We will begin momentarilyDecember 15, 2010

Day 1 HighlightsMagnitude of the Problem

Confluence of Meteorological Conditions“The Perfect Storm”

Wind: Direction/Speeds/Gusts Temperature/Including post storm Humidity/Moisture Sky conditions (including post-storm) Longevity

 Wet sticky snow seems to cause more accumulation on lenses than the dry powder

Some communities get this “Perfect Storm” perhaps once or twice a year

Day 1 HighlightsScale

Reactive or Proactive Solutions based on Magnitude of Problem and Cost to Communities Reactive Solutions

Regular Part of Maintenance Brushes and Brooms Deicing Solutions Annual cleaning of lenses as part of maintenance with or

without application of solutions (proactive) Users need solutions to be passive and impose a minimal

burden on maintenance personnel and cost of maintenance.

Passive Devices Visors Cones Shields Lens design or after market treatments to help snow from

sticking

Day 1 HighlightsProactive Solutions

Manufacturers have constraints Are the jurisdictions willing to pay additional,

higher cost per unit for heating? Energy Star rating? Is there a work around for the

additional wattage requirements since the heater element may not be considered part of the signal ball?

Thermal or electric treatment of LED lens

Day 1 HighlightsTesting

Extensive testing of the solutions have not been tried out across the nation to test any given solution or approach to the solution

Users need to be able to test solutions using uniform criteria (or a standard) against field conditions prior to extensive rollout

Liability Safety and legal implications need to be studied for

not addressing the snow accumulation issue. “Dark Intersection Issue”

Comment from last evening…Great opening discussions and information. As pointed out today, LED traffic signal modules have been

a great asset to the traffic industry. However nothing is perfect. Since the introduction of LEDs,    the industry has vigorously applied specifications that were previously almost ignored. The industry responded with better and lower cost products to everyone’s benefit – especially the environment..Yes, snow build up on LED signal is challenging, but so it was with incandescent signals – just did not get the same attention. And what about snow totally covering STOP signs. Does not it require the same attention?  I suggest that  we need to keep the issue in perspective. Director IMSA ON Section