Traffic Signals & Parts

Most traffic control cabinets are built to meet NEMA TS1/TS2, Caltrans, ATC 5301, and ITS cabinet specifications, along with UL, ISO, and IPC certifications where applicable. These standards govern weatherproofing, wiring layout, load switch configuration, and detection channel capacity, ensuring cabinets from different manufacturers can be reliably deployed and serviced across jurisdictions.

NEMA controllers follow the traditional TS1/TS2 hardware and software standard widely used across the U.S., while ATC (Advanced Transportation Controller) units use an open, Linux-based architecture that supports more modules, connected vehicle features, and Caltrans TEES compliance. ATC controllers, like the 2070 Series, offer greater flexibility for smart city and future ITS deployments.

Inductive loop detectors sense vehicles through changes in electromagnetic field caused by metal passing over embedded roadway loops, while radar and lidar sensors like EPIQ RADAR and Ouster Lidar use FMCW radar or 3D point clouds to track vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians in real time, even in poor weather or low-light conditions.

Backup power solutions typically include UPS modules (such as Alpha's FXM HP series), outdoor Type 3R enclosures, AlphaCell batteries, transfer switches, and battery heater mats for cold climates. These systems maintain intersection operation during outages, sags, and brownouts, reducing false service calls and keeping critical traffic infrastructure running.

Emergency vehicle preemption (EVP) systems use GPS and cellular technology, often with 900MHz radio redundancy, to detect an approaching emergency vehicle and proactively clear the intersection by giving it a green signal while stopping cross-traffic. This can reduce emergency response times by up to 20% and lowers the risk of intersection collisions.

Common options include Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), round LED activated beacons, LED embedded signs, and overhead crosswalk illumination systems. These can be pedestrian-activated, radar/vehicle-activated, or scheduled, and many integrate with remote monitoring platforms for scheduling, power alerts, and lamp-failure notifications.