From a friend.  Makes me wonder if this part of Ukraine has really thick fog or storms so heavy that normal traffic signal lights aren't visible.  Or maybe it's just something their tourist bureau wanted!  Festive, though!  


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One of my least favorite aspects of my profession is that traffic signals are just not attractive.  But the City of Breckenridge CO may have found a way.  Put up so many lights when decorating the town that the signal lights become part of the festivities!  
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The City of San Jose's website has a phone number and email address to report concerns about traffic signal timing.  I just called about an issue I have noticed at the intersection of Fruitdale Avenue and Meridian Avenue, and spoke with a very helpful man who told me the traffic signal coordination plan had recently been updated and the City is still fine tuning, and he would write up a work order to look into my concern.   If you have a question about traffic signal timing at an intersection...
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There are three observations I’d like to share with the folks in the professional community who are involved in traffic signal coordination, and I’m hoping to hear if others have noticed anything similar.  

First, when implementing coordination plans that have been developed with an optimization model, I often find ways to improve operations during the fine tuning step.  The last step of the process is to input the final timing settings back into the model and run it one last time to ge...

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There are signalized pedestrian crossings in many large cities.  Getting pedestrians to take full advantage of the signals and stay safe is often a challenge.  Here is how one US city is being creative:

http://howtoinstructions.tips/this-dancing-crosswalk-signal-is-designed-to-keep-pedestrians-safe-and-happy/

And here is an alternative from Germany:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Ozz6_pdMI

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Traffic adaptive systems are computer systems that coordinate traffic signals by continually monitoring traffic volumes and making updates to the coordination plan every few seconds.  The concept is intended to provide ideal traffic signal operations through a corridor with multiple traffic signals.  A dozen years ago there were very few adaptive systems deployed in the US, and these were mostly in large cities with very high volumes of traffic.  Now a large number of systems have been deploy...
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Question:  Some traffic signals in snow country with LED lamps are getting clogged with snow.  Are there any new products to address this problem? 

Answer:  The lower wattage of LED traffic signal heads compared to incandescent also means the lamps generate less heat.  This allows snow or ice to form on the head and sometimes block the display.  In at least one case in Wisconsin, it has become a legal issue.  See http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/79008352.html

McCain Traffic Supply has d...

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Question:  I travel the same route to work on the same streets and at approximately at the same time 5 days a week. So here it is a holiday week and yes, traffic is lighter but then that gets me into work earlier. Why is it sometimes left-hand signals will be quick and other times they TAKE FOREVER. Is it lighter traffic not triggering the signal or is it time of day?

Answer:  The easy part of your question is the very last.  A traffic signal detector, with very few exceptions, is binary.  Y...

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Question:  I’ve been told Caltrans recently issued new guidelines on accommodating bicycles at signalized intersections.  Where can I find the details?

Answer:  In August, 2009, Caltrans issued a Policy Directive about new requirements for bicycle detection at signalized intersections and new guidelines for traffic signal timing to accommodate bicycle travel speeds.  You can find the full document at http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signtech/signdel/policy/09-06.pdf.  The document describ...

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Question:  My City has a traffic signal with a protected left turn that is to be converted to a permissive.  There is a mast arm for this move which currently has a signal heads for the left turn phase and through phase.  I have been told there is a product available from Pelco called the Astro-Brac that I can use to replace both the existing heads with one doghouse head, and mount it in between the current head locations.  What more can you tell me? 

Answer:  Pelco has a product called AB-0...

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The quick answer is that traffic signals are installed when "an engineering study indicates that installing a traffic control signal will improve the overall safety and/or operation of the intersection."  In other words, when volumes and congestion get high enough, or when the number of correctable crashes exceeds a certain amount, a traffic signal will improve safety and operations.  

Many local agencies monitor unsignalized intersections on an annual basis, keeping track of traffic volumes a...
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Question:  My City has recently installed a new traffic signal.  There is a curve in the southbound approach that limits the visibility of the signal heads.  How do I know if I need a Supplemental head or not?    

 

Answer:  Chapter 4 of the California MUTCD has your guidance.  First determine your travel speed on the approach.  Then look up the minimum visibility requirement in Table 4D-1 of the CA MUTCD http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signtech/mutcdsupp/pdf/camutcd/CAMUTCD-Part4.pdf  . ...

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Question:  For left turn signal heads, we usually install it on the mast arm and the far side 1-b pole.  The MUTCD requires a 40 degree viewing angle from the left turn lane.  There are situations that the far side left turn signal head is outside the 40 degree angle zone due to the width of the street.  I know Caltrans doesn’t like to put the 1-b on the median too.  We required to have at least two signal heads for each moment.  So, what’s your opinion for the second left turn signal hea...

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Question:  How does a traffic signal work and why don’t I get a green when I’m on a motorcycle?

 

Answer:  The short answer is traffic signals work just like a person would who is directing traffic.  First it “sees” a vehicle that needs a green, then it provides the green.  Most traffic signals “see” with detector loops that are buried in the pavement.  These loops detect masses of conductive metal.  They detect large masses, like cars or trucks, very well.  If properly installed...

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Question:  When gap extension is programmed, do cities generally use the detectors to have this signal timing setting, or do cities program the controllers to have this setting?

Answer:  I’m used to thinking in terms of Gap Reduction.  Gap Reduction is done entirely in the controller unit inputs.

Extension is a term that is usually applied to a detector input.  Extension can be done either in the Detector Sensor (the part that sits in the rack/shelf in the controller cabinet), if it is the ...

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