Traffic Lights
Crunching the Safety Data Reveals the Need to Improve Traffic Lights
After completing an eight-year study of traffic collisions, the Seattle Department of Transportation realized that one way to immediately improve traffic safety would be to improve signalization an key intersections.
Slot-Based Design Could Eliminate Traffic Lights
An MIT study determined that traffic lights, and their inefficiencies, could be eliminated if all vehicles were equipped to regulate their speed and "batch" together as they approach intersections.
Google Celebrates the Birth of the Traffic Light
If you opened Google to do a search on Wednesday, you'd see an image (the "doodle") of a traffic light and six Model-T era cars spelling out the company's name. It was honoring the 101-year anniversary of the birth of the electric traffic light.
On the Benefits of Traffic Signal Removal
Certain intersections stand to gain from losing their traffic lights. According to this study, cities can save money and improve safety by uninstalling signals in low-traffic zones.
New App Alerts Drivers Before Traffic Lights Turn Green
A suburban city in the East Bay Area will allow commuters to use a new app that links their smartphones to traffic lights.
'Consider the Traffic Light'
Dan Saffer asks us to consider the traffic light—and there's plenty to think about.
Can Intelligent Traffic Lights Ease Toronto's Gridlock?
Faced with paralyzing gridlock, North America's fourth-largest city is studying several potential solutions for easing congestion - including traffic lights that think for themselves.
"Presence Sensors" Save Bicyclists By Controlling Traffic Lights
A new system using "microwave motion" sensors can detect when a bicyclist enters an intersection and control traffic to accommodate them.
The Walking Dead
Can drivers be scared into being more careful around pedestrians? A new scare tactic is in the works for the common WALK/DON'T WALK traffic light.
Wayfinding Symbols Across the World
Metro stations, train stations and streetcar systems have distinct ways of showing how to get from one area to another. TheCityFix's Jonna McKone looks at mass transit systems from Mexico City to Paris and the visual representations used in each one.
Innovative Redesigns for the Simple Traffic Light
The common traffic light isn't normally thought of as a problem. But what if you were colorblind? That's just one aspect of these eight proposals for a rethinking of the traffic light, gathered by WebUrbanist.
Fighting Traffic With Smarter Traffic Lights
Do traffic signals need to be predictable? Researchers are experimenting with giving traffic lights a mind of their own, with the power to change with the flow of traffic, sensing when it would be most advantageous to be red or green.
'Self-Regulating' Traffic Lights Reduce Waiting Time
Researchers in Europe are experimenting with a new kind of traffic light that better responds to traffic by monitoring the actual amount of cars on the road and estimating how long lights should stay green.
Too Many Traffic Lights
Architect Arrol Gellner says that traffic engineers use traffic lights far too often when a simple stop sign works better and is much less expensive.
Automakers Working to Improve MPG Through Traffic Signals
BMW and Audi are studying ways to improve fuel efficiency using strategies that outside of the vehicle.
A Stoplight With A Countdown
Designer Damjan Stanković has proposed a stoplight with a "progress bar," the same sort of countdown that many walk signals have today. Zach Patton wonders if this is a good idea.
Will Removing Traffic Lights Help Congestion?
The Town Council of Ealing, U.K. is experimenting with covering up its traffic lights at certain intersections, which they believe will increase safety and awareness.
Retiming Streetlights for Bikes
SF Streetsblog looks at cities that have timed traffic lights on busy bike streets to best suit their pace, and argues that Valencia St. in San Francisco is a prime candidate for retiming. (VIDEO)
Behold, the Square Traffic Light
Want to give your city a unique look? Try these new square traffic lights.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Caltrans
Los Alamos County
American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners
