Are New Jersey Traffic Signals the best?

[US71]

New Orleans uses pole mounted on medians & far corners (both corners) plus mast mounted
http://maps.google.com/maps?client=opera&oe=utf-8&q=new+orleans&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=New+Orleans,+Orleans,+Louisiana&gl=us&ll=29.962111,-90.090551&spn=0.022122,0.033088&z=15&layer=c&cbll=29.961992,-90.09064&panoid=PRSTkUsp6HUAL_daGt8Ztw&cbp=12,219.96,,0,0

[froggie]

Yes they do...I've seen them myself (both Memphis and NOLA).  But I was referring to statewide policy and not local examples.

[Quillz]

Oh, now that I've finally seen a pic of what you keep referring to as "side-mounted signals," I'm surprised they aren't the norm. I see them everywhere in California and most western states.

That's why I like Quebec... Horizontally mounts the traffic lights onto the side-mounted signals.

[froggie]

This is about as close as it gets to a "typical" MnDOT signal arrangement.  Note the use of both side-mounted and overhead signals.  Intersections in the Twin Cities metro with heavier left-turning volumes or visibility issues will often include a median-mounted signal, either on the far side or the near side (and sometimes both), not unlike this example:



One more note, which you can see in these two photos:  median width will often (but not always) dictate whether the primary left turn signal is overhead (narrow median) or median-mounted (wide median).

[SignBridge]

Nice photos from Minnesota. Similar to standard Calif. and Nevada practice actually. Although I'm from the Long Island/NYC area where overhead signals are the norm, I like that combination of overhead and pole mounted heads used in the western states. It gives you the best of all worlds. Overhead signals seen from a distance. Far-right pole-mount to see from the stop-line (or around those large trucks as you approach) And far-left supplemental to aid those making left-turns.

And re: the New Jersey configuration. A good case can be made for that too. They are the only state I know of that uses that near-side supplemental head on the reverse side of the mast-arm as their standard. It actually works pretty well.

You can make a case for many configurations. I've always liked California the best. Though it did take me a week to get used to those side-mount heads, the first time I travelled there.

[Quillz]

I've noticed that California seems to have three common side-mounted variations:

a) What I presume the oldest, the bar that holds the actual traffic lights has two supporting beams that are very thin.

b) What seems to be a bit newer, the two supporting beams are gone and the bar that holds the traffic lights is bent. This seems to be the most common.

c) The newest style, seemingly at the busiest intersections, has square-looking poles that lack any bends and typically hold at least three dedicated lights, sometimes up to four.

[Ian]

a) What I presume the oldest, the bar that holds the actual traffic lights has two supporting beams that are very thin.

Those are known as guy-wires. They're a common site in New York City, but in California, they're as old as dirt.

[Quillz]

Are they new in NYC? They are definitely quite old in CA, because all the ones that used to be near me are being replaced with one of the other two styles I mentioned. In fact, there is only one intersection near my house that still uses the guy-wire style.

[on_wisconsin]

Pics of typical Wisconsin stop light configurations, for those who may be unfamiliar with WisDOT signals:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=55809439&postcount=367
EDIT
I know this supposed to be about NJ's signals but I came across this paragraph in the WisMutcd that many here may find interesting:

All traffic signals shall either be post-mounted or mast arm mounted.
Permanent traffic signals shall NOT be installed on overhead cables (or any
other means which would permit significant movement under windy conditions). Temporary traffic signals may be installed on overhead cables if construction or maintenance operations would not make post or mast arm mounting possible. If installed on overhead cables, temporary traffic signals must be converted to post or mast arm mountings as soon as possible after the construction operation permits.

[roadfro]

And re: the New Jersey configuration. A good case can be made for that too. They are the only state I know of that uses that near-side supplemental head on the reverse side of the mast-arm as their standard. It actually works pretty well.

As I mentioned previously, this is increasingly common in Nevada (particularly the Las Vegas area) at new/reconstructed signals for larger intersections. It is by no means a state standard, though, as I think there's only one example in the Reno area (Sparks, actually), and that's a very unusual set of signals.

I've noticed that California seems to have three common side-mounted variations:

a) What I presume the oldest, the bar that holds the actual traffic lights has two supporting beams that are very thin.

b) What seems to be a bit newer, the two supporting beams are gone and the bar that holds the traffic lights is bent. This seems to be the most common.

c) The newest style, seemingly at the busiest intersections, has square-looking poles that lack any bends and typically hold at least three dedicated lights, sometimes up to four.

Presumably, you meant overhead or mast-arm mounted variations (and not "side-mounted")... Particularly, the examples you cite refer to variations on the mast-arm itself, as opposed to the mounting of signal heads.


The double-guy wire masts have been used at older, smaller intersections in the Las Vegas area of Nevada. These are often on one or two-lane approaches where not a whole lot of signal heads are needed, because the mast typically supports only one signal head. There have been no new installations of this type in the Vegas area (that I'm aware of) within the last 20 or so years.

The angled monotube mast arm was also very common with older signals in the Reno-Sparks and Carson City areas. It surprised me when I moved to Reno as I'd never seen that type in Nevada before having grown up in Vegas. There have been relatively few new installations of this type in the area in the last 9 years.

The straight monotube mast arm is the de facto Nevada standard, and has been for some time. This design offers the ability to span large distances with as many as seven or eight signal heads on one mast (this requires very thick poles for the mast and support, but it's been done), but also works for small spans where only one or two overhead signals are needed.

[SignBridge]

That 2-guy-wire mast-arm mentioned above is still standard in New York City. Many were built in the 1960's to replace the old 2-color post mounted signals from probably the 1930's (?)  Some have a short pipe-extension built on to increase the length, but they are still too short on wide roads. Usually used in a diagonal-span configuration. Most have only one head hung on them, but some in Manhattan have 2 heads adjacent to each other, for thru traffic and a turning-arrow signal. Not sure if that complies with MUTCD or not. 

[architect77]

California's mast-arm poles are the most elegant. Cary, NC and Research Triangle Park, NC also use the same design, though the signals are mounted differently.

[Quillz]

From an aesthetic standpoint, I actually like the long, squared pole design the best. Like the ones used in Quebec or at large intersections in California. Normally, I'm a fan of things that are curved or rounded, but I just prefer how the former look. In Thousand Oaks, a city close to where I am, they also paint the poles either a dark brown or black and then use white legend on brown background for the street names, and it looks really nice.

[english si]

From an aesthetic standpoint, I actually like the long, squared pole design the best. Like the ones used in Quebec or at large intersections in California. Normally, I'm a fan of things that are curved or rounded, but I just prefer how the former look. In Thousand Oaks, a city close to where I am, they also paint the poles either a dark brown or black and then use white legend on brown background for the street names, and it looks really nice.

I'm not so sure - looks like grey pole, white on green street name to me. Westlake Village, the other side of the LA county boundary has white-on-brown street names and darker poles. (Street view coverage is poor there!)

And I only know as Westlake Village is where I've spent the most nights in my trans-atlantic travels.

[Ian]

Are they new in NYC? They are definitely quite old in CA, because all the ones that used to be near me are being replaced with one of the other two styles I mentioned. In fact, there is only one intersection near my house that still uses the guy-wire style.

NYC has been using them for quite awhile, and they still continue to use them, which is neat.

Maryland also happens to use those western US style mast arms, which is also neat:

[Quillz]

Both of those appear to rather recent changes. The ones I'm referring to use white on brown signs and even have a custom font. But as they get replaced, it seems they are going to more standards compliant signage.

[NJRoadfan]

NJ does side mount traffic lights on divided highways. There is usually at least one mounted just above the jersey wall in each direction.

[architect77]

Buckhead in Atlanta's new streetscape improvement:

[Quillz]

Those always seem like they will fall down.

[hobsini2]

Personally, i have always liked how Illinois did signals in the 80's era.  There was always at least one signal pole on the near right corner, one on a mast arm (which i thought was a cool looking arm), and one on the far left corner at a minimum.  Usually also had one the far right pole with the mast arm mount for main intersections.  If the intersection had a double left turn lane, the pole with the mast arm would be in the median with one on the pole, one halfway on the arm and one on the end of the arm, such as the case for Route 53 at I-55 and Route 53 at Lily Cache Ln.  Too bad Illinois has gone to the generic arms since the 90s.  Thank God Wisconsin still uses that nice looking arm although on Wis 81 west of I-90, there are some newer Illinois style arms. bluh!

[Brandon]

^^ I thought the trusses were more from the 70s as we tended to have mastarms installed from the late 70s onward around here.  I have noticed that the trusses were very common in District 1 and are far fewer in number in other IDOT districts.

[roadman65]

I know that I started it to see what others thought about New Jersey signals and if there are others like them, but I would like to also know what happened in Puerto Rico to the old Jersey style signal heads there?

When I went there back in 75 as a youngster, I remember that PR had two types of signal assemblies used there. One was Jersey style truss mast arms with yellow signal heads all with back to back signal heads on both sides of the intersection just like in the Garden State and  with the red lens being 12 inches and the yellow and green being only 8 inches like in Ontario. The other assembly was span wire signals that had green heads and all three orientations having 8 inch lenes.

Back in 09 I was there and found all the signal heads being black (just like Florida and California) and all having 12 inch lenses!  Also with the addition of mono tube mast arms along with  the span wires and Jersey truss mast arms.  Only the signal heads are not back to back anymore! All mounted in front of the driver.  This commonwealth must of done a lot of work to replace many signals throughout this small island.  Does anyone know when this was all done during the 34 years I was away?

[SidS1045]

Are they new in NYC?

They go back to the 1960's, when NYC started getting rid of their old two-color traffic signals en masse.

[connroadgeek]

Why does NJ mount signals over the opposite direction lanes? Seems like most intersections will have the standard two signals, but then on the mast arm for the other direction, they will mount a third signal over the opposite direction lanes. What is the purpose of that?

[jeffandnicole]

So traffic further back from the stop line can see the light. Adds more visibility approaching the light as well, especially if you're behind a bigger vehicle and don't see the light change.