steven1981 wrote:One possible reason that the pedestrian signal was originally removed from service is that there was an issue with the wires that were connected to it.
There is this issue (amongst solely pedestrian signals) that has been fairly common to see throughout New York City for as long as I could remember. Perhaps you may remember, since I believe you once mentioned somewhere here on the forums that you are originally from New York City. It is in regards to both indications ("DONT WALK" or the hand and "WALK" or the walk man) that are lit at the same time ("WALK," "DONT WALK," or during the flashing clearence).
Signals from there were originally controlled by electro-mechanical signal controllers, but they were rarely the culprits. I say this because only one pedestrian signal would fail at the signalized intersection. It eliminates the signal controller, because, if it was the culprit, then the other pedestrian signals that are wired to the given terminal section in the cabinet would be affected as well.
From what I have noticed over the years, the city's response is to replace the entire pedestrian signal with a brand new one. It is still the city's solution to this day. Although they sometimes replace the actual L.E.D. module insert (might be faulty, since most in the city date back to the conversion) in the signal housing.
In regards to the pedestrian signal, G.T.E.'s P-6 pedestrian signal in New York City was commonly installed at newly built signalized intersections back in the 1990s to early 2000s. It also replaced the Winkomatic pedestrian signal. I recall several that were replaced in my borough that I grew up in sometime in the 1990s.
That would make sense. And no, I have always lived in the Columbus area, but my uncle lives in New York City, and I have visited him there on weekends twice a month since I was a baby. I also am looking to live there. So I am very familiar with New York and yes, I have seen this problem before. My uncle and his then-girlfriend (now wife) lived in Far Rockaway, and when I was a kid they used to let me go where ever the subway train would take me. Subways were also another interest of mine back then. But anyway now they live close to Times Sq. what borough did you grow up in?