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Houston Traffic Lights


REALaw

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Why does Houston, the fourth largest city in the nation, have such antiquated traffic control signals? Most of the lights in Houston are still on fixed time control. Installing dynamic controls with on-street detector loops would save Houston drivers valuable time. I realize there is a myriad of other problems in Houston, but it is such a headache to sit at an intersection with no one moving.

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Or I could not agree more!!! Even when the syncronization is in place it often does not make sence whatsoever. For quite a while MacGregor and alameda intersection lights were time to ensure that starting on green on South you'd just miss green on the North no matter how fat you start. As much as I am for the lightrail I don't see why all directions have red in midtown when the train passes. And on top of that why no right turn on red?

As for dynamic lights its long overdue - it will not only save time but decrease traffic cogestion as well.

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The signal timing is funky on Hermann Drive going through San Jac and Fannin too.

Normally when there's a train passing it's red, but after the train passes it takes like 5 minutes before it turns green again, and then its only green long enough to go to the next block and then you get the second red light before you can make it to main. I emailed the city 3-1-1 thing and they said they're working on it...

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Actually many intersections in Houston have more than just a simple timer controlling traffic signals. Look up at the signals, and you'll see what looks like a small camera mounted on the pole or cross arm at many intersections on busier streets, especially inside 610 and along the freeway frontage roads. Those little cameras are sensing traffic and adjusting signal timing accordingly. Some older signal installations have sensors in the pavement instead.

As for the lights in Midtown on Main St. turning red in all directions as a train approaches, you have the idiots who couldn't follow basic road signs and traffic lights and kept hitting the train to thank for that. When MetroRail first opened in January 2004, traffic moving in the same direction as the train got a green light too, but people kept ignoring the "no left turn" signs and hitting the train. Within six months Metro had to change the signals in Midtown so that traffic on Main St. has to stop as the train passes, even though the cars are going the same direction as the train.

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Actually many intersections in Houston have more than just a simple timer controlling traffic signals. Look up at the signals, and you'll see what looks like a small camera mounted on the pole or cross arm at many intersections on busier streets, especially inside 610 and along the freeway frontage roads. Those little cameras are sensing traffic and adjusting signal timing accordingly.

I've seen these installed at numerous intersections, but I don't think they are operational yet. At least I haven't noticed a difference.

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I've seen these installed at numerous intersections, but I don't think they are operational yet. At least I haven't noticed a difference.

do you understand that there has to be a certain time that lights remain green? the lights don't change instantaneously because a vehicle is there.

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do you understand that there has to be a certain time that lights remain green? the lights don't change instantaneously because a vehicle is there.

Umm. Yes I DO realize that, and I don't expect them to. However, what is the point in sitting at an red light, when no other cars are passing through the intersection, waiting for a complete 4-light cycle, or waiting for the turn signals when no one is in the turn lanes??

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However, what is the point in sitting at an red light, when no other cars are passing through the intersection, waiting for a complete 4-light cycle, or waiting for the turn signals when no one is in the turn lanes??

More time to listen to music, breathe deeply and relax completely.

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The impatient need other help.

Jokes aside, I see the reasoning here. For example, Westheimer shouldn't go red at Old Farm at 1AM when there's nobody there.

i understand but there is a cost involved too. as the hardware is upgraded, then the fix can be implemented.

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I've seen these installed at numerous intersections, but I don't think they are operational yet. At least I haven't noticed a difference.

You sure? I was told these instruments pick up the "flashing lights" from emergency vehicles & change the lights so they may pass uninhibited through intersections.

traffic_signal_100x90.jpg << we're talking about these things, right?

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You sure? I was told these instruments pick up the "flashing lights" from emergency vehicles & change the lights so they may pass uninhibited through intersections.

traffic_signal_100x90.jpg << we're talking about these things, right?

the smaller ones shown are activated via the emergency lights. the larger ones are the cams

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You sure? I was told these instruments pick up the "flashing lights" from emergency vehicles & change the lights so they may pass uninhibited through intersections.

traffic_signal_100x90.jpg << we're talking about these things, right?

That's not what I was talking about in my post. Those are for detecting fire, police, and other emergency vehicles. The traffic sensing cameras look more like a camera, are larger, and are white in color. They are on many intersections in Houston, and are operational.

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Why does Houston, the fourth largest city in the nation, have such antiquated traffic control signals? Most of the lights in Houston are still on fixed time control. Installing dynamic controls with on-street detector loops would save Houston drivers valuable time. I realize there is a myriad of other problems in Houston, but it is such a headache to sit at an intersection with no one moving.

The short answer is that the City of Houston alone (not including Harris County and TxDOT) operates more than 2,200 traffic signals. When you consider the staffing level and funding assigned to maintaining traffic signals, you have your answer.

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Umm. Yes I DO realize that, and I don't expect them to. However, what is the point in sitting at an red light, when no other cars are passing through the intersection, waiting for a complete 4-light cycle, or waiting for the turn signals when no one is in the turn lanes??
Every phase is assigned a minimum green time, then the signal will change to the next phase if no vehicle actuates the detector during the green extension period (1-3 sec depending on the intersection) and another vehicle has been detected at another approach. The controller can be programmed to skip phases if no vehicle is waiting at a given approach, but this isn't always done for various reasons:1) In the event of detector failure, an approach will never receive the green.2) In coordinated systems, this may not be possible/desirable.3) In diamond interchanges, the two signals are coordinated and skipping phases on one signal will throw the other signal out of whack.
So the one camera can monitor all lanes, even the turn lanes?? Seems to me that pavement sensors would work better.
Yes, the camera can detect multiple phases. You define each detection zone in the software and assign it to any phase.Pavement detectors generally work better at detecting vehicles than cameras, but have their downsides:1) You have to cut up the pavement, introducing a weakness in brand new pavement.2) They are pretty inflexible. Changing the location of a detection zone with a camera system is a matter of simply redefining the zone in the camera's field of vision in the software. For pavement detectors, you've got to cut up the pavement again and install new cable.
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  • 3 months later...

The traffic light system in Houston is just retarded. Considering the left hand signal. Do they still think that we are idiots that we can't make up our mind to turn left if there IS NO ON COMING TRAFFIC!!!??? Can they see what other cities have done about their left turn signaling? For example almost all Dallas Left hand Signals are optional Yield & Protect, this saves valuable time for the commuters. Nothing is more frustrating then sitting on a red trying to turn and left and there is NO ONE in the on coming lanes. Just the other day, i sat at the red for 4 minutes, yes i counted, and there was no on coming traffic at all!!!

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Do they still think that we are idiots that we can't make up our mind to turn left if there IS NO ON COMING TRAFFIC!!!???

Considering all those light rail/car accidents involving left turns, I think your question's been answered.

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Considering all those light rail/car accidents involving left turns, I think your question's been answered.

I could understand light rail intersections.. i am just talking about regular intersections such as strees in Sugar Land..

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I could understand light rail intersections.. i am just talking about regular intersections such as strees in Sugar Land..

It's a joke, along the lines of "if Houstonians can't depend on a traffic light NOT being there to tell them to not turn in front of a train, do you think they'll fare any better against oncoming traffic without a protected left turn only signal?"

At Southmore and 288, they replaced the old "left turn on arrow only" signals with "left turn yield on green" signals about 12 years ago. With the old signals, you had a protected left turn phase on the green arrow only. With the new signal, you can make a turn on the green ball signal if traffic's clear, and you'll still have a green arrow for a protected turn later. BUT, you have stupid drivers who dash out and turn left as soon as they get the green ball, almost hitting oncoming traffic. They're pretty much unclear on the concept of "YIELD!" (ugh) I despise bad drivers.

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  • 6 years later...

I'd like to get this discussion going again since it's been years since this topic first started, and still, our city's traffic signals are a joke.

 

It's occurred to me (on my commute along Montrose->S. Main) that our city's traffic problems could be helped by just using our existing signals more effectively. All talk from officials seems to be about expanding freeways, bus routes, rail, etc... yet no one is talking about simple things we can do to make our current system work.

 

Let's take Montrose->S. Main->610 path as an example. Let me know if I'm wrong, but I think doing these things could cut travel times significantly.

1. Eliminate left turns and only allow them at signaled intersections. Left turns cause backups and stop flow.

2. Replace signals with newer ones that will reset (instead of blink) to avoid creating a four way stop. Traffic backs up miles when this happens and the city takes forever to fix it.

3. Forbid rent-a-cops from stopping traffic flow and let the lights do their job. They cause more gridlock (esp in Med Center) jumping out and stopping traffic flow on green lights.

4. Time the lights so North/South traffic get priority.

 

East/West traffic can be handled at various key intersections along the path with similar rules and simple upgrades (Allen Pkwy, West Alabama, W Holcombe, etc.)

 

Another suggestion I'd add is that the city identify these thoroughfares like bus routes. That way, I know that if I get on an identified thoroughfare, I'm going to have reasonably timed lights, fewer stops, and given priority. With this route alone, you could move more people, get some people off the freeways, and possibly create a new route to get to/from Montrose/Downtown/Med Center/Reliant Stadium/and on down and out along 90 to Missouri City.

 

Your thoughts?

 

 

 

 

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Eliminating left turns on rail tracks would be great also

 

They are eliminated, except where they can't be due to difficulties in going around the block, or limited access from other directions.

 

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Related to this, I just found out about a traffic study they are doing and a meeting tomorrow night where they are taking suggestions. I think I'm going to try and attend: http://edocs.publicworks.houstontx.gov/documents/divisions/traffic/public_meeting_notice_42414.pdf

 

http://www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/traffic/tmcstudy.html

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It's funny. The first post in this thread goes back to November 2007 and they complain about Houston's antiquated traffic control signals. Almost seven years later I haven't seen any improvement in that area. Still way to many little used side streets crossing major streets with traffic lights that change regardless if there's any traffic. 

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They are eliminated, except where they can't be due to difficulties in going around the block, or limited access from other directions.

 

 

 

They should be eliminated in the medical center

 

The Medical Center is the poster child for not being able to go around the block instead of turning left.

 

Edit:  That's why I park elsewhere and take the train when my destination is in the Medical Center.  :ph34r:

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When I first moved to Houston in 1999, Metro was talking about revolutionary new software for timing the traffic lights that would make everything all better.  

 

Repeat the same promise at three-year intervals.

 

Somehow it either never gets done, or it simply doesn't work.

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