Favorite Traffic Signal design

[jakeroot]

I like the Quebec ones, except for using a flashing green in place of a green left arrow at some intersections.

Could you expand a little on what you mean? I know, in Canada, the green arrow flashes to distinguish itself from the amber arrow, which occupies the same position.

If I remember correctly, at least Ontario used a flashing green orb as a way to indicate a protected left, but this has been long discontinued, AFAIK.

I'm talking about a flashing green orb being used for a protected left. I've seen it most often in Quebec on what seem to be older installations and I don't like it. I don't think I've seen it in Ontario. I've also never seen a flashing green arrow in Canada. ON and QC, at least with their more modern signals, follow the rest of North America with their signals, except for QC's unique double reds.

I have seen 4 section signals in New York where the green and yellow arrows occupy the same (bottom) section, but the green doesn't flash.

The flashing green arrow is strictly a Canadian thing. Never seen one in the US. Both countries use bi-modal signals, but Canada distinguishes the two colors using a flashing green. BC, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan all use flashing green arrows for this indication. Not sure about Quebec or the Maritimes.

The flashing green orb in BC (where I am most of the time) indicates a pedestrian crossing. It appears (through some small research) that BC is alone in this party, however, the flashing green orb appears to have been phased out across the rest of Canada for protected movements.

Unless someone knows otherwise? I seem to remember that it was more common, but I am fairly certain that new flashing-green-orb-for-protected-movement signals aren't a thing anymore.

[SignGeek101]

I like the Quebec ones, except for using a flashing green in place of a green left arrow at some intersections.

Could you expand a little on what you mean? I know, in Canada, the green arrow flashes to distinguish itself from the amber arrow, which occupies the same position.

If I remember correctly, at least Ontario used a flashing green orb as a way to indicate a protected left, but this has been long discontinued, AFAIK.

I'm talking about a flashing green orb being used for a protected left. I've seen it most often in Quebec on what seem to be older installations and I don't like it. I don't think I've seen it in Ontario. I've also never seen a flashing green arrow in Canada. ON and QC, at least with their more modern signals, follow the rest of North America with their signals, except for QC's unique double reds.

I have seen 4 section signals in New York where the green and yellow arrows occupy the same (bottom) section, but the green doesn't flash.

The flashing green arrow is strictly a Canadian thing. Never seen one in the US. Both countries use bi-modal signals, but Canada distinguishes the two colors using a flashing green. BC, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan all use flashing green arrows for this indication. Not sure about Quebec or the Maritimes.

The flashing green orb in BC (where I am most of the time) indicates a pedestrian crossing. It appears (through some small research) that BC is alone in this party, however, the flashing green orb appears to have been phased out across the rest of Canada for protected movements.

Unless someone knows otherwise? I seem to remember that it was more common, but I am fairly certain that new flashing-green-orb-for-protected-movement signals aren't a thing anymore.

Ontario doesn't use it. Instead, it's a solid green left arrow. A 'LEFT TURN SIGNAL' sign is also posted next to the signal. I don't know if this type of signage next to a left turn signal is used elsewhere, but I seem to recall seeing it in BC.

Winnipeg specifically uses black back plating on left turning traffic signals (as well as the flashing green arrow), and yellow for standard ones.

https://goo.gl/maps/FdxccsZuCBr (picture the green arrows flashing here)

I kind of wish Canada gave doghouse signals a try.

[jakeroot]

Ontario doesn't use it. Instead, it's a solid green left arrow. A 'LEFT TURN SIGNAL' sign is also posted next to the signal. I don't know if this type of signage next to a left turn signal is used elsewhere, but I seem to recall seeing it in BC.

For what it's worth, I'm referring only to signals that are protective/permissive. Protected-only signals are, as far as I know, solid green arrows Canada-wide. The only reason the green arrow flashes in the four-head setup is because it occupies the same position as the yellow arrow. Protected-only signals do not share colors, ergo, the arrow need not flash.

BC does not use red arrows for their protected-only signal heads, so each signal head gets a "LEFT TURN SIGNAL" sign:

I kind of wish Canada gave doghouse signals a try.

I don't really see the reason. At least in BC, if you see a flashing green arrow, you know that the signal allows permissive movements. The differentiation between the solid and flashing green arrows may be helpful for some.

[SidS1045]

The flashing green arrow is strictly a Canadian thing.

Not strictly.  Massachusetts still has some, although I believe they're slowly being phased out.

[jakeroot]

The flashing green arrow is strictly a Canadian thing.

Not strictly.  Massachusetts still has some, although I believe they're slowly being phased out.

I know that Mass had some flashing green lights, but I thought they were orbs?

[SidS1045]

The flashing green arrow is strictly a Canadian thing.

Not strictly.  Massachusetts still has some, although I believe they're slowly being phased out.

I know that Mass had some flashing green lights, but I thought they were orbs?

Most are, but I've seen a few arrows.

[jakeroot]

The flashing green arrow is strictly a Canadian thing.

Not strictly.  Massachusetts still has some, although I believe they're slowly being phased out.

I know that Mass had some flashing green lights, but I thought they were orbs?

Most are, but I've seen a few arrows.

Very cool. Do you remember where they were?

[mrfoxboy]

Ontario doesn't use it. Instead, it's a solid green left arrow. A 'LEFT TURN SIGNAL' sign is also posted next to the signal. I don't know if this type of signage next to a left turn signal is used elsewhere, but I seem to recall seeing it in BC.

For what it's worth, I'm referring only to signals that are protective/permissive. Protected-only signals are, as far as I know, solid green arrows Canada-wide. The only reason the green arrow flashes in the four-head setup is because it occupies the same position as the yellow arrow. Protected-only signals do not share colors, ergo, the arrow need not flash.

BC does not use red arrows for their protected-only signal heads, so each signal head gets a "LEFT TURN SIGNAL" sign:

I kind of wish Canada gave doghouse signals a try.

I don't really see the reason. At least in BC, if you see a flashing green arrow, you know that the signal allows permissive movements. The differentiation between the solid and flashing green arrows may be helpful for some.

Maritimer here checking in, I can't think of a non-flashing green arrow here for protected left-turns, both separate left-turn signals install and 4/5-position.

IIRC Moncton had a few odd 4-signal assemblies back in the 90's that would show both the red and yellow orbs instead of a yellow left-turn arrow at the end of a protected-left movement. This was before multimode LED(?) arrows became available in the early-mid 00's

[SidS1045]

Very cool. Do you remember where they were?

Well, I did some GSV's at places I remember them being at, but the few I did remember are now gone.

[mrose]

I will always have a fondness for the horizontal lights and curved bars of Lincoln, Nebraska, where I was born.

[mariethefoxy]

Very cool. Do you remember where they were?

Well, I did some GSV's at places I remember them being at, but the few I did remember are now gone.

I remember seeing them in Peabody and Salem on a school field trip back in 2001 but I'm sure that area has changed since then.

[roadman65]

I like Union County, NJ with their signal pole designs.  They have lately been using a curved arm and instead of being attached to the vertical pole like most mast arms are, they sit on top of it hanging over on the other end.  In many places the poles are light brown painted and look real neat to boot.

[NJ]

I like Union County, NJ with their signal pole designs.  They have lately been using a curved arm and instead of being attached to the vertical pole like most mast arms are, they sit on top of it hanging over on the other end.  In many places the poles are light brown painted and look real neat to boot.

Most of NJ have same/similar design... Can you show an example?

[roadman65]

I like Union County, NJ with their signal pole designs.  They have lately been using a curved arm and instead of being attached to the vertical pole like most mast arms are, they sit on top of it hanging over on the other end.  In many places the poles are light brown painted and look real neat to boot.

Most of NJ have same/similar design... Can you show an example?

Gladly
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6296716,-74.2498741,3a,75y,252.86h,78.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1syIlLvWtK3U0lVX-8F5_Kuw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DyIlLvWtK3U0lVX-8F5_Kuw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D53.443531%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656


https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clark,+NJ/@40.6219829,-74.3043859,3a,75y,301.54h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1styYBO1g5lwdXm_-eEksHbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DtyYBO1g5lwdXm_-eEksHbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D308.95544%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c3b15c3be07e43:0xafdf7fcabb6e8be0!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clark,+NJ/@40.6261018,-74.3046559,3a,75y,62.69h,91.58t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swHauxtCUQXJLor10qk6r9Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DwHauxtCUQXJLor10qk6r9Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D100.22813%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c3b15c3be07e43:0xafdf7fcabb6e8be0!6m1!1e1

[NJ]

Never seen those in Bergen County.

I like Union County, NJ with their signal pole designs.  They have lately been using a curved arm and instead of being attached to the vertical pole like most mast arms are, they sit on top of it hanging over on the other end.  In many places the poles are light brown painted and look real neat to boot.

Most of NJ have same/similar design... Can you show an example?

Gladly
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6296716,-74.2498741,3a,75y,252.86h,78.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1syIlLvWtK3U0lVX-8F5_Kuw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DyIlLvWtK3U0lVX-8F5_Kuw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D53.443531%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656


https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clark,+NJ/@40.6219829,-74.3043859,3a,75y,301.54h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1styYBO1g5lwdXm_-eEksHbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DtyYBO1g5lwdXm_-eEksHbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D308.95544%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c3b15c3be07e43:0xafdf7fcabb6e8be0!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clark,+NJ/@40.6261018,-74.3046559,3a,75y,62.69h,91.58t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swHauxtCUQXJLor10qk6r9Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DwHauxtCUQXJLor10qk6r9Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D100.22813%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c3b15c3be07e43:0xafdf7fcabb6e8be0!6m1!1e1

[Pete from Boston]

Never seen those in Bergen County.

I like Union County, NJ with their signal pole designs.  They have lately been using a curved arm and instead of being attached to the vertical pole like most mast arms are, they sit on top of it hanging over on the other end.  In many places the poles are light brown painted and look real neat to boot.

Most of NJ have same/similar design... Can you show an example?

Gladly
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6296716,-74.2498741,3a,75y,252.86h,78.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1syIlLvWtK3U0lVX-8F5_Kuw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DyIlLvWtK3U0lVX-8F5_Kuw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D53.443531%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656


https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clark,+NJ/@40.6219829,-74.3043859,3a,75y,301.54h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1styYBO1g5lwdXm_-eEksHbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DtyYBO1g5lwdXm_-eEksHbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D308.95544%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c3b15c3be07e43:0xafdf7fcabb6e8be0!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clark,+NJ/@40.6261018,-74.3046559,3a,75y,62.69h,91.58t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swHauxtCUQXJLor10qk6r9Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DwHauxtCUQXJLor10qk6r9Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D100.22813%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c3b15c3be07e43:0xafdf7fcabb6e8be0!6m1!1e1

If I may digress from the topic for a moment, top-posting, which is not the convention here, makes following the quote structure difficult as the quoting progresses.  Can you please use the order everyone else here does?

[Jovet]

I will always have a fondness for the horizontal lights and curved bars of Lincoln, Nebraska, where I was born.

Lincoln seems to have quite the variety of different traffic signal presentations in evidence.

[roadman65]

Never seen those in Bergen County.

I like Union County, NJ with their signal pole designs.  They have lately been using a curved arm and instead of being attached to the vertical pole like most mast arms are, they sit on top of it hanging over on the other end.  In many places the poles are light brown painted and look real neat to boot.

Most of NJ have same/similar design... Can you show an example?

Gladly
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6296716,-74.2498741,3a,75y,252.86h,78.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1syIlLvWtK3U0lVX-8F5_Kuw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DyIlLvWtK3U0lVX-8F5_Kuw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D53.443531%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656


https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clark,+NJ/@40.6219829,-74.3043859,3a,75y,301.54h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1styYBO1g5lwdXm_-eEksHbg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DtyYBO1g5lwdXm_-eEksHbg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D308.95544%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c3b15c3be07e43:0xafdf7fcabb6e8be0!6m1!1e1

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clark,+NJ/@40.6261018,-74.3046559,3a,75y,62.69h,91.58t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swHauxtCUQXJLor10qk6r9Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DwHauxtCUQXJLor10qk6r9Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D100.22813%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c3b15c3be07e43:0xafdf7fcabb6e8be0!6m1!1e1

Bergen has some that use the truss arm upside down like in Montvale.

Those I posted seem to be in Union County unless some other counties have adopted their design.   Many older municipal signals have been replaced along Union County Roads like in Scotch Plains along Park Avenue and in Fanwood along Martine Avenue (which seem to be probably from the same project) as Park and Martine are one continuous road. 

Downtown Linden (The Linden Shopping Center according to the City Of Linden) had some really old cool horizontal signal heads mounted to short trombone mast arms, and the county replaced them including the 12-8-8 signals at Gibbons, Curtis, and Henry Streets which lie outside the business area now are all gone away with now as well.

I am surprised though that the new Exit 135 signals in Clark have the Union County mast arms being that the Parkway is not county maintained.  I guess the NJTA gave Union the option to choose the signal design or the Clark Circle elimination was a Union County Project and not the NJTA.  I know with NJDOT freeways, the state uses their signals on off ramps, or at least did at one time, as one person in DOT headquarters once told me on the phone during a conversation I had about the bad timings on US 1 in Woodbridge Township years ago.

[paulthemapguy]

Throughout the 90s, DuPage County, IL used these nice-looking curved steel mast arms.  Using a polygonal cross-section instead of a circular cross-section was a nice touch as well.  But I'm not from CA-AZ-NV so curved mast arms aren't common around here.  In Illinois, they're a rare gem and a nice sight to see. 

Some examples:
https://goo.gl/maps/VPuJSfLcaeL2
https://goo.gl/maps/WoVAceWqM6M2
https://goo.gl/maps/FdyMTyhHPp72
https://goo.gl/maps/vYQA7i3Esbs

[traffic light guy]

My favorite will notably be 1970s-era Pennsylvania installs, consisting of Crouse-Hinds and Eagle flatbacks, unfortunately half of them have been replaced by boring modern junk:

[roadman65]

I used to like the variety that PA used to use.  Except in the Philadelphia area where it pretty much stayed consistent with its mast arm designs unlike the rest of PA using a wide variety of mast arms and mixed with span wires.

[Katavia]

I like the Quebec ones, except for using a flashing green in place of a green left arrow at some intersections.

Could you expand a little on what you mean? I know, in Canada, the green arrow flashes to distinguish itself from the amber arrow, which occupies the same position.

If I remember correctly, at least Ontario used a flashing green orb as a way to indicate a protected left, but this has been long discontinued, AFAIK.

I'm talking about a flashing green orb being used for a protected left. I've seen it most often in Quebec on what seem to be older installations and I don't like it. I don't think I've seen it in Ontario. I've also never seen a flashing green arrow in Canada. ON and QC, at least with their more modern signals, follow the rest of North America with their signals, except for QC's unique double reds.

I have seen 4 section signals in New York where the green and yellow arrows occupy the same (bottom) section, but the green doesn't flash.

The flashing green arrow is strictly a Canadian thing. Never seen one in the US. Both countries use bi-modal signals, but Canada distinguishes the two colors using a flashing green. BC, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan all use flashing green arrows for this indication. Not sure about Quebec or the Maritimes.

The flashing green orb in BC (where I am most of the time) indicates a pedestrian crossing. It appears (through some small research) that BC is alone in this party, however, the flashing green orb appears to have been phased out across the rest of Canada for protected movements.

Unless someone knows otherwise? I seem to remember that it was more common, but I am fairly certain that new flashing-green-orb-for-protected-movement signals aren't a thing anymore.

Ontario doesn't use it. Instead, it's a solid green left arrow. A 'LEFT TURN SIGNAL' sign is also posted next to the signal. I don't know if this type of signage next to a left turn signal is used elsewhere, but I seem to recall seeing it in BC.

Winnipeg specifically uses black back plating on left turning traffic signals (as well as the flashing green arrow), and yellow for standard ones.

https://goo.gl/maps/FdxccsZuCBr (picture the green arrows flashing here)

I kind of wish Canada gave doghouse signals a try.

Found some in SE Charlotte -
Also, I like those signals...

[traffic light guy]

My personal  favorites are older 1970s-era mast-arms installs in SE Pennsylvania, they have very odd variations of traffic signals:


Behold the oldest doghouse traffic signal, which is still in service last time I checked, however it got retrofitted with LEDs.


Those DW/W heads keep things interesting, however these were replaced



The signals on the far right are 70s-vintage, look at the odd bent mast-arm and the faded louvered backplates, those are Crouse-Hinds Type Rs. However these were taken out of service a mere decade ago

https://picasaweb.google.com/m/viewer#photo/Iansignal/5289072406895916673/5303097088344277618

This is an example of the odd diagnal mast-arms I was speaking of, too bad this type of installation got phased out in the early-80s. Not only that but more and more I f these oldheads are getting replaced by modern equipment.

[roadman65]

Now come to think of it yes, now I do remember some of the bent arms even in Bucks County back in 1981.

[traffic light guy]

Now come to think of it yes, now I do remember some of the bent arms even in Bucks County back in 1981.

What's the earliest mast-arm installation you remember seeing in SE Pennsylvania?