A setup that is no more

[M3019C LPS20]

I always enjoy to see intersections that are no more (regarding their original setup) in photographs, especially if I saw them in person many years ago.

In the late 1990s, as I remember, I occasionally visited the Rockaways in Queens, N.Y., and I saw various two-section (red and green) traffic signals still in service in some areas there. One intersection I remember had a two-way Marbelite cluster suspended from a mast-arm/guy wire setup. It was the only one at the intersection, while the others were mounted on poles, which was typical for those traffic signals in particular. A rather rare sight.

Years later, I looked high and low for a photograph of the intersection, since I was eager to see this old setup once again. I was unsuccessful for sometime, but I was fortunate in recent months, and one was provided to me by a fellow collector and enthusiast from Pennsylvania (many thanks). He visited the Rockaways in the Summer of 2004 and took a picture of the intersection.

[roadfro]

Wait... There were two-section red/green signals still in service as late as 2004 ???  That's incredible and surprising.

[Pete from Boston]

I'll bet little of this remains after the amount of saltwater that area took in 2012. 

[M3019C LPS20]

Wait... There were two-section red/green signals still in service as late as 2004 ???  That's incredible and surprising.

At that time in New York City, yes; however, this was near the end of their existence. The last survivors were scattered in the borough Queens in the early 2000s. The original goal of NYCDOT was to eliminate all two-section heads in the 1980s, but, for whatever reason, that did not happen.

I fondly remember the remaining survivors in Queens when I saw them in the late 1990s.

Between the years 2005 and 2006, the last survivors in New York City were removed from service, and, as of today, they are officially extinct.

[PHLBOS]

So now, the only time one will see a 2-section signal along a roadway (as opposed to a private business like bank teller windows or car washes) will be on a metered on-ramp to a highway.

[M3019C LPS20]

Actually, if you visit Central Park in Manhattan in New York, you could find various two-section (red and green) pedestrian signals still in service. They do not necessarily operate the same way as the vehicular heads did, though.

[KEK Inc.]

Interestingly enough, if you go to GSV, you can see there was no signal at that intersection in 2007. 

September 2007:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5855147,-73.8096138,3a,75y,230.45h,93.26t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1s04T3qTx6DMcgIXkVNi13Ig!2e0!5s20070901T000000

October 2012 (before Sandy):
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5855029,-73.8096126,3a,75y,213.96h,94.64t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s8qq3CTGrKKwNaPnyJpE9JA!2e0

January 2013:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5855298,-73.8096153,3a,50.4y,213.96h,94.64t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sQTO1XBvFSymmEfV4VuN8Rg!2e0!5s20130101T000000

[Pete from Boston]

How did it work?  Was there any warning of an impending red at all?

[SidS1045]

How did it work?  Was there any warning of an impending red at all?

Red and green showing together was the equivalent of a yellow light.  With some older controllers, both red and green being dark was the same as a yellow.

[M3019C LPS20]

Interestingly enough, if you go to GSV, you can see there was no signal at that intersection in 2007. 

September 2007:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5855147,-73.8096138,3a,75y,230.45h,93.26t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1s04T3qTx6DMcgIXkVNi13Ig!2e0!5s20070901T000000

October 2012 (before Sandy):
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5855029,-73.8096126,3a,75y,213.96h,94.64t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s8qq3CTGrKKwNaPnyJpE9JA!2e0

January 2013:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5855298,-73.8096153,3a,50.4y,213.96h,94.64t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1sQTO1XBvFSymmEfV4VuN8Rg!2e0!5s20130101T000000

The location is wrong. The setup in the picture above was originally at Beach 105th St. and Shore Front Pkwy.

[TEG24601]

I wish these were used for metering.  It seems like such a waste in Washington and Oregon to have 3-phase lights that are NEVER amber.  Then again, ramp metering is a stupid idea anyway.  It does nothing but add to congestion.

[jakeroot]

I wish these were used for metering.  It seems like such a waste in Washington and Oregon to have 3-phase lights that are NEVER amber.  Then again, ramp metering is a stupid idea anyway.  It does nothing but add to congestion.

1) I would imagine that it's cheaper to order pre-made three lens signals versus special ordering two-lens signals.

2) Studies have shown the opposite.

[jeffandnicole]

Traffic lights are made up of individual sections held together with a threaded bolt. 2 sections, 3 sections, 10 sections...doesn't really matter. They are just basic parts. The housing is the cheap part of a traffic light system.

[jakeroot]

Traffic lights are made up of individual sections held together with a threaded bolt. 2 sections, 3 sections, 10 sections...doesn't really matter. They are just basic parts. The housing is the cheap part of a traffic light system.

Well, that's that answered.

How about consistency? For the colourblind?

[M3019C LPS20]

Traffic lights are made up of individual sections held together with a threaded bolt. 2 sections, 3 sections, 10 sections...doesn't really matter. They are just basic parts. The housing is the cheap part of a traffic light system.

Well, that's that answered.

How about consistency? For the colourblind?

There were special traffic signal lenses that were originally designed by a man named Charles Adler in 1928. Each lens was distinguishable to a motorist that was colorblind.

The red lens had a horizontal line in the center, while the amber lens had a diagonal line. Lastly, the green lens had a vertical line.

Traffic signals in different towns across the country had them for a time, and they were effective to an extent. Today, they are few and far between and extremely valuable to collectors.

[M3019C LPS20]

Traffic lights are made up of individual sections held together with a threaded bolt. 2 sections, 3 sections, 10 sections...doesn't really matter. They are just basic parts. The housing is the cheap part of a traffic light system.

That was not always the case. Interestingly enough, the amber indication in New York City was in use for a short period of time (1920s decade). It was abandoned before 1930 by the city's Police Dept. for primarily two reasons.

1) Red and green indications were claimed to be effective indications to motorists (without amber). Therefore, less accidents at intersections when traffic signals changed from green to red.

2) A two-section unit was cheaper to install and manufacture than that of a three-section unit.

[jakeroot]

Traffic lights are made up of individual sections held together with a threaded bolt. 2 sections, 3 sections, 10 sections...doesn't really matter. They are just basic parts. The housing is the cheap part of a traffic light system.

Well, that's that answered.

How about consistency? For the colourblind?

There were special traffic signal lenses that were originally designed by a man named Charles Adler in 1928. Each lens was distinguishable to a motorist that was colorblind.

The red lens had a horizontal line in the center, while the amber lens had a diagonal line. Lastly, the green lens had a vertical line.

Traffic signals in different towns across the country had them for a time, and they were effective to an extent. Today, they are few and far between and extremely valuable to collectors.

I imagine they were phased out because of poor light emission? I think I read somewhere that the FHWA was opposed to shaped signal lamps because of inconsistent light levels or something.

[M3019C LPS20]

The only drawback that I am aware of is that each lens was prone to the "sun phantom effect."

[mrsman]

I wish these were used for metering.  It seems like such a waste in Washington and Oregon to have 3-phase lights that are NEVER amber.  Then again, ramp metering is a stupid idea anyway.  It does nothing but add to congestion.

I can't say specifically to Wash. and Ore., but in Calif. there was a meter light that did occasionally display amber (at least when I commuted this way in the 90's).  I-405 southbound on-ramp from La Cienega near LAX.  During morning rush, the freeway moves at a decent clip, so the meter light was a constant green.  Then, later on, it got busier (due to more traffic exiting at the next ramp which led to Century Blvd to LAX) it became a traditional red-green meter.  FOr the transition from solid green to the first red, a yellow light is employed.  Then red-green-red-green until the meter is turned off late at night.

I'm not sure if this is still employed nowadays however. 

[TEG24601]

I remember about 10 years ago living near San Marcos, and during the day, many of the metering lights were flashing amber, when not actually metering.  Still seems like a waste, in many ways.

[steviep24]

Video of a NYC two color signal in operation. Probably the last one in Rockaway, Queens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He3e1AYexNI

[Pete from Boston]

That's one hell of a short caution phase.

[jakeroot]

That's one hell of a short caution phase.

I hope they didn't have red-light cameras.

[M3019C LPS20]

Video of a NYC two color signal in operation. Probably the last one in Rockaway, Queens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He3e1AYexNI

That was recorded in 2005. It was in the same year that it was removed from service.

[SidS1045]

How about consistency? For the colourblind?

As long as they stay away from Tipperary Hill in Syracuse NY, no problem.