Traffic Signals that make no sense

[freebrickproductions]

Here's one in Huntsville that doesn't make any since:
http://www.instantstreetview.com/@34.711561,-86.573823,3.24h,3.87p,2.32z
They are tied with the intersection in the background so they turn red whenever that intersection turns red. This leaves a lot of space between the intersection and the cars, so I guess that the people living along California Street between the two signals were complaining about people blocking them in when the light at California and Bob Wallace turned red.
Also, the city of Huntsville replaced the red balls in the signals with red arrows and added a sign that reads "Right Turn on Red Arrow After Stop" between the signals since the street view images were taken. This has actually made the signals more confusing as it's not clear if people are allowed to continue past the signals when they are red after they have stopped. Some people do and some people don't (with me being part of the latter group), but it's still very confusing.

[roadfro]

Here's one in Huntsville that doesn't make any since:
http://www.instantstreetview.com/@34.711561,-86.573823,3.24h,3.87p,2.32z
They are tied with the intersection in the background so they turn red whenever that intersection turns red. This leaves a lot of space between the intersection and the cars, so I guess that the people living along California Street between the two signals were complaining about people blocking them in when the light at California and Bob Wallace turned red.
Also, the city of Huntsville replaced the red balls in the signals with red arrows and added a sign that reads "Right Turn on Red Arrow After Stop" between the signals since the street view images were taken. This has actually made the signals more confusing as it's not clear if people are allowed to continue past the signals when they are red after they have stopped. Some people do and some people don't (with me being part of the latter group), but it's still very confusing.

If they wanted to allow right turn on red, they should have left the circular reds alone. That doesn't make any sense (although, I can't think of a logical reason that the right turn signal exists in the first place).

[mrfoxboy]

 Vaughan Harvey Blvd, as well as Assomption Blvd here was essentially rebuilt in the mid 2000's. This stretch was built to accommodate a new bridge further south, as well as provide access to the Sobeys. What the city was planning for the other side I haven't the foggiest, but there is rough embankments just beyond the end of the stub, and then a residential area. They paved the stub, even laned it, and if you get in the left-turn lane heading north on Vaughan Harvey, it even sets off the protected left turn!
http://goo.gl/maps/aW77R

[mrfoxboy]

An advance light before a low railway overpass in downtown Moncton. There is a directional-T intersection just beyond it. Both the advance light, as well as the normal light have a right-turn arrow to indicate when right-turning traffic is protected, since the visibility is blocked by the overpass until the last moment. Also shows some of the standard horizontal traffic signal style in use in Moncton.
http://goo.gl/maps/SVozI

[cl94]

An advance light before a low railway overpass in downtown Moncton. There is a directional-T intersection just beyond it. Both the advance light, as well as the normal light have a right-turn arrow to indicate when right-turning traffic is protected, since the visibility is blocked by the overpass until the last moment. Also shows some of the standard horizontal traffic signal style in use in Moncton.
http://goo.gl/maps/SVozI

That actually looks pretty standard, at least from what I've seen. Putting the stop line for through traffic behind the bridge gives people a chance to see the signal and stop.

[mrsman]

http://goo.gl/maps/IPuzW

I don't know how you're supposed to see that. It may be too low (what if a car was blocking it?) to see to a motorist approaching the intersection.

California did that a lot:
http://www.instantstreetview.com/@33.923426,-118.352443,-37.53h,-2.99p,4z

So has Arizona:
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.879796,-111.757256,3a,75y,180.52h,85.19t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sL1c7iVVc2lVhy88FgFmu_A!2e0

They are useful for when a truck or large vehicle is blocking your view of the signal on the far side of the intersection, so use the signal on the near side of the intersection.  And since it's for left turns, use the median.

[MASTERNC]

I've got a few I found on my trip to Denver:

1.  A doghouse signal with a red arrow (instead of a red ball).  Not sure why a doghouse is needed for a protected left.  I saw this a couple of times but don't have a specific location.

2.  Permissive signals for dual left turn lanes.  As you can see, they also use WV-style doghouses (arrows attached to the left of a standard three face signal).

https://goo.gl/maps/mO4Fl

[cl94]

2.  Permissive signals for dual left turn lanes.  As you can see, they also use WV-style doghouses (arrows attached to the left of a standard three face signal).

https://goo.gl/maps/mO4Fl

NYSDOT Region 10 also uses those things instead of the standard doghouse used in the rest of the state/country (NYCDOT typically has 5-section verticals). No idea why.

[freebrickproductions]

2.  Permissive signals for dual left turn lanes.  As you can see, they also use WV-style doghouses (arrows attached to the left of a standard three face signal).

https://goo.gl/maps/mO4Fl

I've seen one of those down in Hoover, AL:
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.343989,-86.848015,3a,9.4y,172.45h,95.8t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sikMClVMNtJRn38th6sJ5-g!2e0?authuser=1&hl=en
There's also one of those set-ups down in Birmingham (though in flash mode):
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.527088,-86.802325,3a,9.4y,297.06h,94.73t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s7AC8a89Hz-W6CSUR9QZrZQ!2e0?authuser=1&hl=en
Another one that I know of here is over in Madison, AL:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.680295,-86.742454,3a,9.4y,349.75h,93.73t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s2W1A1SD4VQ_hbMDbYdKbDw!2e0?authuser=1&hl=en
I also seem to recall there being one on Redstone Arsenal as well, but I don't know where it is and I don't have the privilege to go and check. I seem to recall it being off of Martin Road.

[uknowbeers]

Found one of Colorado's doghouse-style protected-only left turn arrows on Google Maps:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.03658,-105.258499,3a,30y,146.3h,90.87t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sRvNWQFl80rMyfgmiyuh_kA!2e0

My only assumption as for its existence is that it used to house a red ball and function as protected-permissive, but the city or state changed their minds about the permissive phasing, lacked money to buy a new unit and just changed one panel and the software. If I recall, the bottom right side never illuminates. Maybe someone who lives near Boulder could explain that phasing.

As for the double left protected-permissive doghouses, they make sense IMO, just strange. I noticed last summer in Colorado that some Doghouse double left protected-permissive doghouses had been replaced with double (4 panel) Flashing Yellow Arrows, accomplishing the same idea. I like the idea of letting that extra traffic clear.

Also, one intersection in Castle Rock had a three panel double left, with the "green" bottommost panel replaced with a Flashing Yellow Arrow. So the double left never had right of way.

[MASTERNC]

Also, one intersection in Castle Rock had a three panel double left, with the "green" bottommost panel replaced with a Flashing Yellow Arrow. So the double left never had right of way.

Think I saw that one.  It was coming out of a shopping center?

[tradephoric]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ2dEPzqeXY

[jakeroot]

Also, one intersection in Castle Rock had a three panel double left, with the "green" bottommost panel replaced with a Flashing Yellow Arrow. So the double left never had right of way.

Think I saw that one.  It was coming out of a shopping center?

Yes. My grandparents live in the Springs, and we shop in Castle Rock (Seattle had/has been lacking in the outlet department (no pun intended)). That signal always caught my eye as being very different from anything I'd ever seen in Seattle.

[uknowbeers]

Also, one intersection in Castle Rock had a three panel double left, with the "green" bottommost panel replaced with a Flashing Yellow Arrow. So the double left never had right of way.

Think I saw that one.  It was coming out of a shopping center?

Yes. My grandparents live in the Springs, and we shop in Castle Rock (Seattle had/has been lacking in the outlet department (no pun intended)). That signal always caught my eye as being very different from anything I'd ever seen in Seattle.

I think I found it, but the Google Street View is before the signal was installed. At a minimum it's already weird for having double left turn lanes at a STOP sign!

https://goo.gl/maps/P88Ap

[KEK Inc.]

Also, one intersection in Castle Rock had a three panel double left, with the "green" bottommost panel replaced with a Flashing Yellow Arrow. So the double left never had right of way.

Think I saw that one.  It was coming out of a shopping center?

Yes. My grandparents live in the Springs, and we shop in Castle Rock (Seattle had/has been lacking in the outlet department (no pun intended)). That signal always caught my eye as being very different from anything I'd ever seen in Seattle.

Chehalis, Marysville.  What?

[jakeroot]

Also, one intersection in Castle Rock had a three panel double left, with the "green" bottommost panel replaced with a Flashing Yellow Arrow. So the double left never had right of way.

Think I saw that one.  It was coming out of a shopping center?

Yes. My grandparents live in the Springs, and we shop in Castle Rock (Seattle had/has been lacking in the outlet department (no pun intended)). That signal always caught my eye as being very different from anything I'd ever seen in Seattle.

Chehalis, Marysville.  What?

Both inconvenient. Castle Rock is on the way to DIA.

[KEK Inc.]

Also, one intersection in Castle Rock had a three panel double left, with the "green" bottommost panel replaced with a Flashing Yellow Arrow. So the double left never had right of way.

Think I saw that one.  It was coming out of a shopping center?

Yes. My grandparents live in the Springs, and we shop in Castle Rock (Seattle had/has been lacking in the outlet department (no pun intended)). That signal always caught my eye as being very different from anything I'd ever seen in Seattle.

Chehalis, Marysville.  What?

Both inconvenient. Castle Rock is on the way to DIA.

Marysville is on the way to BC. 

[MASTERNC]

Also, one intersection in Castle Rock had a three panel double left, with the "green" bottommost panel replaced with a Flashing Yellow Arrow. So the double left never had right of way.

Think I saw that one.  It was coming out of a shopping center?

Yes. My grandparents live in the Springs, and we shop in Castle Rock (Seattle had/has been lacking in the outlet department (no pun intended)). That signal always caught my eye as being very different from anything I'd ever seen in Seattle.

I think I found it, but the Google Street View is before the signal was installed. At a minimum it's already weird for having double left turn lanes at a STOP sign!

https://goo.gl/maps/P88Ap

That's the one.  It's one light over from the double permissive left turn signals.  There is a Maverik store up on that hill now.

[jakeroot]

Also, one intersection in Castle Rock had a three panel double left, with the "green" bottommost panel replaced with a Flashing Yellow Arrow. So the double left never had right of way.

Think I saw that one.  It was coming out of a shopping center?

Yes. My grandparents live in the Springs, and we shop in Castle Rock (Seattle had/has been lacking in the outlet department (no pun intended)). That signal always caught my eye as being very different from anything I'd ever seen in Seattle.

Chehalis, Marysville.  What?

Both inconvenient. Castle Rock is on the way to DIA.

Marysville is on the way to BC. 

Touché (though I do shop at the Marysville location on occasion, but Castle Rock has a much better store selection hence I prefer it).

[roadfro]

I've got a few I found on my trip to Denver:

1.  A doghouse signal with a red arrow (instead of a red ball).  Not sure why a doghouse is needed for a protected left.  I saw this a couple of times but don't have a specific location.

This was becoming an increasingly common, although not widespread, display in Las Vegas. The red ball was replaced with red arrow in some locations where a doghouse head was used directly over a single left turn lane. These displays were a precursor to what is now more easily achieved with an FYA. They would run in protected only mode during peak hours (omitting the circular green during the adjacent through movement phase), but run protected-permitted in the off-peak. These signals were always accompanied by the doghouse sign variant "left turn signal / yield on [green ball]".

Prior to this implementation, another doghouse style was sometimes used. It would work the same way as the one above, but the red ball section had louvers to shield it from through traffic. Presumably they went to using a red arrow instead so as to help eliminate some potential confusion on conflicting displays visible to the left turn driver.


Yet another variation on the typical doghouse display used in the Vegas area, albeit even more rare than the ones above, was to have a doghouse with louvers on the circular green and yellow section. This allowed the signal to show a green ball and allow permitted lefts while the adjacent through signals are red. It was also a precursor to FYA operation, but all implementations of this are all gone now.

[mrsman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ2dEPzqeXY

I don't know enough about this intersection, but one plausible expanation is that the yellow arrow bulb burned out and the right arrow is connected to a left arrow on the cross-street.  Perhaps, on the cross-street the left arrow resumed to green ball because there was little traffic on the street the camera was facing.