Traffic signal

[7/8]

Going down River Rd E to King St E (not a typo, they're both East ) in Kitchener, ON, you pass train tracks right before the intersection. Therefore, they decided to use the 3M-style 3M/McCain PV signals for the green lights so that you can't see the King St signals until you pass the train tracks. I find it interesting that the red and yellow lights appear to not be 3M style 3M/McCain PV, while the green lights and associated arrows are. Also, the 3M signals are inconsistent themselves; some of them have square casings while others are round. The railway crossing signal on the pole uses 3M (i.e. square casing) while the other signals use McCain PV (i.e. round casing).

The King St signals from the side:



The Railway signals:

[paulthemapguy]

^^Wow, that's wacky.  But I'm totally on board with that strategy!  Reinforcing reds and yellows, but limited sight of greens to err on the side of caution.  I actually like this idea!  We can use it in other situations where you cross tracks just before an intersection.

[7/8]

^^Wow, that's wacky.  But I'm totally on board with that strategy!  Reinforcing reds and yellows, but limited sight of greens to err on the side of caution.  I actually like this idea!  We can use it in other situations where you cross tracks just before an intersection.

It makes sense, but it does look weird! It might be cheaper too, since the 3M/McCain PV signals are apparently pricey.

One other spot I've seen this is on University Ave at King St and Regina St in Waterloo, ON. The intersections are close together, so the green lights on the second intersection in each direction are 3M so you can't see them too early.

[freebrickproductions]

Also, most of those are McCain PV signals. The only 3M is the mast-mounted one ahead of the crossing.

[cl94]

Also, most of those are McCain PV signals. The only 3M is the mast-mounted one ahead of the crossing.

Correct. If you want 3M frankensignals, come to Albany. Off the top of my head, I can think of 3 intersections that have them and there are probably more. Most split intersections in the area just use full PV signals, so I don't know why NYSDOT went weird at these. Before NYSDOT started using louvers and long tunnel visors at skewed intersections, most of those were 3Ms as well. NY 149 at Warren CR 7, seen here in 2009, was my first big introduction to PVs. It was replaced by standard McCains with long tunnel visors shortly thereafter when turn lanes were added on NY 149.

[paulthemapguy]

Here's something for your brains to chew on...
What's wrong with this picture?  Something about this intersection was constructed incorrectly.


20160506_170253 by Paul Drives, on Flickr

[freebrickproductions]

Either the non-PV signal head facing the traffic that also has PV signals, or the dual signals on the mast on the right.

[RestrictOnTheHanger]

Are there any areas that use a doghouse that is different from the typical red centered above the green and yellow balls and arrows?

As an example, this variant is almost exclusively used on Long Island NY. I have yet to see it anywhere that i have driven, even within NY State. The red ball is above the green and yellow ball, with the left or right arrows offset to their respective direction

https://goo.gl/maps/SYR17To2Prq

[SignBridge]

Hmmm.........RestrictOnTheHanger ? Sounds like Track-16 (?)  at Penn Station on the Long Island Railroad.

But anyway, that traffic signal configuration is called a side-by-side. I much prefer it over the usual doghouse; it's more intuitive. Looks better when mounted on a mast-arm than with span-wire.

[RestrictOnTheHanger]

Hmmm.........RestrictOnTheHanger ? Sounds like Track-16 (?)  at Penn Station on the Long Island Railroad.

But anyway, that traffic signal configuration is called a side-by-side. I much prefer it over the usual doghouse; it's more intuitive. Looks better when mounted on a mast-arm than with span-wire.

I agree, it looks better than a normal doghouse. Works better with the smaller lights too.

[SignBridge]

The smaller (8-inch) lights are almost history. Most places now use 12-inch as the standard in most installations. Except Nassau County, NY DPW on Long Island which stubbornly still installs the smaller ones where they feel it's reasonable, and NYSDOT too in some locations. 

[cl94]

R10 is weird in how they do that, as nobody else I know of in the northeast uses a pure side-by-side. Of course, if FYAs continue to spread, they might be phased out in upcoming years.

[RestrictOnTheHanger]

The state, counties, and to a lesser extent the towns mostly install the side by side, but also use vertical 4 and 5 lights stacked. Sometimes even in the same intersection


Jericho Tpke and Marcus Ave (NYSDOT)

NYCDOT still installs new 8 inch lights regularly, though they are switching to 12 inch lights for new and existing lights. Then again they do wacky stuff , and the longer I live in the NYC area the more I see.

Examples (sure there are plenty more)

Wrong placement of left turn arrows

Signalling a straight thru movement as a slight right

Sloppy Frankensignals

[paulthemapguy]

Here's something for your brains to chew on...
What's wrong with this picture?  Something about this intersection was constructed incorrectly.


20160506_170253 by Paul Drives, on Flickr

For those playing at home, the 3M signals are on the wrong mast arm.  If the photo is facing north (which it is), the eastbound traffic should see the 3Ms, not the westbound traffic, to eliminate confusion between signals for the NB and EB approaches.

[riiga]

Are there any areas that use a doghouse that is different from the typical red centered above the green and yellow balls and arrows?

As an example, this variant is almost exclusively used on Long Island NY. I have yet to see it anywhere that i have driven, even within NY State. The red ball is above the green and yellow ball, with the left or right arrows offset to their respective direction

https://goo.gl/maps/SYR17To2Prq

Sweden uses this variant, but for left turn signals not separate from the main signal, only a green arrow is used, while the yellow and green is much more common for right turns.

Examples: Right turn, Left turn

[jakeroot]

Sweden uses this variant, but for left turn signals not separate from the main signal, only a green arrow is used, while the yellow and green is much more common for right turns.

If only a green arrow is used, does the protected left turn follow the permissive phase (such that the through and left turn would end at the same time, and could both use the same yellow orb)?

[jeffandnicole]

Here's something for your brains to chew on...
What's wrong with this picture?  Something about this intersection was constructed incorrectly.


20160506_170253 by Paul Drives, on Flickr

For those playing at home, the 3M signals are on the wrong mast arm.  If the photo is facing north (which it is), the eastbound traffic should see the 3Ms, not the westbound traffic, to eliminate confusion between signals for the NB and EB approaches.

While I did see that, I also wondered if there's something just to the north of the intersection that required those 3M signals to be where they were.

That's a pretty big error not to be corrected in the field.

[DrSmith]

I have seen side by side for left turns in WV such as

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2952508,-77.8417332,3a,75y,69.11h,95.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDAu54BqIOzXwrxg7TZlJvQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en-US

Maryland at least used to install some side by side 8 inch through movement with 12 inch arrows on the near side as shown in this image below

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6009121,-75.8041842,3a,75y,51.6h,85.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8uOxfAP_1Frcd8tLV4jl5Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en-US

[Bruce]

Spotted these two on former WA 527 in downtown Bothell:

https://twitter.com/SounderBruce/status/757323914703843328

Maps link: https://www.google.com/maps/@47.7608473,-122.2075804,3a,75y,176.97h,87.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sK5uSnEn6o_GZ354ly07lxg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

[riiga]

Sweden uses this variant, but for left turn signals not separate from the main signal, only a green arrow is used, while the yellow and green is much more common for right turns.

If only a green arrow is used, does the protected left turn follow the permissive phase (such that the through and left turn would end at the same time, and could both use the same yellow orb)?

Yes, they both end at the same time, but the protected turn doesn't necessarily begin as the permissive phase begins. It could also start just as light turns green and end earlier, but I don't recall seeing that. The relevant official document says (in translation) "In a traffic signal with one additional opening, the opening may only show a green arrow as the main signal is showing a green light without arrow."

[kj3400]

Maryland at least used to install some side by side 8 inch through movement with 12 inch arrows on the near side as shown in this image below

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6009121,-75.8041842,3a,75y,51.6h,85.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8uOxfAP_1Frcd8tLV4jl5Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en-US

Maryland still does it. Here's an intersection that was just redone with mast arms last year down the street from my house:

https://goo.gl/maps/zkZTxDmxpAL2

[SignBridge]

Penny-wise and pound-foolish. A main road like that should have all 12-inch signals. They sure as heck would in California or Colorado or other western states.

[jakeroot]

Penny-wise and pound-foolish. A main road like that should have all 12-inch signals. They sure as heck would in California or Colorado or other western states.

Primary signals should always use 12-inch signals, but secondary and/or tertiary/auxiliary signals are appropriate applications for 8-inch signals. British Columbia (a western state, depending on your definition ) still installs 8-inch (200mm) secondary and primary signals at most of their intersections. Overhead signals are always 12-inch (300mm), but secondary (mast-mounted) signals, as well as near-side (tertiary/auxiliary) signals are mostly all 8-inch. Arrows are often 8-inch as well, though this is far less common than it used to be (though it's still permitted -- see this PDF page 86, section on "auxiliary").

EDIT 4.25.2017 was a mistake. Sorry for throwing anyone off. I was trying to copy something and hit save instead.

[ARMOURERERIC]

There is a photography studio in downtown Morganton NC that always has historical photos of downtown and they are changed every so many weeks.  There was a new set up today that showed a style of traffic signal at Sterling and Avery from the 1950's that I had never seen before:  the signal head was a flat box like structure with semi circular top and bottoms it was a one signal face only deal.  and just had the weather protectors just attached to the front.  Last months pic had a an image of VE day with an US 64, US 70 AND US 64A shield on the corner lamppost.

[freebrickproductions]

There is a photography studio in downtown Morganton NC that always has historical photos of downtown and they are changed every so many weeks.  There was a new set up today that showed a style of traffic signal at Sterling and Avery from the 1950's that I had never seen before:  the signal head was a flat box like structure with semi circular top and bottoms it was a one signal face only deal.  and just had the weather protectors just attached to the front.  Last months pic had a an image of VE day with an US 64, US 70 AND US 64A shield on the corner lamppost.

Sounds like a Darley Simplex signal:
http://www.kbrhorse.net/signals/darley_d480.html

Spotted these two on former WA 527 in downtown Bothell:

https://twitter.com/SounderBruce/status/757323914703843328

Maps link: https://www.google.com/maps/@47.7608473,-122.2075804,3a,75y,176.97h,87.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sK5uSnEn6o_GZ354ly07lxg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Some people call those "E.T. heads", but I personally like to call them "T-signals". I've seen a few around here in Alabama, with this set-up on US 280 being a notable one. There's actually one at an intersection here in Huntsville.
South Carolina also uses them for a lot of their left turn signals.