![Google is bringing AI-powered stoplights to Boston in an effort to help alleviate congestion in the nation's worst city for traffic.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AI-Traffic-Lights-Featured-Image-Getty.jpg?w=1920)
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.