Boston, Massachusetts, has been ranked as the worst city for traffic in the United States, according to a 2024 report from INRIX. The data found that Bostonians spend an average of 164 hours each year sitting in traffic, more than any other city in the country, with this congestion costing drivers over $2,000 annually.
One of the primary reasons for Boston’s traffic woes is its age. Founded in 1630, many of the city’s roadways were built long before the invention of automobiles.
In an effort to help alleviate these traffic problems, Google is introducing AI-powered stoplights in Boston. The initiative, dubbed “Project Greenlight,” aims to optimize the flow of vehicles through the city by using data from Google Maps to model traffic patterns and provide intelligent recommendations for stoplight timing.
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“One of the most frustrating parts of living in a major city is traffic, so Boston is taking every step to combat congestion and get people to where they need to go,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement. “This innovative work with the latest technology from Google’s Project Green Light will help relieve the frustrating congestion that so many of our residents face, while helping to reduce emissions and inefficiencies on our city streets.”
Early results from the project have been promising. Some locations where these smart lights have been installed are reporting a 50% reduction in stop-and-go traffic.
The technology is currently being tested in Boston and several other cities as part of a pilot program, with the potential for expansion to other locations around the world in the future.
“Green Light reflects Google Research’s commitment to use AI to address climate change and improve millions of lives in cities around the world,” Google said in a statement. “By optimizing each intersection, and coordinating between adjacent intersections, we can create waves of green lights and help cities further reduce stop-and-go traffic.”
JACK ALYMER: IT’S BEEN RANKED AS THE WORST CITY FOR TRAFFIC IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
WELCOME TO BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
ACCORDING TO A 2024 REPORT FROM INRIX, BOSTONIANS SPEND A U.S.-LEADING 164 HOURS SITTING IN TRAFFIC EVERY YEAR.
WHICH ENDS UP COSTING DRIVERS AN AVERAGE OF OVER TWO-THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY.
THE BIGGEST REASON FOR THAT CONGESTION — BOSTON IS A REALLY OLD CITY.
FOUNDED BACK IN 16-30, MANY OF ITS EXISTING ROADWAYS WERE BUILT BEFORE AUTOMOBILES WERE INVENTED.
BUT NOW- AT LEAST ONE ASPECT OF THE COMMUTE THROUGH BOSTON IS GETTING AN UPDATE.
GOOGLE IS BRINGING A.I.-POWERED STOPLIGHTS TO THE CITY IN AN EFFORT TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT TRAFFIC.
THE TECH COMPANY SAYS THIS WORKS BY USING GOOGLE MAPS DRIVING TRENDS, TO MODEL TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND BUILD INTELLIGENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO OPTIMIZE THE FLOW OF VEHICLES.
IT’S BEEN DUBBED PROJECT GREENLIGHT, AND ALREADY THE EFFORT HAS SEEN POSITIVE RESULTS.
SOME OF THE LOCATIONS WHERE THESE SMART LIGHTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ARE REPORTING A 50 PERCENT DROP IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC.
RIGHT NOW THIS TECHNOLOGY IS STILL BEING TESTED OUT IN BOSTON AS PART OF A PILOT PROGRAM-
BUT GOOGLE HOPES TO EXPAND INTO OTHER CITIES AROUND THE WORLD IN THE FUTURE.
JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
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