Stop Signs & Traffic Signals

Speed Control

Each year, the City receives many inquiries about installing stop signs or traffic signals as a way to reduce speeding. However, overuse tends to reduce their effectiveness. Our experience has shown that simply improving the intersection visibility by prohibiting parking near the intersection is often more effective in reducing traffic accidents.

Installation Policies

By state law, the City of Flagstaff refers to the Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), for installation policies. This manual:

• Contains guidelines for installing signs and thus creates uniformity from state to state
• Dictates the size, shape, and color of all traffic signs

Before installation of traffic control devices, the City of Flagstaff must identify:

• Crash history
• Traffic and pedestrian volumes
• Unusual conditions present at an intersection, such as hills and curves

Part of the installation process is deciding what to install. The City of Flagstaff uses two types of traffic signals:

• Fixed time - set for average conditions and change at predetermined time intervals
• Traffic actuated - timing is adjusted to optimize traffic flow at the intersection

Along major arterials, which have several traffic signals spaced at periodic intervals, the traffic signals are usually synchronized to provide coordinated movement along the major street.

Citizen Concern

Public understanding of the function of stop signs and traffic signals is one of the most critical elements in reducing speeding and traffic accidents. The City of Flagstaff takes our role in solving traffic problems very seriously, but the burden of safety rests with the motorist. The City receives hundreds of citizen requests per year, so please be patient. We will respond after carefully evaluating your request.