains that road) (https://goo.gl/maps/YTRLbREBU8YqTFm16).

Quote from: STLmapboy on May 29, 2020, 11:13:03 PM

Quote from: Revive 755 on May 29, 2020, 10:55:04 PM

Quote from: STLmapboy on May 27, 2020, 04:32:25 PM
Yellow-outlined backplates (regardless of signal head color) appear to be spreading rapidly in many parts of the nation. In my area, Illinois has many of them in St. Louis' metro east. They appear to be common throughout other parts of the state as well. MoDOT does not seem quite as keen, especially in urban areas. I've seen precisely zero in STL and only a few  (https://www.google.pl/maps/@37.4427047,-89.6364799,3a,60y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVr8i_8Rbg-BWaiHaOP4eSA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192/) in rural areas.

MO 30 west of Fenton used to have a good number of reflective backplates. (https://goo.gl/maps/1nKmVRMoK6Ms4vpx9)

There are also a few on MO 94 between US 40 and MO 364. (https://goo.gl/maps/HA6sM6rHDAGhaYGd7)

And a couple locations (https://goo.gl/maps/bfrCA3sKZDewiqbBA)  on Veteran's Memorial Parkway in St. Peters (not sure who maintains that road) (https://goo.gl/maps/YTRLbREBU8YqTFm16).

I remember the MO-30 backplates (driving down to a camp in Dittmer)! They took off the reflection? Most of those signals are pretty new (GSV shows them installed in 2007).

EDIT: I also found an urban yellow frame at a very new Berry/I-44 light: https://www.google.pl/maps/@38.5756364,-90.3773643,3a,75y,182.16h,91.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1su8ZKc5a6LNCrYh_bUfuMAg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Quote from: STLmapboy on May 30, 2020, 08:25:53 PM

Quote from: STLmapboy on May 29, 2020, 11:13:03 PM

Quote from: Revive 755 on May 29, 2020, 10:55:04 PM

Quote from: STLmapboy on May 27, 2020, 04:32:25 PM
Yellow-outlined backplates (regardless of signal head color) appear to be spreading rapidly in many parts of the nation. In my area, Illinois has many of them in St. Louis' metro east. They appear to be common throughout other parts of the state as well. MoDOT does not seem quite as keen, especially in urban areas. I've seen precisely zero in STL and only a few  (https://www.google.pl/maps/@37.4427047,-89.6364799,3a,60y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVr8i_8Rbg-BWaiHaOP4eSA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192/) in rural areas.

MO 30 west of Fenton used to have a good number of reflective backplates. (https://goo.gl/maps/1nKmVRMoK6Ms4vpx9)

There are also a few on MO 94 between US 40 and MO 364. (https://goo.gl/maps/HA6sM6rHDAGhaYGd7)

And a couple locations (https://goo.gl/maps/bfrCA3sKZDewiqbBA)  on Veteran's Memorial Parkway in St. Peters (not sure who maintains that road) (https://goo.gl/maps/YTRLbREBU8YqTFm16).

I remember the MO-30 backplates (driving down to a camp in Dittmer)! They took off the reflection? Most of those signals are pretty new (GSV shows them installed in 2007).

EDIT: I also found an urban reflector frame at a very new Berry/I-44 light: https://www.google.pl/maps/@38.5756364,-90.3773643,3a,75y,182.16h,91.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1su8ZKc5a6LNCrYh_bUfuMAg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

It used to have some of the old yellow signals (2011 streetview) on a very rusty pole: https://www.google.pl/maps/@38.5756262,-90.3773746,3a,24.8y,160.52h,119.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stjjiuImBaR_aq8AD1LJtug!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Black is the norm in Arizona, although sometimes you will see yellow painted warning flashers.  Some cities are also now putting the yellow reflective tape on their backplates.

I feel like they should make them so that main roads have yellow backplates (flashing yellow in case of malfunction) and minor roads have black backplates (flashing red in case of malfunction). Nowhere actually does this, though.

Quote from: Pink Jazz on May 30, 2020, 08:48:27 PM
Black is the norm in Arizona, although sometimes you will see yellow painted warning flashers.  Some cities are also now putting the yellow reflective tape on their backplates.

Northern and Central Arizona though, no? Tucson is quite well known for their all-yellow signals.

Quote from: 1 on May 30, 2020, 09:13:47 PM
I feel like they should make them so that main roads have yellow backplates (flashing yellow in case of malfunction) and minor roads have black backplates (flashing red in case of malfunction). Nowhere actually does this, though.

For at least most, if not all of Illinois and Missouri flashing for malfunctions is red for all approaches.  Plus the retroreflective backplates still work if the signal looses power.

IIRC only Houston, TX was testing any kind of illuminated back plate.

Quote from: jakeroot on May 30, 2020, 10:15:50 PM

Quote from: Pink Jazz on May 30, 2020, 08:48:27 PM
Black is the norm in Arizona, although sometimes you will see yellow painted warning flashers.  Some cities are also now putting the yellow reflective tape on their backplates.

Northern and Central Arizona though, no? Tucson is quite well known for their all-yellow signals.

I would say most of Arizona installs black signals with black backplates. Tucson and Pima County typically install yellow signals with black backplates. Sierra Vista is the only other area of the state where I have seen yellow signals.

In Oregon new signals are black with yellow borders, here's some from the recently built shopping center in Warrenton:

(https://i.imgur.com/ZerYILf.jpg)