ISMA TRAFFIC SIGNAL TECHNICIAN II
LEVEL 2 EXAM STUDY GUIDE – 2025
UPDATED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Preventive and Emergency - correct answers ✔✔The traffic field technician is
responsible for performing what types of maintenance on signals?
Safety - correct answers ✔✔The single most important focus for the traffic signal field
technician is?
Safety of motorist and pedestrians
His or her own personal safety
Safety of public and personal property - correct answers ✔✔Three main categories of
safety a traffic signal technician is responsible for?
Bucket Truck
,Aerial lift (platform truck) - correct answers ✔✔Traffic signal field technicians perform
several maintenance and repair functions above the ground and roadway typically using
what two vehicles?
Protective Harness - correct answers ✔✔While using a bucket truck or aerial lift what
implement provides proper protection for the user?
Legal liability
Dealing with the public - correct answers ✔✔What responsibilities (liability) does a
Traffic signal technician have while involved in repair, testing or maintenance?
Documentation - correct answers ✔✔It is imperative that the traffic signal field
technician maintain comprehensive what of all the steps taken during repair and
maintenance of traffic signals?
Routine maintenance
Emergency repair - correct answers ✔✔What two instances are documentation required
for a traffic signal field technician?
Road users
Area residents / Property owners
Elected and appointed officials
The media - correct answers ✔✔The "word" public usually represents the following
individuals (4):
Mail or email
Telephone contact
Face to face meetings - correct answers ✔✔Several means of public interaction are (3):
Always be polite
Be confident when speaking
Communicate clearly in understandable terminology
Don't argue or threaten
Don't provide information if you are uncertain of its accuracy. - correct answers
✔✔When dealing with the public, keep in mind that the routines of public users may be
disrupted for periods of time during construction. How should a traffic signal field
technician interact with the public? (5)
Microprocessor - correct answers ✔✔Traffic signal controller units of todays traffic
systems are controlled by what?
Input requests from vehicle detection systems - correct answers ✔✔The
microprocessor is programmed to recognize what?
Timing - correct answers ✔✔A microprocessor takes appropriate action to control
intersection what?
, Electro-mechanical controller - correct answers ✔✔A forerunner of the electronic
controllers that we have today was the?
1970's - correct answers ✔✔What year where solid state electronic controllers
developed to replace the electro-mechanical controllers?
More dependable
Added many more features - correct answers ✔✔What two improvements differentiated
electronic controllers from electro-mechanical controllers?
NEMA TS-1 - correct answers ✔✔What was the standardization that primarily
established a pin configuration in the controller and defined a function for every pin?
A,B, and C connectors - correct answers ✔✔The NEMA TS-1 has three connectors
which where known as:
Three - correct answers ✔✔NEMA TS-1 had how many connectors?
Input or Output - correct answers ✔✔The NEMA TS-1 defined every pin for each
connector as either what two connection types?
D connector - correct answers ✔✔NEMA also allowed manufactures to add an
additional feature on the fourth connector. What was this connector know as?
Communications
Pre-emption
Other special features - correct answers ✔✔What was the D connector commonly used
for?
California DOT
City of Los Angeles California
New York State DOT - correct answers ✔✔What three agencies joined together to help
develop the 170 controller?
Model 170 controller - correct answers ✔✔What controller is an open-architecture
based general purpose microcomputer for traffic control?
A specific hardware architecture
A specific processor - correct answers ✔✔What two specifications does the model 170
controller require?
Open architecture
Allows for interchangeability of components - correct answers ✔✔How is the Type 179
controller specification similar to the 170 specification?(2)
LEVEL 2 EXAM STUDY GUIDE – 2025
UPDATED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Preventive and Emergency - correct answers ✔✔The traffic field technician is
responsible for performing what types of maintenance on signals?
Safety - correct answers ✔✔The single most important focus for the traffic signal field
technician is?
Safety of motorist and pedestrians
His or her own personal safety
Safety of public and personal property - correct answers ✔✔Three main categories of
safety a traffic signal technician is responsible for?
Bucket Truck
,Aerial lift (platform truck) - correct answers ✔✔Traffic signal field technicians perform
several maintenance and repair functions above the ground and roadway typically using
what two vehicles?
Protective Harness - correct answers ✔✔While using a bucket truck or aerial lift what
implement provides proper protection for the user?
Legal liability
Dealing with the public - correct answers ✔✔What responsibilities (liability) does a
Traffic signal technician have while involved in repair, testing or maintenance?
Documentation - correct answers ✔✔It is imperative that the traffic signal field
technician maintain comprehensive what of all the steps taken during repair and
maintenance of traffic signals?
Routine maintenance
Emergency repair - correct answers ✔✔What two instances are documentation required
for a traffic signal field technician?
Road users
Area residents / Property owners
Elected and appointed officials
The media - correct answers ✔✔The "word" public usually represents the following
individuals (4):
Mail or email
Telephone contact
Face to face meetings - correct answers ✔✔Several means of public interaction are (3):
Always be polite
Be confident when speaking
Communicate clearly in understandable terminology
Don't argue or threaten
Don't provide information if you are uncertain of its accuracy. - correct answers
✔✔When dealing with the public, keep in mind that the routines of public users may be
disrupted for periods of time during construction. How should a traffic signal field
technician interact with the public? (5)
Microprocessor - correct answers ✔✔Traffic signal controller units of todays traffic
systems are controlled by what?
Input requests from vehicle detection systems - correct answers ✔✔The
microprocessor is programmed to recognize what?
Timing - correct answers ✔✔A microprocessor takes appropriate action to control
intersection what?
, Electro-mechanical controller - correct answers ✔✔A forerunner of the electronic
controllers that we have today was the?
1970's - correct answers ✔✔What year where solid state electronic controllers
developed to replace the electro-mechanical controllers?
More dependable
Added many more features - correct answers ✔✔What two improvements differentiated
electronic controllers from electro-mechanical controllers?
NEMA TS-1 - correct answers ✔✔What was the standardization that primarily
established a pin configuration in the controller and defined a function for every pin?
A,B, and C connectors - correct answers ✔✔The NEMA TS-1 has three connectors
which where known as:
Three - correct answers ✔✔NEMA TS-1 had how many connectors?
Input or Output - correct answers ✔✔The NEMA TS-1 defined every pin for each
connector as either what two connection types?
D connector - correct answers ✔✔NEMA also allowed manufactures to add an
additional feature on the fourth connector. What was this connector know as?
Communications
Pre-emption
Other special features - correct answers ✔✔What was the D connector commonly used
for?
California DOT
City of Los Angeles California
New York State DOT - correct answers ✔✔What three agencies joined together to help
develop the 170 controller?
Model 170 controller - correct answers ✔✔What controller is an open-architecture
based general purpose microcomputer for traffic control?
A specific hardware architecture
A specific processor - correct answers ✔✔What two specifications does the model 170
controller require?
Open architecture
Allows for interchangeability of components - correct answers ✔✔How is the Type 179
controller specification similar to the 170 specification?(2)