In Reply to: TRAFFIC LIGHTS frequency posted by Ben-WA on June 26, 2000 at 00:06:28:
"Way back" in the 1980's when KCFD #4 (Shoreline Fire) did their own
dispatching (KOF-989), they had radio control of certain major intersections.
A responding unit would ask for "lights at 175th and I-5", the dispatcher
would push the appropriate button on the console, sending a 2 tone
sequential signal (like a pager). As I recall they could control
lights at N 155th, N 160th, N 175th, N 185th, and N 200th sts along
Aurora ave N. Along N 175th lights at Meridian Ave N, and signals
just east and west of I-5. Seattle Fire controls downtown signals
on 1st and 3rd aves (2 way sts). Broken into North and South segments.
Also many fire stations have control of nearby intersections i.e.
St 24 N 130th at Greenwood and Aurora; St 31 Northgate Wy from Aurora
to maybe as far east as Roosevelt. St 18 along NW Market st.
If you have sat at an intersection downtown with 4 way red on 3rd or
1st ave for a while you can probably thank SFD!