Add, Edit & Delete Traffic Signals
A single intersection can have multiple devices installed around it, such as traffic signals, streetlights, electric poles, and cameras. The Traffic Signal Module is useful for monitoring important data about these assets, including their locations, specifications, and maintenance information. Traffic Signal icons on the map represent traffic signal locations, which can have multiple assets assigned to them. One point on the map can contain poles, spans, traffic signals, and other assorted assets. While road agencies may not always be the responsible party for traffic signal maintenance, having data on them is still useful when planning work near traffic signals.
Add a Traffic Signal Location
With the Traffic Signal layer visible and active:
Zoom to the desired area on the map.
For help navigating the map, see Use the Map Interface.
Select the Add Feature button from the Map Tool Options.
Select the Add Traffic Signal… option.
Select the desired location for the traffic signal location from the map.
A blue cross marks the exact location of the traffic signal location and a red circle marks the location’s distance from the reference intersection along the reference road.
Change the referenced road segment.
The reference road has an orange highlight. Only change the reference road if the traffic signal location is referencing the wrong road at an intersection or the wrong road segment where two road segments meet.
Select the Change Reference Road on Map button.
Select a new reference road that connects to the same intersection from the map.
Available roads are marked in blue. Selecting a reference road that does not connect to the current intersection, which is marked with a red cross, will also change the traffic signal location’s referenced intersection.
Change the referenced intersection.
Select the Change Reference Intersection on Map button.
Select a new reference intersection from the map.
A red cross marks the current reference intersection. Available intersections along the same road are marked with green squares. The reference intersection must be on the referenced road segment or a road segment that is part of the same road. To reference an intersection off a different road, change the reference road first.
Select the Milepoint field to input the exact milepoint of the traffic signal location.
Select the Reference Distance field to input the traffic signal location’s distance from the referenced intersection.
Changing the Milepoint field will change the Reference Distance field, and vice-versa. The reference distance is typically positive if the location is north or east of the reference intersection, and negative if it is south or west.
Select the OK button to create the new traffic signal, or select the X button to discard the new traffic signal location.
Select an asset from the Signal and Category List window to add to the traffic signal location.
To add, edit, or delete an asset type, see Add, Edit & Delete Traffic Signal Lookups.
Select the Copies field to enter the number of assets to add.
Select the OK button to create the traffic signal location with assets, or select the Cancel button to create the traffic signal location without any assets attached.
Select Location Information fields from the Traffic Signal Module to enter information.
Field values in blue text indicate they are read-only. These fields are not editable.
City/Township — The city or township with jurisdiction over the traffic signal location.
Reference Intersection — The intersection from which the traffic signal location is referenced.
Reference Distance — The distance from the traffic signal location to the reference intersection.
Milepoint — The milepoint that the traffic signal location is located at along the road.
The City/Township, Reference Intersection, Reference Distance, and Milepoint fields are editable by changing the traffic signal’s location. For instructions on editing locations, see the Edit a Traffic Signal Location section below.
Geometry — The type of geometric configuration that best describes the intersection.
The Geometry field relates to the intersection the traffic signal location references. To change it, change the information for the intersection in the Intersection Module. For instructions, see Edit Intersection Data.
Agency ID — Select the field to enter the traffic signal location’s agency ID.
Location Description — Select the field to add any additional location details about the traffic signal location.
GPS Located — Indicates whether the traffic signal location was located by GPS or by reference distance and milepoint.
Latitude – The latitudinal coordinate of traffic signal location.
Longitude – The longitudinal coordinate of traffic signal location.
The Latitude and Longitude fields are only available if the traffic signal location was located by GPS.
Intersection Meter Number — Select the field to enter the unique number given to the meter at this location.
Battery Backup — Select the Drop-down list to indicate whether there is a battery backup at the location.
Billable kWh — Select the field to enter the number of billable kilowatt-hours at the intersection.
Billable Rate — Select the field to enter the billable flat rate at the intersection.
Maintained By — Select the Drop-down list to indicate if the current jurisdiction is responsible for maintaining the traffic signal location.
Utility Company — Select the Drop-down list to select the utility company that maintains the traffic signal location.
The Utility Company fields uses lookups. For instructions on using these lookups, see Add, Edit, & Delete Traffic Signal Lookups.
Memo — Select the field to enter any additional information relevant to the traffic signal location.
Add a Communication Cabinet.
Select the Plus button next to the Communication Cabinet section to open it.
When the Communication Cabinet section is open, the Plus button becomes a Minus button that closes the section.
Select the Add/Edit Communication Cabinet… link to add a communication cabinet to the traffic signal location.
Add intersections to the list by road PR.
Select the PR field to enter a road PR number.
Select the Refresh List button.
Select an intersection from the list.
Locations that have a white background are available for use with this traffic signal network. Locations with a grey background are part of another traffic signal network and are not available.
Select the Communication Cabinet Direction drop-down list to indicate the communication cabinet’s location at the intersection.
Select the Save button to use the communication cabinet, or the Cancel button to cancel the action.
Add an Off-Peak Flash Mode.
Select the Plus button next to the Off-Peak Flash Mode section to open it.
When the Off-Peak Flash section is open, the Plus button becomes a Minus button that closes the section.
Select the Mode drop-down list to select the color that lights at the traffic signal location are during off-peak hours.
Select the Hour from the Start Time field to enter the hour that off-peak time begins.
Select the Minutes from the Start Time field to enter the minute that off-peak time begins.
Select the Time of Day from the Start Time field.
Select the Up Arrow and Down Arrow buttons to set the time of day that off-peak time begins
Select the Hour from the Stop Time field to enter the hour that off-peak time ends.
Select the Minutes from the Stop Time field to enter the minute that off-peak time ends.
Select the Time of Day from the Stop Time field.
Select the Up Arrow and Down Arrow buttons to set the time of day that off-peak time ends.
Select the Save button to save any new information, or select the Undo button to discard it.
Add a Traffic Signal Asset
With the Traffic Signal layer visible and active:
Select the desired traffic signal location from the map.
Select the View Module button.
Select the Add Signal... link from the Asset Hierarchy section.
Select a traffic signal asset from the Signal and Category List window.
For instructions on adding new assets to the Signal and Category List, editing existing asset information, or deleting assets from the list, see Add, Edit, & Delete Traffic Signal Lookups.
Select the Copies field to enter the number of copies of that asset to add.
Select the OK button to add the new asset, or select the Cancel button to discard it.
Select the desired asset from the Asset Hierarchy section.
Assign the asset to a pole.
All assets can link to a pole, except for other poles. To add a pole to a traffic signal location, follow the same the same instructions as adding other assets.
Select the Pole Assignment… link.
Select the Pole Number drop-down list from the Add/Remove Signal from a Pole window to select a pole.
Select the Save button to save the assignment, or select the Cancel button to discard the change.
For spans only, after saving the first pole the Pole Number drop-down list will open again to select a second pole.
Only spans can connect to two poles. The Add Second Pole window will not open for other assets. Instead, the assignment will save and the window will close after assigning the asset to one pole.
Assign the asset to a span.
Only case signs and traffic heads can link to a span. To add a span to a traffic signal location, follow the same the same instructions as adding other assets. An asset can be assigned to a pole or a span, not both.
Select the Span Assignment… link.
Select the Span Number drop-down list to select a span.
Select the Save button to save the assignment, or select the Cancel button to discard the change.
Select Signal Inventory fields to enter information.
Blue fields are not editable.
Signal Type —Select the field and then the Edit button to select what specific type of device the asset is.
Category — Select the field and then the Edit button to select the general type of device the asset is.
The Signal Type and Category fields depend on whatever type of device the asset is. Changing one also changes the other.
Age – Indicates how old the asset is based on its Date Into Operation field entry.
The Age field only appears if the Date Into Operation field for the asset has been saved as something besides the default “1/1/1900”.
Date Into Operation — Select the Drop-down menu to select the date that the asset began operating.
Quadrant – Select the Drop-down list to select the side of the street the asset is located on.
The Quadrant field is only available for poles. Once a pole has a side assigned to it that direction will appear next to its name in the Asset Hierarchy section.
Meter Number — Select the field to enter the meter number specific to the asset.
Model Number — Select the field to enter the asset’s model number.
Manufacturer — Select the Drop-down list to select the company that made the asset.
The Manufacturer fields uses lookups. For instructions on using these lookups, see Add, Edit, & Delete Traffic Signal Lookups.
Traffic Control Order Number — Select the field to enter the specific Traffic Control Order Number associated with the asset.
Memo — Select the field to enter any additional information relevant to the asset’s specifications.
Add a lens.
Select the Plus button next to the Lens section to open it.
When the Lens section is open, the Plus button becomes a Minus button that closes the section.
Select the Add Lens… link to add a lens to the signal asset.
Select the Effective Date drop-down menu to select the date the lens began operating.
Select the Light Style drop-down list to select the type of lens.
The Light Style field uses lookups. For instructions on using these lookups, see Add, Edit, & Delete Traffic Signal Lookups.
Select the Save button to add the new lens, or the Cancel button to cancel the action.
Specify direction faces.
Select the Plus button next to the Direction Faces section to open it.
When the Direction Faces section is open, the Plus button becomes a Minus button that closes the section.
Select the Add/Edit Direction Faces… link to edit the direction faces of the signal asset.
Select the All drop-down list to indicate whether the asset faces all directions or not.
Select the Drop-down list next to a direction to indicate whether the asset faces that specific direction.
Assets can face multiple directions.
Select the Save button to save the direction changes, or select the Cancel button to discard any changes.
In order to save changes at least one direction must be set to “Yes”. To reset all directions to “No,” select the Delete button.
Select the Save button to save entered traffic signal asset information, or select the Undo button to discard any changes.
Edit a Traffic Signal Location
With the Traffic Signal layer visible and active:
Select the desired traffic signal location from the map.
Select the View Module button from the Map Tool Options.
Edit the traffic signal’s location.
Select the Edit Location… link from the Signal Location section.
Select the Yes button to continue to editing the location, or select the No button to cancel the action.
Select a new traffic signal location from the map.
A blue cross marks the exact location of the traffic signal location and a red circle marks the location’s distance from the reference intersection along the reference road.
Change the referenced road segment.
The reference road has an orange highlight. Only change the reference road if the traffic signal location is referencing the wrong road at an intersection or the wrong road segment where two road segments meet.
Select the Change Reference Road on Map button.
Select a new reference road that connects to the same intersection from the map.
Available roads are marked in blue. Selecting a reference road that does not connect to the current intersection, which is marked with a red cross, will also change the traffic signal location’s referenced intersection.
Change the referenced intersection.
Select the Change Reference Intersection on Map button.
Select a new reference intersection from the map.
A red cross marks the reference intersection. Green squares on the map indicate potential reference intersections along the same road.
Select the Milepoint field to input the exact mile point of the traffic signal location.
Select the Reference Distance field to input the traffic signal location’s distance from the referenced intersection.
The reference distance is typically positive if the location is north or east of the reference intersection and negative if it is south or west.
Select the OK button to save any changes, or select the X to discard them.
Select Location Information fields to edit them.
For a list of field descriptions and instructions, see the Add a Traffic Signal Location section above.
Edit the Communication Cabinet.
Select the Plus button next to the Communication Cabinet section to open it.
When the Communication Cabinet section is open, the Plus button becomes a Minus button that closes the section.
Select the Add/Edit Communication Cabinet… link to edit the communication cabinet, or select the Delete Communication Cabinet… to delete the cabinet entirely.
Add intersections to the list by road PR.
Select the PR field to enter a road PR number.
Select the Refresh List button.
Select an intersection from the list.
Locations that have a white background are available for use in this traffic signal network. Locations with a grey background are part of another traffic signal network and are not available.
Select the Communication Cabinet Direction drop-down list to indicate the communication cabinet’s location at the intersection.
Select the Save button to save any changes, or the Cancel button to discard them.
Select the X button to close the window.
Edit the Off-Peak Flash Mode.
Select the Plus button next to the Off-Peak Flash Mode section to open it.
When the Off-Peak Flash section is open, the Plus button becomes a Minus button that closes the section.
Select the Mode drop-down list to select the color that lights at the traffic signal location are during off-peak hours.
Select the Hour from the Start Time field to enter the hour that off-peak time begins.
Select the Minutes from the Start Time field to enter the minute that off-peak time begins.
Select the Time of Day from the Start Time field.
Select the Up Arrow and Down Arrow buttons to set the time of day that off-peak time begins.
Select the Hour from the Stop Time field to enter the hour that off-peak time ends.
Select the Minutes from the Stop Time field to enter the minute that off-peak time ends.
Select the Time of Day from the Stop Time field.
Select the Up Arrow and Down Arrow buttons to set the time of day that off-peak time ends.
Select the Save button to save any changes, or select the Undo button to discard them.
Edit a Traffic Signal Asset
With the Traffic Signal layer visible and active:
Select the desired traffic signal location from the map.
Select the View Module button from the Map Tool Options.
Select the desired traffic signal asset from the Asset Hierarchy section.
Assign the asset to a different pole.
All assets can link to a pole, except for other poles. To add a pole to a traffic signal location, follow the same the same instructions as adding other assets.
Select the Pole Assignment… link.
Select the Pole Number drop-down list from the Add/Remove Signal from a Pole window to select a pole.
Select the Save button to save the assignment, or select the Cancel button to discard the change.
For spans only, select the Pole Number drop-down list from the Add Second Pole window to select a second pole.
Only spans can connect to two poles. The Add Second Pole window will not open for other assets. Instead, the assignment will save and the window will close after assigning the asset to one pole.
Assign the asset to a different span.
Only case signs and traffic heads can link to a span. Only one pole or span can possess the signal asset at a time. To add a span to a traffic signal location, follow the same the same instructions as adding other assets.
Select the Span Assignment… link.
Select the Span Number drop-down list to select a span.
Select the Save button to save the assignment, or select the Cancel button to discard the change.
Select Signal Inventory fields to edit their information.
For a list of field descriptions and instructions, see the Add a Traffic Signal Asset section above.
Edit or delete a lens.
Select the Plus button next to the Lens section to open it.
When the Lens section is open, the Plus button becomes a Minus button that closes the section.
Select the desired lens.
Select the Edit button.
Select the Effective Date drop-down menu to select the date the lens began operating.
Select the Light Style drop-down list to select the type of lens.
The Light Style list uses lookups. For instructions on using these lookups, see Add, Edit, & Delete Traffic Signal Lookups.
Select the Save button to save any changes to the lens, the Cancel button to discard them, or the Delete button to delete the lens entirely.
Edit or reset direction faces.
Select the Plus button next to the Direction Faces section to open it.
When the Direction Faces section is open, the Plus button becomes a Minus button that closes the section.
Select the Add/Edit Direction Faces… link to edit the direction faces of the asset.
Select the All drop-down list to indicate whether the asset faces all directions or not.
Select the Drop-down list next to a direction to indicate whether the asset faces that specific direction. An asset can face multiple directions.
Select the Save button to save any direction changes, the Cancel button to discard them, or the Delete button to reset all directions to “No”.
In order to save changes at least one direction must be set to “Yes”. Resetting the directions automatically saves.
Select the Save button to save any changes to the asset, or select the Undo button to discard them.
Delete a Traffic Signal Location
With the Traffic Signal layer visible and active:
Select the desired traffic signal location from the map.
Select the View Module button from the Map Tool Options.
Select the Delete by Location… link from the bottom of the Location Information section.
Select the Yes button to delete the location and all traffic signal assets located there, or select the No button to cancel the action.
Delete a Traffic Signal Asset
With the Traffic Signal layer visible and active:
Select the desired traffic signal location from the map.
Select the View Module button from the Map Tool Options.
Select the desired asset from the Asset Hierarchy section.
Select the Delete Signal… link from the Signal Inventory section.
Select the Yes button to delete the asset, or select the No button to cancel the action.