Mystery Box Innards Revealed
When I wander around the city, I always wonder what radndom utility boxes actually do.
Walking back from a meeting, I saw this one open. At the corner of 14th and I Streets NW seems to be a telephone switching box. Or at least the guys standing around it were from Verizon.
Look at the close up view, recognize any equipment?
How many of these urban utility boxes actually perform some required service, and how many are just relics of the past, like police call boxes now made into art?
I wonder how cleaner our sidewalks would be if we removed all the un-used detritus that clutters our egress.
Might we have room for more trees instead?
I’m guessing, by looking at what’s in there, that this powers a stop signal, perhaps. In which case: yes, it’s really necessary.
Cool!
A little googling suggests the top system is a Safetran Traffic Systems Model 170/170E, which is used for: “Traffic Signal Control, Ramp Metering, Sign Control and Sprinkler Control.”
http://www.wpsignal.com/tse/170E.htm
So, yes, it does seem to control a stop signal.
yep. trees. then grass. then this:
http://www.slowtrav.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=629&cat=555