The bright lights might not be hot, but that doesn’t seem to be causing problems in the Summit City.
Q. I read an article that discussed the winter challenge faced by LED traffic signals. Do Fort Wayne and Allen County use this type of traffic signal lights? – Patrick Dennis
A. Good catch, Patrick, and I’m sure other drivers had the same thought when reading about the problems some communities have with the new energy-efficient lights.
As you know, Chicago and a few other communities in Illinois and Wisconsin have found problems because the lights are so efficient they don’t produce much heat.
During bad winter storms, blowing snow can accumulate on the traffic light, blocking its view for motorists.
Fortunately in Fort Wayne, we haven’t had such problems. The city spent $354,953 in 2005 to change its traffic signals to LED lights, and the conversion was complete in November 2005.
That means they’ve been in place for four winters already, and I have yet to notice visibility problems. The city has about 9,600 LED bulbs.
Frank Suarez, Fort Wayne public works spokesman, said the city actually began testing the newer bulbs in the late 1990s. To date, he said the city has experienced no visibility problems with the bulbs during heavy snows.
He said it might be because some areas get more snow than Fort Wayne, or the shape of other cities’ signals might contribute to snow accumulation.
The good news for Fort Wayne taxpayers is that from 2006 to 2008 the city has saved more than $350,000 in electricity costs by using the LED lights.
The bulbs have also proved to be more reliable than the older bulbs. Historically, the city had more than 300 emergency runs a year to fix broken signals. Since the installation of the LED bulbs, the city has averaged fewer than 20 annual runs.
Some quick facts: LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, last six or seven years as opposed to two years for an incandescent bulb. They use 13 watts of electricity compared with up to 150 watts. The lights are also brighter than incandescent bulbs, helping drivers better see the signal.
It seems like a good deal to me.
Solar LEDs
The Indiana Department of Transportation is testing the effectiveness of solar-powered LED stop signs in Wells County. The state will test the flashing signs at two intersections: Indiana 115 and County Road 300 West and Indiana 124 and County Road 300 West.
Radio Sage
This week’s bonus audio question comes from Dan Forbing, who asks about the intersection of Tonkel Road and Indiana 1. The segment originally aired Friday afternoon on WOWO and can be found online at www.journalgazette.net/roadsage.
