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The Rockaways of Queens, N.Y.
This picture shows a three-way Eagle Mark IV traffic signal cluster, in which was once located in the Rockaways of Queens, New York. Early 2000s. From Randy Trezak.

At the time this picture was taken, many two-section traffic signals were still common to see in certain areas of Queens aside from the Rockaways, such as Richmond Hill and Ozone Park.

Observe the use of L.E.D. signal indications here. When New York City first began the citywide conversion from light bulbs to L.E.D. inserts in 2000, many two-section traffic signals were affected. They were typically of the newer heads, such as the Eagle Mark IV, for example. Even so, some older Marbelite heads were partially converted, and, regarding those, the red signal indications were affected, while the green signal indications were still incandescent.
Keywords: Traffic_Lights

The Rockaways of Queens, N.Y.

This picture shows a three-way Eagle Mark IV traffic signal cluster, in which was once located in the Rockaways of Queens, New York. Early 2000s. From Randy Trezak.

At the time this picture was taken, many two-section traffic signals were still common to see in certain areas of Queens aside from the Rockaways, such as Richmond Hill and Ozone Park.

Observe the use of L.E.D. signal indications here. When New York City first began the citywide conversion from light bulbs to L.E.D. inserts in 2000, many two-section traffic signals were affected. They were typically of the newer heads, such as the Eagle Mark IV, for example. Even so, some older Marbelite heads were partially converted, and, regarding those, the red signal indications were affected, while the green signal indications were still incandescent.

CIMG5540.JPG CIMG5561.JPG 1902843_377229659084657_429463262_n.jpg Angled_sections_on_Ruleta.jpg NYC_three_section_traffic_signal_Bob_Mulero.jpg
File information
Filename:1902843_377229659084657_429463262_n.jpg
Album name:M30 / Traffic Lights
Keywords:Traffic_Lights
Filesize:76 KiB
Date added:Mar 07, 2014
Dimensions:960 x 636 pixels
Displayed:358 times
URL:http://www.galleryoflights.org/mb/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=17098
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Comment 1 to 8 of 8
Page: 1

rlshieldjr   [Mar 08, 2014 at 04:30 AM]
I'm surprised they didnt "upgrade" to 12" 3 section during the LED conversion.
M30   [Mar 08, 2014 at 11:21 AM]
Realize that New York City's speed limit is 30 M.P.H., and, because this is true for most roads there, it is NOT necessary to use 12" vehicular heads. Most, if not all, of the 8" vehicular heads that are in existence there are adequate for usage. D.O.T. continues to install them as of present day. 12" traffic signals are in use as well; however, they are not as common as the others are.
streetlight98   [Mar 08, 2014 at 04:16 PM]
I thought the two-section signals weren't allowed anymore though? Here they use all 12" heads. Is it true that 8" signals actually cost more than 12" signals because fewer are sold compared to the 12" signals?
M30   [Mar 08, 2014 at 06:05 PM]
Two-section (red and green) traffic signals are indeed no longer adequate to use. New York City revitalized the amber signal indication in the early 1950s, and, as a result, three-section traffic signals ultimately replaced two-section heads. The citywide conversion took slightly over 50 years to complete, so it is understandable that there were some of these still left (solely in the borough of Queens). Most likely reason for this is that they were merely forgotten, in which is typically true for any other citywide conversion that happened in New York City's traffic control history. Something like this just does not happen overnight.

As far as your second question is concerned, I would not be able to answer that, since I do not work in the industry and know prices for actual signals. In my opinion, though, I would imagine that is not necessarily true, since it does not sound logical to do so. Then again, I could be wrong. Just my two cents.
streetlight98   [Mar 08, 2014 at 06:30 PM]
Ahh okay.
M30   [Mar 08, 2014 at 09:38 PM]
What is interesting to point out, regarding two-section traffic signals in general, is that the M.U.T.C.D. banned them in the mid 1930s. Interestingly enough, it was at the time that they first became widespread in the city of New York. Many municipalities had different standards back then, though. Today, everything is far more stricter.
streetlight98   [Mar 08, 2014 at 10:52 PM]
Yeah for the most part everything is all standardized now. Even though 8" signals are premitted in some cases, they just use all 12" signals here (for peds too) except for the 12-12-8/red-yellow-flashing yellow signals they use here for rail road crossings, cross walks, and fire stations.
joe_347V   [Mar 08, 2014 at 11:47 PM]
I find it interesting that they still kept the intersection with two colour signals even after they replaced the original heads with the Mark IVs and after the LED conversion.

Over here we scrapped almost all of the old 8-8-8 signals when they switched everything over to LED. 8-8-8 signals are still permitted here for street with a speed limit of 35 MPH or lower but almost everyone uses 12-8-8 signals now.

Comment 1 to 8 of 8
Page: 1