SignalTraffic Forums

by **steven1981** on Mon Jul 15, 2013 10:47 pm

I recently noticed these rectangular devices appear at major signalized intersections throughout the boroughs in New York City. One is generally in use for each direction, in which faces a major road. Below, is just an example of one from Staten Island.

Any thoughts?

by **TacomaJoe** on Mon Jul 15, 2013 10:56 pm

Don't look like any sort of detection that I've seen. I'd lean more towards a radio link for communication (cheaper than digging a trench between intersections.)

by **notMUTCDcompliant** on Mon Jul 15, 2013 11:10 pm

Looking at the way they are pointed, radio link....

If they were pointed towards the road surface, ezpass readers for "travel time ahead" signs

by **pyth** on Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:19 am

Cool photo, that's the first time I've seen 2 sections above the hardware.

by **charger** on Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:34 am

A Mess!!!

by **EPAC-EPIC-MARC** on Tue Jul 16, 2013 11:16 am

charger wrote:A Mess!!!

Agreed! Looks like someone was told to just slap everything on the end of the mast in one big clump :Phil:

Could be a radio link but it doesnt look like encom antennas...could possibly be radar detection too...but not the common wavetronix stuff

by **charger** on Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:24 pm

It appears to be a cell phone antenna.

Sometimes the cell site can't get a direct connection to an area, say a building is in the way of the direct path, so they put up an antenna or mini cell to handle calls in that area.

But that is really an odd place for one.

by **steven1981** on Tue Jul 16, 2013 1:21 pm

pyth wrote:Cool photo, that's the first time I've seen 2 sections above the hardware.

N.Y.C.D.O.T. commonly separated the amber and red indications if a 12-12 (protected green arrow and amber arrow) head was in use. Just for clearance purposes, really. Aside from the red indication separated in a 8-8-8-12 signal configuration in New York City, this set-up is another favorite of mine that I remember well.

Nowadays, it seems that N.Y.C.D.O.T. uses this set-up for a four-way cluster with a 12-12 head attached. It has replaced some of the original configurations (like in the original picture of this thread) within the past couple of years, but many are still in use in various locations to this day.

by **TacomaJoe** on Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:03 pm

I like the cell idea. I know they can monitor/track cellphones for travel time calculations.

by **notMUTCDcompliant** on Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:21 pm

That's via bluetooth, not cell traffic, (so those of you with tin foil hats can take them off now!) but same thing!

SignalTraffic Forums

What exactly is it?

What exactly is it?

Re: What exactly is it?

Re: What exactly is it?

Re: What exactly is it?

Re: What exactly is it?

Re: What exactly is it?

Re: What exactly is it?

Re: What exactly is it?

Re: What exactly is it?

Re: What exactly is it?

Who is online