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1. When is a traffic signal installed?

Federal guidelines (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices - MUTCD) that establish minimum conditions under which a traffic signal installation should be considered are mandated by Florida Statutes. The MUTCD provides a process for maintaining agencies such as the City of Boca Raton to follow while investigating conditions and circumstances regarding the installation of a new traffic signal.

The MUTCD contains criteria, or warrants, that define the minimum requirements for volume of vehicular or pedestrian traffic that are used to define the need for and appropriateness of a particular traffic control device. Warrants should be viewed as guidelines, not as absolute values. However, if no warrants are met, a traffic signal will not be installed. Satisfaction of a warrant is not a guarantee that a traffic signal is needed. The MUTCD states that proper engineering judgment should be exercised in making the final determination. More details about traffic signals is provided in the Information Brochures section of Traffic Operations

2. What is a left turn signal?

Left Turn signal phases facilitate left turning traffic and usually improve the safety of the intersection for left turning vehicles. However, this is done at the expense of the amount of green time available for through traffic and will usually reduce the capacity of the intersection. Left turn arrows also result in longer cycle lengths which will in turn have a detrimental effect by increasing stops and delays.

While adding a left turn phase can often improve safety and reduce delay, other solutions such as timing adjustments to improve gaps for left turns and geometric improvements to improve sight distance may be more appropriate. More details on left turn signals is provided in Information Brochures section of Traffic Operations.

3. How do I report a traffic signal or school flasher malfunction?

Traffic signals and school flashers in the city limits are maintained by either City of Boca Raton or Palm Beach County. Malfunctions related to traffic signals or school flashers should be reported to Traffic Signals Section at 561-416-3364 or 561-416-3372. The feedback form in this web site can also be used to report such malfunctions. If the traffic signal is in flash please call the traffic signals section immediately.

4. What are LED signal heads?

City of Boca Raton has started a program to change out regular incandescent bulbs used for traffic signal heads to signal heads made with Light Emitting Diode (LED) modules. The conversion results in a power consumption savings, as the LED modules utilize 1/5th of power that is normally used by an incandescent bulb. The incandescent bulbs have a service life of one to two years requiring a yearly replacement effort. The service life of the LED signal heads range between five to seven years, resulting in significant reduction in maintenance efforts for the city staff. Staff projected a savings of over two million dollars for the City in power consumption and maintenance efforts over a period of seven years.

5. What are internally illuminated street name signs?

Internally Illuminated street name signs are the lighted street name signs that are installed at signalized intersections in place of the regular signs with reflective sheeting on aluminum panels. The City has initiated this program to install the internally illuminated street name signs at all signalized intersections to improve visibility of intersection names at night times.