Signals

Most of the traffic signals located within the City are owned and maintained by the City. There are a few exceptions. Signals at freeway interchanges (Central and I-10, Monte Vista and I-10, and Palo Verde and I-10) are owned and maintained by the state. Signals located on streets bordering other cities are usually maintained by one city or the other.

Many, but not all, signals in the City are coordinated in order to facilitate traffic movement through the City. A traffic signal controller, a computer, is installed at each signalized intersection. Each traffic signal controller has its own time clock. The time clocks for each controller are kept in synchronization by some form of interconnection, usually a hard-wired interconnect or a radio transmitter. The interconnection allows us to not only keep the time clocks on a common datum, but also to alter the programming in the controllers.

The programs change over the course of the day to reflect changing traffic conditions. Special programming can be entered into the controller in anticipation of special events that would change traffic conditions. An example of this is the programming that is entered into signals around the Montclair Plaza around Christmas time.

Some frequently asked questions or comments include:

A traffic signal is out or malfunctioning.
If a traffic signal light is out or malfunctioning, please contact the Engineering Division at (909) 625-9478. As noted above, some signals are not controlled by the City. However, the City will accept all the complaints and forward them to the proper agency if it is not a City signal.

A traffic signal needs to be constructed at xxxx.
If you feel that a traffic signal is required at a specific location, please contact the Engineering Division at (909) 625-9478.

A signal does not have sufficient green time to allow enough cars to get through the intersection.
There may be two causes for this problem. The first may be a traffic detection problem. This problem may keep the light from extending long enough to allow all the traffic to clear the intersection. The second cause may be that there is more traffic than can be accommodated by the maximum green time programmed into the controller. Signals, particularly those that are part of a coordinated system, have a maximum cycle length of 90 seconds. That is not 90 seconds of green time. That is 90 seconds to accommodate traffic movements in all directions. Adding more green time to one direction of travel means a reduction of green time in another direction. An intersection like Central Avenue and Holt Boulevard has heavy traffic in all directions at certain times of the day. There may be times when a particular phase will not seem long enough because all the traffic will not clear. Giving that phase more green time will mean taking it away from another phase. If you have any questions about the traffic signal operations contact the Engineering Division at (909) 625-9478.