Traffic Signals

(Picture Source: Personal Collection)
Barnes realized the traffic signals importance in Baltimore's roadways. Baltimore's traffic control was outdated and awkward when he arrived in 1953. A simple change that was implemented was the color of traffic signals. According to Adam Paul, The arrival of Henry Barnes in 1953 signaled the change to yellow paint seen on virtually every signal since!" (Source:BTCO) Changing the color from green to yellow increased the target value or the visibility of the signals thus increasing safety and became a national standard. First two pictures is of a Crouse-Hinds DT signal that was hand-painted yellow by Baltimore crews. (Picture Source:Personal Collection)

Barnes also took into consideration, the pedestrian traffic. Early on in his ca

reer Barnes improved on a traffic plan later known as the Barnes Dance. According to Richard Weingroff of the US Department of Transportation, [it is when]...all traffic at an intersection is halted so pedestrians can cross in any direction, including diagonally. (Source:USDOT) The configuration of signals within Baltimore changed to help make Baltimore more pedestrian friendly. According to Willis Lamm, "...Baltimore specs with tunnel visors for the red and yellow sections and a cap visor for the green section. The idea presumably for the green cap visor was to make it easier for pedestrians to see the green light but limit the side splash of the brighter yellow and red colors."(Source:Willis Lamm) An example of this can be seen today at Maryland Ave and West Biddle Street as in the third picture of this page (Picture Source: Google Maps)

Not only were the traffic signals m

odified but separate pedestrian signals were installed in Baltimore. Adam Paul points out that, "Pedestrian signals were not all too common until 1955, when 740 WALK-WAIT lights and 115 Neon DON'T WALK units were purchased. It appears that these were the round GE units, as these units began to appear at the same time as the GE traffic signals did." (Source:BTCO) As a cost cutting measure, Barnes choose to purchase General Electric's new signal made from stamped aluminum. This is significant to Baltimore as these models were economical and allowed for more

signals to be installed, changing the landscape of Baltimore. The fourth and fifth picture on this page is an ad from General Electric adverting the new signal. (Picture Source:Personal Collection) When the GE signals were installed they also sported the pedestrian helpful visor configuration such as the sixth picture. (Picture Source:Personal Collection)

Under Barnes direction, Baltimore updated their traffic control system so that the traffic light timing was dynamic according to traffic levels. In another Baltimore first, they, "installed a traffic-control computer that was, in 1957, the largest of its kind in the world." (Source:City Paper) Below is a picture of Barnes in the control room for city traffic, setting the timing of the controller

.(Picture Source:Time Magazine)

Barnes also monitored traffic patterns to program the traffic controllers to real traffic conditions,as seen above. (Picture Source: Time Magazine)

To better understand traffic timing, the above video is pretty interesting. The Baltimore system set up by Barnes and other engineers made traffic manageable. Below is a example of the traffic controllers Baltimore interconnected within the system (Picture Source: Personal Collection)