Signals that should go away

[STLmapboy]

I was browsing around Buffalo NY (a treasure trove of traffic light oddities). Now, this area has been bleeding population for a while, and many intersections don't have the traffic counts to warrant a signal. Thus, we wind up with intersections like this and this. Both are likely candidates for removal over the next few years; the latter just flashes yellow.

So let's turn it over to you guys. Any signals in your area that are on there way out or just seem purposeless now?

[webny99]

You're on the right track with Buffalo.
Niagara Falls, NY is one worse. They've got plenty of signals that not only should go away... they are going away.

[Dirt Roads]

In my old neck of the woods:  An ancient traffic light at the intersection of Main Street (Alt WV-34) and Dudding Avenue in the middle of Hurricane, West Virginia.  This is adjacent to the old train station on the Chesapeake & Ohio mainline (the station building was still there back in the 1970s, but was long out of passenger use and has been removed).  In those days, the traffic signal was wired with three overly-simple phases: (1) Green E-W/Red Nb; (2) All Yellow; (3) Green Nb/Red E-W.  There may have also still been lights on the back of the head for southbound traffic out of the train station parking lot.  It appeared that the All Yellow phase was lit with one bulb for all directions.  For much of my childhood, this was the only traffic signal in the county.  As best I can tell, the signal is still there.

The main branch for Putnam County Bank is located at this intersection (since moving across the tracks in 1922).  The longtime bank president has continually insisted that the traffic light not be removed (since the drive-thru runs through the building and dumps onto Dudding).  But as he is pushing 100 years old (nowadays he is chairman, and his son runs the bank), perhaps this traffic signal won't have such strong support in the future.  Wonder how many other traffic signals have powerful folks keeping them in place.

[Rothman]

In the Albany, NY area, Central Ave and Waterman/Van Heusen.  Hate that light with a passion and it seems to do more harm than good.  And then Colonie had the gall to install one at Waterman and Consaul a couple of years ago -- totally unnecessary.

That said, I am sure there are candidates right in Schenectady, Albany and environs (Rotterdam, Menands, Watervliet, Van Schaick Island, Troy...).  But those two drive me nuts.

[STLmapboy]

And then Colonie had the gall to install one at Waterman and Consaul a couple of years ago -- totally unnecessary.

Not gonna lie, it looks nice, but there are far better uses of a mast arm than this intersection.

And yes, I can find some in Schenectady (needlessly upgraded to this), Albany (relic), Rotterdam (another unnecessary mast arm), Watervliet (flashing yellow), and more.

[STLmapboy]

One from my own city.

[mrsman]

While Los Angeles is certainly a very busy city, there are some two lane corridors that were once important shortcuts, that are now just collector streets and seem to have four-way stops at most intersections.  So the question becomes if there is a low enough traffic count to have a four-way stop (and not a signal) at the intersection between collector and one local street, why do we need a signal one block over between collector and another residential street.

This is especially true near schools.  Almost every intersection fronting  a public school is either signalized or with an all-way stop.

I present:

Buckingham and 29th compared with Buckingham and 30th

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0294535,-118.3405247,3a,75y,200.35h,88.52t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7PPsYmdvUjNDWzx3Ekt6VA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D7PPsYmdvUjNDWzx3Ekt6VA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D221.11185%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0275923,-118.3405262,3a,75y,332.18h,79.74t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s5AX7Sr6pEFEVb-hcCK1jNg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D5AX7Sr6pEFEVb-hcCK1jNg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D337.11057%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Castle Heights and Cattaurugus compared with CH at Beverlywood:

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.03979,-118.3978401,3a,75y,115.73h,88.71t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sYoW32WPAiiJDkNlWH4rXQg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DYoW32WPAiiJDkNlWH4rXQg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D43.004547%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0370664,-118.3974346,3a,75y,291.91h,79.66t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sf3Fjh65uLuiJwwLVsy8wpw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Df3Fjh65uLuiJwwLVsy8wpw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D174.88425%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Arden at Rosewood compared with Arden at Clinton:

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.078896,-118.3260361,3a,75y,346.96h,83.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2ZwOVasHwUIc9XQyYkpapA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D2ZwOVasHwUIc9XQyYkpapA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D296.08966%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0816908,-118.3260648,3a,75y,173.74h,86.66t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1siyse4T2Wv6MHqql6TmCPVg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Diyse4T2Wv6MHqql6TmCPVg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D45.60431%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

There are plenty of all-way stops in L.A. with higher traffic volumes than these signals, so many of these examples are replaceable with all-way stops.

[wanderer2575]

Grand River Avenue (M-5) and Gratiot Avenue (M-3) in Detroit are major arterials with a traffic signal at least every third or fourth side street.  No way are all these signals still needed.

[UCFKnights]

While Los Angeles is certainly a very busy city, there are some two lane corridors that were once important shortcuts, that are now just collector streets and seem to have four-way stops at most intersections.  So the question becomes if there is a low enough traffic count to have a four-way stop (and not a signal) at the intersection between collector and one local street, why do we need a signal one block over between collector and another residential street.

This is especially true near schools.  Almost every intersection fronting  a public school is either signalized or with an all-way stop.

I present:

Buckingham and 29th compared with Buckingham and 30th

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0294535,-118.3405247,3a,75y,200.35h,88.52t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7PPsYmdvUjNDWzx3Ekt6VA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D7PPsYmdvUjNDWzx3Ekt6VA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D221.11185%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0275923,-118.3405262,3a,75y,332.18h,79.74t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s5AX7Sr6pEFEVb-hcCK1jNg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D5AX7Sr6pEFEVb-hcCK1jNg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D337.11057%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Castle Heights and Cattaurugus compared with CH at Beverlywood:

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.03979,-118.3978401,3a,75y,115.73h,88.71t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sYoW32WPAiiJDkNlWH4rXQg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DYoW32WPAiiJDkNlWH4rXQg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D43.004547%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0370664,-118.3974346,3a,75y,291.91h,79.66t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sf3Fjh65uLuiJwwLVsy8wpw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Df3Fjh65uLuiJwwLVsy8wpw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D174.88425%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Arden at Rosewood compared with Arden at Clinton:

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.078896,-118.3260361,3a,75y,346.96h,83.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2ZwOVasHwUIc9XQyYkpapA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D2ZwOVasHwUIc9XQyYkpapA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D296.08966%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0816908,-118.3260648,3a,75y,173.74h,86.66t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1siyse4T2Wv6MHqql6TmCPVg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Diyse4T2Wv6MHqql6TmCPVg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D45.60431%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

There are plenty of all-way stops in L.A. with higher traffic volumes than these signals, so many of these examples are replaceable with all-way stops.

All way stops are a disaster environmentally though. If they can't make it a 2 way stop/2 way uncontrolled, since they already have the signal there they might as well keep it. Those intersections probably could be 2 way stops though.

[mrsman]

While Los Angeles is certainly a very busy city, there are some two lane corridors that were once important shortcuts, that are now just collector streets and seem to have four-way stops at most intersections.  So the question becomes if there is a low enough traffic count to have a four-way stop (and not a signal) at the intersection between collector and one local street, why do we need a signal one block over between collector and another residential street.

This is especially true near schools.  Almost every intersection fronting  a public school is either signalized or with an all-way stop.

I present:

Buckingham and 29th compared with Buckingham and 30th

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0294535,-118.3405247,3a,75y,200.35h,88.52t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7PPsYmdvUjNDWzx3Ekt6VA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D7PPsYmdvUjNDWzx3Ekt6VA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D221.11185%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0275923,-118.3405262,3a,75y,332.18h,79.74t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s5AX7Sr6pEFEVb-hcCK1jNg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D5AX7Sr6pEFEVb-hcCK1jNg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D337.11057%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Castle Heights and Cattaurugus compared with CH at Beverlywood:

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.03979,-118.3978401,3a,75y,115.73h,88.71t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sYoW32WPAiiJDkNlWH4rXQg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DYoW32WPAiiJDkNlWH4rXQg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D43.004547%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0370664,-118.3974346,3a,75y,291.91h,79.66t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sf3Fjh65uLuiJwwLVsy8wpw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Df3Fjh65uLuiJwwLVsy8wpw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D174.88425%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Arden at Rosewood compared with Arden at Clinton:

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.078896,-118.3260361,3a,75y,346.96h,83.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2ZwOVasHwUIc9XQyYkpapA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D2ZwOVasHwUIc9XQyYkpapA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D296.08966%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.pl/maps/@34.0816908,-118.3260648,3a,75y,173.74h,86.66t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1siyse4T2Wv6MHqql6TmCPVg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Diyse4T2Wv6MHqql6TmCPVg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D45.60431%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

There are plenty of all-way stops in L.A. with higher traffic volumes than these signals, so many of these examples are replaceable with all-way stops.

All way stops are a disaster environmentally though. If they can't make it a 2 way stop/2 way uncontrolled, since they already have the signal there they might as well keep it. Those intersections probably could be 2 way stops though.

Normally, yes, but given their proximity to school ,city policy requires the major flow to stop as well.

The signals pre-date the city's policy of all-way stops around a school.  For instance the Buckingham/29th signal was installed a long time before there was a 4-way stop at Buckingham/30th.  When the city policy came in, it was decided to make Buckingham/30th a 4-way stop, because it is cheaper than installing a new signal.  29th is no way meaningfully more busy than 30th.