8 Inch Signals verses 12 Inch Signals

[roadman65]

As we all know most of the US uses 12 inch signal heads, except in some areas, specifically New York and most of New Jersey where 8 inch signal heads are used.   Then you have some places like Ontario that uses 12 inch red lenses with 8 inch amber and green lenses as well as Virginia at one time.

I was wondering if there is a preference among any of you.  To me its funny as there are some old signals in Orlando, FL that use 8 inch heads that look out of place when I see them as Florida uses 12 inch heads, especially when I was raised in New Jersey where we primarily used  8 inch heads and they were the norm for me for years.  Yet, when I go to New York and see a rare 12 inch assembly there, that sight looks unusual to me, but when I visit New Jersey, neither looks out of the ordinary, even in places where 12 inch signals are used on a main road with 8 inch ones on the side road at the same signal.  In the Garden State you will see many two way signal heads with one 12 and the other being 8.

I guess to me it really does not matter, except where it is not the norm for the area, though I would not lose sleep or anything over those strange occurrences.  What does everyone here prefer?

[Alex]

I was wondering if there is a preference among any of you.  To me its funny as there are some old signals in Orlando, FL that use 8 inch heads that look out of place when I see them as Florida uses 12 inch heads, especially when I was raised in New Jersey where we primarily used  8 inch heads and they were the norm for me for years.

I thought the old sets in Orlando were replaced now? There were only a handful of intersections left when I lived there in 2008 (Orange Avenue under the 408, etc.).

I like variety, so I welcome whenever I see 8" signals or the 12-8-8" setup, especially if they are older models.

Here in Northwest Florida, signals are made completely irrelevant stylewise because they are all mounted horizontally on mast-arms with 12" lens of course, giving them a uniform and bland look...

The Mobile area is switching slowly to mast-arm supported signals, with all black signals n Baldwin and Mobile Counties, and the yellow signals with black visors and faceplates combos being used in Mobile. All 12" of course; the last few 8" signals in Mobile are likely gone (there were only a couple of intersections left last I checked).

[OracleUsr]

I dunno; I like the classic look of the 12-8-8 (or the 12-8-8-12 or 12-8-8-8) signals.

[Big John]

2009 MUTCD now mandates 12" except for a few circumstances.

[kj3400]

Baltimore has 8" signals everywhere, so I grew up liking 12" signals better. And even then I only like particular makes of 12" signals.

[roadman65]

Baltimore has 8" signals everywhere, so I grew up liking 12" signals better. And even then I only like particular makes of 12" signals.

Does MD still have the 8 inch with the attached two 12 inch large arrows for protected left turns at some intersections?

You know I almost forgot about MD using 8 inch lenses in some places.

[M3019C LPS20]

Since I originally grew up in the city of New York, I prefer 8" traffic signals. In my opinion, I doubt that the city's D.O.T. will convert from 8" to 12" in the future, since the city continues to install brand new 8" traffic signals from mainly General Traffic Equipment.

12" traffic signals are fairly common to see in various locations of the city. They exist on several major thoroughfares, such as West Side Highway, for example.

Also, I would assume this is merely a New York City "thing," but they are typically equipped with 12-8-8 traffic signals. I personally like the set-up. They are normally connected to brackets, while 12-8-8 traffic signals are suspended. Below, are two examples.


http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=40.607705,-74.089426&spn=0.000016,0.006866&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.607584,-74.089553&panoid=I-N9p9T6GQvthxaF7MsVUw&cbp=12,22.9,,0,2.62

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=40.616374,-74.156812&spn=0.000016,0.006866&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.616374,-74.156812&panoid=RSW-lng9Z19bAl1H13Apkw&cbp=12,305.97,,1,-11.38

[vtk]

In Ohio, sometimes you'll see 8" red-yellow-green + 12" yellow and green arrows in a variation of the common doghouse assembly that's almost perfectly rectangular.  I should try to get a picture of one, but try looking up 1st & Grandview in Grandview Heights with Google Street View...

[roadman65]

Actually the 12-8-8 thing is used in many places.  The ones in New York that are 12 inch stand out more just as the few left 8 inch ones in Orlando do.  Your mind gets used to a way and you notice the changes that is why in New Jersey that has been implementing both over the years I grew up never struck me at all, but either or in other places do.

NYC and NJ both have a way of mix and matching not only signal heads but mast arms as well. Some places in Florida use whatever equipment they have when poles need replacing, so you will see a span wire assembly with a mast arm set up that looks tacky, but in NYC or New Jersey had that it to me would not be a thing, but the norm.

[kj3400]

Baltimore has 8" signals everywhere, so I grew up liking 12" signals better. And even then I only like particular makes of 12" signals.

Does MD still have the 8 inch with the attached two 12 inch large arrows for protected left turns at some intersections?

You know I almost forgot about MD using 8 inch lenses in some places.

Yes. We use those everywhere. They supplement the 12" doghouses. These are actually what vtk was talking about. Here's an example not far from me:

http://goo.gl/maps/qI6fg

[M3019C LPS20]

NYC and NJ both have a way of mix and matching not only signal heads but mast arms as well. Some places in Florida use whatever equipment they have when poles need replacing, so you will see a span wire assembly with a mast arm set up that looks tacky, but in NYC or New Jersey had that it to me would not be a thing, but the norm.

Slightly off topic, but I remember pedestals were commonly used throughout the five boroughs for quite a long period of time. Although a traditional and decorative mast-arm was in use (commonly known as the "wheelie") as well; however, in a sense, it was inferior to the pedestal.

It was in 1954 or so that the city first began to use the mast-arm/guy wire set-up. A set-up that might be one of the oldest in the city is in the Bronx. Two are in use at the intersection, and each one is stamped as "1954." Aside from them, the traffic signals themselves also date back to 1954. Original Marbelite "Flat top" traffic signals. They are one of the oldest, too.

Below, is the intersection.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=fordham+university&hl=en&ll=40.859623,-73.887413&spn=0.000032,0.019741&fb=1&gl=us&hq=fordham+university&cid=0,0,6696377237226932815&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=40.859514,-73.887526&panoid=xqV6T2QNO7gjVEMKj0V6sA&cbp=12,28.68,,0,5.2

[cpzilliacus]

I dunno; I like the classic look of the 12-8-8 (or the 12-8-8-12 or 12-8-8-8) signals.

Leesburg, Virginia has a slew of 12-8-8's in its historic downtown area.

I recently posted some images of those "modern" 12-8-8 signal heads here on AAROADS.

[Takumi]

I prefer 12-8-8s for the historical look. My brother has an old one in his room...I occasionally think about getting one myself one day.

[OracleUsr]

I dunno; I like the classic look of the 12-8-8 (or the 12-8-8-12 or 12-8-8-8) signals.

Leesburg, Virginia has a slew of 12-8-8's in its historic downtown area.

I recently posted some images of those "modern" 12-8-8 signal heads here on AAROADS.

Yeah, I saw those.  Cool pics.

Is there anywhere else besides High Point where the hoods on the yellow light lenses were elongated compared to the other lamps?

[Alps]

I love 12-8-8s, including my only owned signal. My next favorite is 8-8-8s; one of my comments contributed to keeping them in limited circumstances in the MUTCD, which NYC has taken full advantage of. They're just so appropriate in urban contexts. Imagine a sea of 12" lights all over Manhattan.

[M3019C LPS20]

I love 12-8-8s, including my only owned signal. My next favorite is 8-8-8s; one of my comments contributed to keeping them in limited circumstances in the MUTCD, which NYC has taken full advantage of. They're just so appropriate in urban contexts. Imagine a sea of 12" lights all over Manhattan.

I, too, am fond of 12-8-8 traffic signals. My ideal manufacturer would be Marbelite, since New York City is still quite dominant in Marbelite signal equipment. I also like 8-8-12, 8-8-8-12-12 (in line), and 8-12-12 traffic signals. These are common to see throughout the boroughs as well.

I definitely agree with your opinion about 8" traffic signals in an urban environment. Try to imagine a generic mast-arm as the norm throughout the five boroughs.  I'm actually aware of one set-up that exists on Staten Island. The intersection was upgraded a couple of years ago. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=staten+island&hl=en&ll=40.579322,-74.077967&spn=0.004237,0.009871&hnear=Staten+Island,+Richmond,+New+York&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.579381,-74.078092&panoid=-feqgVyRdgD3k5KDPZNzEA&cbp=12,134.78,,0,-0.3

[Mdcastle]

When I'm collecting I prefer 8". When I'm out driving I prefer 12"

There were a couple of 8-8-12s in Bloomington that were installed in 1984. I told Hennepin county that one of the Don't Walk bulbs was out, and they came in and replaced all the pedestrian signals with new McCain countdowns as well as the 8-8-12 vehicle signals.

Minneapolis used 8s until recently, there's literally a ton of 8" Durasigs out there, but they're being replaced with 12s as needed.

[realjd]

The place I most often see 8" signals is Key West. There are a handful of 8" mast arm signals in the old part of town. Personally, I think they look dumb. There's no reason not to use a full size signal on those particular installations.

[NYhwyfan]

https://maps.google.com/?ll=42.991064,-78.840407&spn=0.002958,0.004823&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=42.990992,-78.840281&panoid=pMdp1RJTJn0DtoAIzowZoQ&cbp=12,294.36,,0,2.41

Tonawanda, NY  - A bunch of 12-8-8 signals including 12-8-8 doghouse's with 12-12 left turn heads

[Mdcastle]

Even if you aren't in the market for a used traffic signal I do recommend checking out Twin Green Traffic Signal's Facebook page. Besides the stuff he's selling he posts a lot of pictures of New York traffic signals in operation, including some from the perspective of boom trucks, etc.

[M3019C LPS20]

Even if you aren't in the market for a used traffic signal I do recommend checking out Twin Green Traffic Signal's Facebook page. Besides the stuff he's selling he posts a lot of pictures of New York traffic signals in operation, including some from the perspective of boom trucks, etc.

Phil (owner of Twin Green) works in the field, so he's able to obtain these frequently. He's usually a cool guy to deal with.

[Brandon]

Illinois used to use the 12-8-8 a lot, and Rockford still has a ton of them, along with a bunch of other strange signals.

[PHLBOS]

In Ocean City, NJ; there are some newly-installed 8-8-8 signal assemblies along 9th St.  These were installed within the last two(?) years.

[mrsman]

In the L.A. area, the classic set up  is 8-8-8 on the left and right poles with a 12-12-12 on the mast arm.  In essence you have a light at each corner and in the middle of the street.  Easy to see.

When driving in this area, I always feel as though I'm missing a light.  MD suburbs tend to use 2 12-12-12 hanging over the right side of the street on wire or on a mast arm.  If I'm turning left, I have to look over my right to see the light, even though I should be looking slightly left towards opposing traffic.\

In DC, I have a signal on my right an on my left, but I'm missing the mast arm on most signals.

[KEK Inc.]

Most of Seattle is 8-8-8, but newer signals are 12-12-12.