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Design & Construction  Standards

Traffic and Safety Resources

Flashing Yellow Arrows (FYA)

Left-Turn Signals are coming to Alaska!

Alaska DOT&PF is installing Flashing Yellow Arrow SequenceFlashing Yellow Arrow left-turn signals at numerous intersections in select urban areas statewide.  Research demonstrates that Flashing Yellow Arrows (FYA) are safer, more intuitive than existing left-turn signals, and can reduce traffic delays at busy intersections.  

Alaska’s first FYA became operational in 2009 at the intersection of Whittier and Egan in Juneau.  The intersection of Muldoon and Northern Lights Boulevard in Anchorage received an FYA in 2011.  That intersection utilizes time-of-day operations to reduce motorist delay during off-peak hours. DOT&PF is upgrading another 50 intersections to FYA over the next few years.  All other new traffic signals installed on DOT&PF projects will use FYA where appropriate.

Click here for a full-intersection animation illustrating how left-turning traffic is controlled using the FYA.

Here's what the new signals will look like and what they mean:

Adobe Systems

A solid red arrow (conventional) means STOP. Drivers turning left must stop.

A solid yellow arrow (conventional) means stop if it is safe to do so.

A flashing yellow arrow (NEW) means turns are permitted, but you must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians and then proceed with caution.

A solid green arrow (conventional) means turn left. Oncoming traffic must stop. Do not go straight.

Links

 

FYA Radio Ad