“That’s why the signals are popping up in different pockets of the city,” Riesselman said. “Some of the first were on Center Street in the middle of town, but you can see them along 72nd Street from Pacific (Street) south to L Street. We’re also installing them at West Farm near 144th and Pacific.”

The federal guidelines for the use of the flashing yellow turn signals came out in 2009, Riesselman said. Omaha, he said, is “a bit behind” other cities, such as Lincoln. By the end of 2020, he said, about 25 percent of the installations will have been completed.

“We are making the change as we replace our old equipment,” Riesselman said. “It’s actually just a small part of our master plan for improving traffic control.”

In Lincoln, a total of 267 signalized intersections on approximately 83 miles of arterial streets have been upgraded with flashing yellow turn signals, said Mark Lutjeharms, the city’s traffic engineering manager. He said benefits of the upgrade include reduced travel times, reduced vehicle emissions, fuel savings, fewer crashes, a lessening of the severity of crashes and smoother traffic flow.