Boston drivers might finally catch a break from the frustrating stop-and-go that defines their morning commutes. Mayor Michelle Wu, together with the Streets Cabinet and Innovation and Technology Cabinet, has just announced an expansion of Project Green Light. This AI-powered signal optimization program is in partnership with Google Research and aims to tame the snarling traffic across the city. Leveraging machine learning, the initiative models traffic patterns, providing recommendations to recalibrate traffic signal timing at the city's most clogged intersections.
Since its April 2024 inception, Project Green Light has brought its analytical prowess to hundreds of intersections. To date, the City has adopted Google Research’s recommendations for 114 intersections spread throughout 20 neighborhoods such as Brighton, Back Bay, and Roxbury. They're seeing up to a 33% drop in unnecessary stops at key choke points. “The City of Boston is proud to partner with Google’s Project Green Light to mitigate the everyday headache of traffic and use AI to improve problem intersections,” Mayor Wu stated, according to the City of Boston's official announcement.
Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge echoed these sentiments, noting the program's ability to enhance traffic flow and ease delays. Moreover, Michael Lawrence Evans, the City’s Director of Emerging Technology, cited the project's evolution from a mere pilot into a full-fledged AI tool aiding Boston's traffic engineers.
In the battle against traffic congestion, figures speak louder than words. With INRIX, a global traffic analytics firm in the mix, the city witnessed an average 13.5% reduction in delay, and an impressive 20% average decrease in those maddening extra stops we all despise. It seems Project Green Light shines brightest in the thick of rush hour, helping to smooth out the daily grind. The cherry on top? A fuel savings of around 4,000 gallons a year for each intersection optimized by the program. Or, in the case of Beacham St. and Maffa Way in Charlestown, a whopping estimated 14,000 gallons saved annually.
The initiative has also lent a hand in keeping the city's traffic signal infrastructure in check. This work is vital, as it ensures the proper functioning of control boxes and sensor systems, which contribute to the cohesive flow of city traffic. At the helm of efforts to keep Boston’s signals finely tuned are Boston’s Traffic Management Center and the Office of Emerging Technology. These bodies have been diligently at work, with the Traffic Management Center implementing 81 traditional signal retimings this fiscal year and making over 1,000 real-time adjustments monthly.
It’s not just Boston reaping the benefits. Project Green Light is now live in 18 cities worldwide with Matheus Vervloet, Product Manager at Google Research, expressing excitement about partnering with cities like Boston to help trim down emissions and enhance street efficiency.
