Traffic signal

[Revive 755]

how common is this setup
https://goo.gl/maps/5n1iRm9ycjGy3SSE7

More common than you might think.
https://goo.gl/maps/cX9pk7K7p3MKtij19
https://goo.gl/maps/thte8Ex8WReKPJYC6 (site of an infamous school bus/train crash in 1995)
https://goo.gl/maps/tfteJjJVcZtLr4cr8
https://goo.gl/maps/RfgYEZBwjaNNDtX3A

The Illinois examples have the pre-signal prior to the track(s).  Missouri has a few examples closer to the original with the pre-signal on the far side of the tracks:
https://goo.gl/maps/eQuRyAjZ27nNDYYWA
https://goo.gl/maps/uJmKXciXApqSwxKo7
https://goo.gl/maps/FKrhJX3diXC8J6ZK7
https://goo.gl/maps/sZdZdfoh35bYRyen7


FHWA did issue an interpretation that is against the design Illinois likes to use with the pre-signal right at or over the stop bar prior to the tracks - see https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/interpretations/8_09_19.htm

When road users are stopped by the display of red signal indications at the pre-signals, they need to be able to see at least one signal face from the stop line so that they know when it is appropriate to proceed again on a green signal indication. Because the signal faces at the downstream signal display different signal indications than the pre-signal signal faces, road users who are waiting at the stop line cannot use the signal faces at the downstream signal to determine when it is appropriate to proceed again.

[stevashe]

I thought it might be something like that, I was reading through their MUTCD at some point because I was curious about exactly which of the more unique features of California's roads were due to their state MUTCD, but I think I only got through signs and pavement markings so far. I think I'll go investigate the traffic signal section now to see what it says...

I honestly haven't looked at it myself; what I said was just what I've heard through the grapevine. Nevertheless, I'm sure there's some truth to it. CA seems to have the most consistent signal design strategy of any US state. Surely it has something to do with their state-supplied MUTCD (something WA lacks and is perhaps why so many municipalities here have different signal designs, and thus different operational strategies).

Oh yes, California's state MUTCD definitely goes a long way towards making designs consistent. The reason why I was curious was I noticed a bunch of features in signing/striping/signals that all seemed to match very well across different cities there. As for the signals, there is a bit in the CA MUTCD detailing when exactly permitted signals are justified as an option (quoted below), but nothing specifically restricting the use of permitted-protected phasing. I suppose the fact that the state MUTCD specifically states criteria for permitted signal use may sway designers to choose it over permitted protected since the guidelines for its use are more clear. Or maybe protected-permitted was not allowed in a previous edition? It's an interesting case at any rate.

Guidance:
Protected left turn phases should be considered where such alternatives couldn't be utilized, and one or more of the following conditions exist:
    1. Collisions - Five or more left turn collisions for a particular left turn movement during a recent 12-month period.
    2. Delay - Left-turn delay of one or more vehicles, which were waiting at the beginning of the green interval and are still remaining in the left turn lane after at least 80% of the total number of cycles for one hour.
    3. Volume - At new intersections where only estimated volumes are available, the following criteria may be used. For pre-timed signal or a background-cycle-controlled actuated signal, a left turn volume of more than two vehicles per approach per cycle for a peak hour; or for a traffic-actuated signal, 50 or more left turning vehicles per hour in one direction with the product of the turning and conflicting through traffic during the peak hour of 100,000 or more.
    4. Miscellaneous. Other factors that might be considered include but are not limited to: impaired sight distance due to horizontal or vertical curvature, or where there are a large percentage of buses and trucks.

----

how common is this setup
https://goo.gl/maps/5n1iRm9ycjGy3SSE7

I'd say it's relatively common when there is a railroad track parallel to a major arterial. See this example really close to my work:

https://goo.gl/maps/4p8FvrvPeSjCTdmy8

In this case, the tracks are part of the Denver RTD light rail.

Here's one in Redmond, WA: https://goo.gl/maps/queSVfuvHZapSHfr7

I always thought the setup here was a bit weird, but now that you mention that it's usually due to proximity to rail,  it now makes a lot more sense, since there did used to be a track running through here. (Present in the 2008 streetview https://goo.gl/maps/fNXLNZFpfDfmWjpDA)

[jeffandnicole]

how common is this setup
https://goo.gl/maps/5n1iRm9ycjGy3SSE7

More common than you might think.
https://goo.gl/maps/cX9pk7K7p3MKtij19
https://goo.gl/maps/thte8Ex8WReKPJYC6 (site of an infamous school bus/train crash in 1995)
https://goo.gl/maps/tfteJjJVcZtLr4cr8
https://goo.gl/maps/RfgYEZBwjaNNDtX3A

To continue...
https://goo.gl/maps/U1zLnXdy4ytRJr8M7
https://goo.gl/maps/9VXmsqW8AF3ZvUSKA
https://goo.gl/maps/y7iF9gVCMQPQq48A8

[UnumProvident101]

I wonder what brand of traffic light this is
https://goo.gl/maps/jCb8XWdNZhN78b5Q7

[traffic light guy]

I wonder what brand of traffic light this is
https://goo.gl/maps/jCb8XWdNZhN78b5Q7

McCain

[UnumProvident101]

I'm surprised how dark the red light is and I've noticed that it's hard to see in the day time

[bcroadguy]

Kind of related to the discussion about pre-signals right at the stop line where there's railroad tracks...

Here's a strange setup where there are pre-signals quite a bit before the stop line due to the regular ones being obstructed by an overpass:
https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2591113,-122.7558478,3a,47.9y,286.77h,89.84t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sf-RvXiE9graatYNH0ArY9Q!2e0!5s20140601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

And yeah... the combination Wendy's / Tim Hortons gets its very own traffic light 

[UnumProvident101]

the traffic light in the middle of this intersection was replaced
in 2017
https://goo.gl/maps/idnDTbNhxqxHAHfj8 2011
https://goo.gl/maps/ETMHQGjeq3QMAHsW7 2017

[jeffandnicole]

the traffic light in the middle of this intersection was replaced
in 2017
https://goo.gl/maps/idnDTbNhxqxHAHfj8 2011
https://goo.gl/maps/ETMHQGjeq3QMAHsW7 2017

It's strange that they replaced a non-matching light with another non-matching light, but in general traffic lights should be replaced fully every so often anyway.  When they're replaced in-kind...at least with the same color housing...almost no one will ever notice.

[UnumProvident101]

the traffic light in the left lane is odd
https://goo.gl/maps/rkUvGKjbeLnb4MmB9

[Mark68]

the traffic light in the left lane is odd
https://goo.gl/maps/rkUvGKjbeLnb4MmB9

Actually, the light on the right is what seems weird to me. What's with that being a standard 3-lens setup with a red ball and green (right) arrow being lit simultaneously?

[UnumProvident101]

not only does that doghouse traffic light have a right green arrow it also has a left one
https://goo.gl/maps/ZxDunmnJLcGxFDf37

[US 89]

not only does that doghouse traffic light have a right green arrow it also has a left one
https://goo.gl/maps/ZxDunmnJLcGxFDf37

I'm aware of least one other example of this, at the I-84/US 89 interchange near Ogden, Utah.

[UnumProvident101]

has anyone ever seen a intersection like this
https://goo.gl/maps/4ihbjq9kw5GDvBd87

[jeffandnicole]

has anyone ever seen a intersection like this
https://goo.gl/maps/4ihbjq9kw5GDvBd87

When you're providing Google links, tell us a little about what you're talking about here so we're not looking around guessing at what you're referring to.

I'm guessing you're saying that it's a 'keep left' type intersection, where traffic flows in the opposite direction.

And yes.  https://goo.gl/maps/5iA4RzZSybk9piPU8

[jakeroot]

^^^^^^
Agreed. More context the better! Maybe even provide some in-line images, so we don't always have to click the link.

has anyone ever seen a intersection like this
https://goo.gl/maps/4ihbjq9kw5GDvBd87

There's a CFI-T intersection just south of Washington DC, which operates in a very similar manner: https://goo.gl/maps/PvVVMCMLJtFWUVYPA

[Brandon]

has anyone ever seen a intersection like this
https://goo.gl/maps/4ihbjq9kw5GDvBd87

Are you talking about the intersection being offset, like this example at Western and Polk in Chicago?
https://goo.gl/maps/hNEBV45sVYHYMjfYA
https://goo.gl/maps/AsC3UYys7LDvpB2x6

[UnumProvident101]

I was talking about the 3 traffic lights in the middle being right next to each other

[ilpt4u]

not only does that doghouse traffic light have a right green arrow it also has a left one
https://goo.gl/maps/ZxDunmnJLcGxFDf37

I'm aware of least one other example of this, at the I-84/US 89 interchange near Ogden, Utah.

The only Doghouse in IL (that I am aware of) also only has arrows, as the "straight"  movement is prohibited

https://goo.gl/maps/vtQvZVuAe1LGUV6v6 Zoomed in one can see the Arrow silhouettes for Left and Right

Leaving the DuPage Children's Museum at Washington St and across from North Ave, in downtown Naperville

[Brandon]

I was talking about the 3 traffic lights in the middle being right next to each other

That's not uncommon.

Here's several mastarms from Illinois with three or more signals:
Caton Farm & IL-59, Joliet: https://goo.gl/maps/c7VJ7N9o2NtvTEHi9
Van Emmon & Bridge, Yorkville: https://goo.gl/maps/n38rZdZokuRc44m2A
Torrance & the Kingery Expressway, Lansing: https://goo.gl/maps/841u1gARxUvuJFpz6
171st Street & 96th Avenue (LaGrange Road), Orland/Tinley: https://goo.gl/maps/xRvJQzRY9vHdDVtx6

[SignBridge]

I've seen mast arms with as many as five signal heads down in Virginia, especially on S.R. 7 in Loudoun County. And some with four heads in Bucks County, Pa. I'm sure it's a common enough practice in lots of places.

[Revive 755]

I was talking about the 3 traffic lights in the middle being right next to each other

I'm only seeing the two doghouses really being next to each other.  At least around Chicgolaond, heads next to each other or back to back for opposing directions on mast arms is common:
*IL 83 at IL 53
*IL 59 at Penny Road
*IL 72 at IL 59
*IL 72 at Barrington Road

As for the number of heads on a single mast arm, Kane County, IL gets up to 5 (Randall at Longmeadow for example).  IIRC there are one or two with six heads going it as part of the current signal upgrade project for Randall Road.  I thought there may already be one on Randall Road with six but I don't see any.

[bcroadguy]

I found a horizontal, post-mounted signal in Honolulu.

https://www.google.com/maps/@21.3127146,-157.8621132,3a,15y,354.22h,90.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sioH_bVN_geuxMtpzWOQT6g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

Are these common anywhere?

[jeffandnicole]

I found a horizontal, post-mounted signal in Honolulu.

https://www.google.com/maps/@21.3127146,-157.8621132,3a,15y,354.22h,90.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sioH_bVN_geuxMtpzWOQT6g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

Are these common anywhere?

Posted on a pole like that, not at all.

Otherwise, we have threads in here that have discussed where horizontal lights are utilized.

[Jet380]

I found a horizontal, post-mounted signal in Honolulu.

https://www.google.com/maps/@21.3127146,-157.8621132,3a,15y,354.22h,90.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sioH_bVN_geuxMtpzWOQT6g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

Are these common anywhere?

Looks like a good solution to the awnings getting in the way of the signal.

Over here, they just make the pole shorter to fit:
https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.9513736,115.8583257,3a,41.8y,296.16h,85.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szypBVyJSqa7N2bDDuVeZBA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en