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Red Light Green Light Mystery Cache

Hidden : 9/23/2022
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:


Cache is not at the posted coordinates. Solve the puzzle to obtain the coordinates.

The posted coordinates are for the UDOT Traffic Operations Center. Inside you can find a replica of the first ever electric stop light.

Lester Farnsworth Wire is one of the first to develop a working traffic signal. Lester was born September 3, 1887 in Utah and worked as a Salt Lake City police detective. In 1912 he invented an electric traffic light based on the European semaphore system. According to an article by the Utah Historical Society, while he was assigned to the traffic squad, Lester became very concerned about the patrolmen who would stand in the middle of the intersection to direct traffic. He invented a device that could be operated from the side of the road.

The simple “flashing bird house” used a two-way switch to control red and green lights and was powered by the lines for the trolley cars.

At first the signal was perceived as a joke by the local community. No one wanted to stop, and often officers would find the light had been knocked over or destroyed during the night. Lester became very discouraged, but people from larger cities were impressed by the innovation.

Following his service in World War I, Lester made several improvements to the design, and over several years the traffic signal we know today came from it.

Today Utah has over 2,000 traffic signals owned by the city, county and state governments. Sophisticated and complex networking allows them to detect cars, adjust delays and sync intersections.

https://udot.utah.gov/connect/2016/09/02/happy-birthday-lester-wire/

Lester’s original traffic light was soon removed from its perch on 200 S. Main, replaced by nicer, fancier models that included, among other improvements, yellow lights and automatic timers.

The original found its way to Tracy Aviary, where it was used as an actual bird house. After his death, Lester’s family attempted to retrieve the contraption and preserve it as a memorial, but it had disappeared.

https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/1/3/22198969/lester-wire-traffic-light-salt-lake-city-utah-benson

Here is the puzzle.

 


You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Qhr gb qvssreraprf va nccyvpngvbaf be cebtenzf, vs lbh trg yrff guna be rdhny gb 1 pbafvqre gung nf abguvat be zvavzny.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)