Boston, notorious for its traffic congestion, is implementing an innovative solution to ease its gridlock problems. The city has partnered with Google on “Project Green Light,” a cutting-edge initiative that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize traffic flow.
Boston drivers currently spend an average of 90 hours per year stuck in traffic, nearly double the national average. To address this, Project Green Light uses AI to analyze traffic patterns and make real-time adjustments to traffic signals.
“We are shifting a couple of seconds from one of the lights to another one and this prevents traffic from backing up,” explained a Google product manager in a recent NBC News report. These small changes can significantly impact traffic flow, potentially creating “green waves” of synchronized lights.
Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Boston’s Chief of Streets, demonstrated the city’s traffic control room where engineers monitor roads and implement AI-suggested improvements. “We think Project Green Light can be a perfect part of reducing delay in Boston,” Franklin-Hodge stated.
Already live in Seattle and 12 other global cities, the system has shown promise in improving efficiency and reducing emissions. By minimizing stops at red lights, the project aims to save time for drivers while also benefiting air quality.
As Boston rolls out this AI-powered traffic management system, residents hope it will finally provide relief from the city’s notorious congestion.
