Why are the traffic lights in the eastern U.S. different at each intersection in some places?

Question

I'm from California, and all of our traffic lights are the same in most areas, as well as most of the western states but I noticed that in most of the eastern U.S. (especially the Atlanta area and places in PA), the traffic lights are different at each intersection, like at one intersection they will be hanging from wires, at another half are on wires half are on poles, at another they're on a wire going diagonally across the road, at another they're black, another yellow, some have back plates, some don’t, etc.

I found it sort of annoying how they were like that and I know it’s not a big deal, it’s only petty, but wouldn’t it make more sense to just have a standard set of traffic lights for all intersections?

Answer 1

It most likely just has to do with the state that it is in, many better built and stronger for hurricane areas, maybe different colors so that people can see them better, some are older and still hanging on wires and some on poles are maybe newer, it could be just about anything...

Answer 2

The lights are like that in my area of Texas. Going even further...for each individual light assembly you might have all LED, or a mix of LED and regular bulb. In some areas you'll have all LED assemblies and standard bulb assemblies mounted on the same pole or wire. In the town where I work there's this one intersection that has LED lights on a black pole right at the "stop here" line and on the other side of the intersection is another set of regular bulb lights hanging from a wire.

Answer 3

I think there are probably many reasons.

1. Stop lights are bought by the city county or state. Each company puts in a bid and the city etc picks the best deal. So there are a variety of types of lights, the city choses whatever is financially the best. Size shape etc is a lesser concern as long as they are approved by the right people (DOT?)

2 Like the previous poster stated weather is a concern. Snow, hurricanes can have an obvious effect on stop lights.

3 I know in the NE, many of the cities have bigger problems and not enough money to worry about their stoplights so they don't upgrade as often as more wealthier areas.

I am sure others will come up with other reasons as well, and  I agree that it is dangerous. I lived in Florida where the lights were on the side poles and I missed them more often because everywhere else I have lived they are above the streets.  Unfortunately there is no real conformity and it is the motorists responsibility to figure it all out.

Answer 4

I think it's simply due to the fact that the eastern States are much older and also have a lot of older technology, which costs a lot of $$$ to update. They usually update the busiest areas first and as budgets allow, slowly replace signs, lights, etc., as the money allows.

In California, things are newer, and there is also no Winter, which costs a lot of $$$ for snow removal, equipment, etc.

These may be a few reasons for not replacing the older traffic lights in the eastern States.

It is annoying though when you travel in a vehicle to a new city/state and find that traffic markings, signs, and some laws too are quite different from what you are used to.

It's all an education though, and now you will be expecting that some things will be different as you travel.

I was in the U.K. last March and was always asking what this marking or that sign meant. It's all somewhat frustrating, but at least you gain knowledge that things are not consistent from place to place and we must always be aware of that when driving.