How often do signals in your state get replaced

[cbeach40]

For Ontario, MTO are in the process of upgrading the signal heads to 30-30-30 (12-12-12) on all of our facilities, so there's certainly some high turnover rate there. But in terms of life cycle, it's pretty well on and as-needed basis for heads, mast arms, and poles.
For the signal plant, I'm told typically there's a good 20+ years to get out of them before they have to be replaced.

[cl94]

For Ontario, MTO are in the process of upgrading the signal heads to 30-30-30 (12-12-12) on all of our facilities, so there's certainly some high turnover rate there. But in terms of life cycle, it's pretty well on and as-needed basis for heads, mast arms, and poles.
For the signal plant, I'm told typically there's a good 20+ years to get out of them before they have to be replaced.

I was wondering when they'd get to doing that. A lot of stuff in and around the Niagara Region is still 30-20-20 regardless of who maintains it.

[freebrickproductions]

Here in Alabama, it seems to be mostly on an "as needed" basis, though a lot of signals state-wide seem to have been installed in the 1990s and 2000s.

[jakeroot]

For Ontario, MTO are in the process of upgrading the signal heads to 30-30-30 (12-12-12) on all of our facilities, so there's certainly some high turnover rate there. But in terms of life cycle, it's pretty well on and as-needed basis for heads, mast arms, and poles.

Any idea whether or not the MTO's switch-over is due to a TAC recommendation? BCMOTI still heavily uses 8-inch heads, though they are relegated to side-mounted signals (which BC always uses).

[kj3400]

Central Maryland has been replacing signals for a while now, putting in mast arms and black on yellow signals. I can't think of too many places between here and DC that haven't been changed over. Baltimore City has also been replacing signals, but at a reduced paced and only at major intersections where 12 inch signals would be warranted.

[cbeach40]

I was wondering when they'd get to doing that. A lot of stuff in and around the Niagara Region is still 30-20-20 regardless of who maintains it.

All signals in Niagara are maintained by the Region. Including the signals on MTO highways and ramp terminals, and on lower-tier municipal roads.

Any idea whether or not the MTO's switch-over is due to a TAC recommendation? BCMOTI still heavily uses 8-inch heads, though they are relegated to side-mounted signals (which BC always uses).

Not sure if TAC said anything that lead to that, but I do know the standard is for any new signals heads to be 30-30-30, and 30-20-20 is considered a deficiency.
It's not a particularly aggressive program to replace them, but anytime there's an opportunity to do so they are upgraded.

[cl94]

All signals in Niagara are maintained by the Region. Including the signals on MTO highways and ramp terminals, and on lower-tier municipal roads.

That explains why every installation is identical. Any other regions (other than Toronto, Hamilton, and others with an amalgamated government where the city is the region) where this is the case?

[jakeroot]

Any idea whether or not the MTO's switch-over is due to a TAC recommendation? BCMOTI still heavily uses 8-inch heads, though they are relegated to side-mounted signals (which BC always uses).

Not sure if TAC said anything that lead to that, but I do know the standard is for any new signals heads to be 30-30-30, and 30-20-20 is considered a deficiency.
It's not a particularly aggressive program to replace them, but anytime there's an opportunity to do so they are upgraded.

Makes sense. I know a lot of what Canada does is based on American studies. Perhaps the TAC, in the future, will introduce a new guide which states a preference for 30-30-30.

Although, I'm not sure if 30-20-20 (or 20-20-30) is necessarily a deficiency, in the manner that they are used in British Columbia. Not many other places in Canada are such heavy users of side-mounted signals. Perhaps they are perfectly fine in these uses (click for larger view) (FWIW, this is a brand new interchange, thus the intersection is brand new)...

[thenetwork]

One other thing of note in the NE Ohio areas as to why there are still many older 40+ year old lights in existence -- the metal signals were built to last and don't fall apart like the plastic jobbies.

Just another reason why I like the older traffic lights!!!

[cbeach40]

All signals in Niagara are maintained by the Region. Including the signals on MTO highways and ramp terminals, and on lower-tier municipal roads.

That explains why every installation is identical. Any other regions (other than Toronto, Hamilton, and others with an amalgamated government where the city is the region) where this is the case?

Well, there are some significant differences in design between the municipal installations and the MTO installations. But RMN are the agency who maintain the signals for MTO.

In terms of municipal alone installations, I know all municipal signals in Waterloo Region are regional, even on city streets. MTO signals it's just the ones in the urban sections of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge that are maintained by the municipality.

[mroad860]

In Connecticut, there are many signals that are wayy over 20 years old.. I also could point out many that may date to the mid to late 70's! I guess the "if it aint broke don't fix it" principle applies sometimes.. So, I think signals could last a good 40 years.

[noelbotevera]

Chambersburg has signals that are well over the age of 20. Some I think date from the 60s, and the newest one dates to late 90s or early 2000s.

[roadman65]

The schedule in Florida is based on the hurricanes. When they come threw and blow all the old signals away, we get all new ones. Its been quiet lately

Or back in 1980 when the state adopted black as their color scheme.  It took nearly 10 years to complete, but most of Florida is all black.  There is one or two left in Downtown Orlando, but that is it around Central Florida.

However, the signal poles due last for decades and the oldest one's other than those two I mentioned is on Oakridge Road and Texas Avenue.  The heads were switched in 1991, but the concrete strain poles are from back in the 1970's as they are shorter in height and were originally upright, but now after years of strain from the weight of the signal heads the poles are leaning toward the street hence the current ones leaning away from the street.  In fact the one on Oakridge and Texas have an additional electrical box on the top of the pole where the wires meet the pole.  Obviously it has the original 1970's era wiring as any signal erected from after the 70's do not have those boxes up high.

[kkt]

There are jurisdictions with nothing better to do than change traffic signals that are still working, just old?

[traffic light guy]

Here's some more detail on how Pennsylvania replaced their signals

From the 1930s to about 1965 there was no PennDOT so they'd randomly do installations, most of which where post-mounted intersections filled with CH Art Decos in the 1940s/50s

Starting from 1967 to 1976, PennDOT formed and started a project where they'd rapidly install new equipment throughout the Philadelphia area, they phased out 80% of pedestal installations and replaced them with 12-inch Eagle flatbacks on mast-arms, which explains why 70s Eagle installs were once common in PA, some still remain in service.

In the 1980s, they took a hiatus from installing new signals, due to the high quantity of new signals being installed in the late-60s/1970s

In the mid-1990s, a majority of the Eagle Flatback installations became obsolete, and were phased out with plastic McCain heads, although they wouldn't get new masts, they'd just stack these heads on the older 1970s-era mast-arms

Starting in 2007 they phased out even more of the 1970s-era installations, not only that but they finally get new mast-arms, and only a handful of the 70s-era signals remain

In 2014 more obsolete signals get phased out, at this point the heads they installed in the mid-1990s become obsolete, but they don't get new mast-arms for them, in fact some of these installation may have new 2010s signals mounted on a 1970s mast-arm, which is how cheap PennDOT can be, I can now count how many 70s-era installations remain, especially in Philadelphia, In the past 6 years Philly phased out about half of their obsolete installs.

[cbeach40]

There are jurisdictions with nothing better to do than change traffic signals that are still working, just old?

If they're old they're probably not working very reliably. And they're not exactly something that you can get away without.
Older signals are mechanical, newer ones are electronic. For either type, there are parts that get worn out and need replacing and/or upgrading.

[jeffandnicole]

There are jurisdictions with nothing better to do than change traffic signals that are still working, just old?

Isn't that how you're supposed to do it? 

[JoePCool14]

For IDOT Dis 1, I believe the motto is to replace every single signal whether it needs it or not. I'm not even kidding, every signal around here is either new or a few with only replaced LED lenses. It really is a waste and takes the variety out. Even Cook County has a tendency to do that.

[PHLBOS]

What do you guys mean with the head?

Head is simply just another way to say signal. People in the signal industry usually use that nickname.

The word "signal" by itself can mean either a 'signal head' or 'signalized intersection', among other things.

Engineers typically use the term "signal head" to refer to a single set of signal indications (red/yellow/green) that directs a particular movement (i.e. a single R-Y-G stack is a common signal head, or a doghouse/cluster is another type of signal head). I've heard some people shorten 'signal head' to just "head" (e.g. referring to a pedestrian signal head as a "ped head"). The analogous term for 'signal head' used in the MUTCD is "signal face".

The term signalhead is also used on many site plan & construction documents as well.