Search "555 4017" on eBay and you'll see the assembled (about $1.27) and kit (about $1.52) versions with free shipping for both.
I understand what you're saying about one-direction. But what I'm saying is the eBay module replaces the "core" timing (555 chip) and sequencing (4017 chip) functions. The "magic" of both applications is done with diodes (1N4148 in your schematic). To get the oscillating back-and-forth sweeping of Knight-Rider, you use the right hand part of the schematic (outside the box). To get the longer red/green timing vs. shorter yellow timing of the traffic signal, you use the right hand part of the schematic (outside the box).
I don't know the range of timing the eBay modules provide using the trimpot control so I suspect for the traffic signals you may need to change the timing capacitor. The eBay module also does not have an attachment point to force/hold the sequencing that you are considering for the opto-isolator but with the kit version it's easy to simply bend the relevant pin on the 4017 chip to attach the Reset signal (with capacitor/resistor)...or cut a printed-wire trace on the board itself to patch in the Reset signal.
