Google's Project Green Light Eases Traffic Jams

Nothing raises blood pressure faster, gets jaws clenched tighter and turns language bluer than traffic jams.

American drivers spend about 51 hours per year sitting in traffic, an average of almost an hour a week. This congestion not only takes a toll on tempers, but pocketbooks as well. All that sitting and fuming equates to about $869 worth of lost time, according to the 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard, produced by global analytics firm INRIX.

Artificial Intelligence, though, has brought relief to one of the nation’s most congested cities, Boston. By working with Google’s Project Green Light, the city has enacted four recommendations for changing signal timing at intersections in Fenway-Kenmore, Mission Hill and Jamaica Plain.

Since implementing the changes at the intersections of Huntington Avenue and Opera Place and at Amory and Green streets, stop-and-go traffic has declined by more than 50 percent, and greenhouse gas emissions have decreased as well.

Boston was ranked eighth in the world for highest traffic delays in 2023, according to the Global Traffic Scorecard. (New York City ranks first – no surprise.)

“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,” said Mayor Michelle Wu, in a prepared statement. “We often find that small traffic hotspots from mistimed signals or curbside issues can swell into larger congestion, so targeting these micro spots goes a long way.”

The collaboration with Project Green Light began in February 2024. Prior to making recommendations, Google analyzed traffic at hundreds of signalized intersections using AI and Google Maps driving trends to develop new traffic signalization and patterns.

“We are just starting to realize the potential of machine learning and AI in some of the city’s core operations,” said Michael Lawrence Evans, Boston’s director of emerging technology. “Our partnership with Google’s Project Green Light team demonstrates how this technology can have an immediate impact on a common experience like traffic congestion, while paving the way for continuous improvements across our traffic signal network.”

Seattle is the only other U.S. city involved with Project Green Light. The program is now operating in 14 cities on four continents.

“Through Project Green Light, we are using AI to help improve the lives of people in cities around the globe by reducing traffic and emissions,” added Matheus Vervloet, product manager at Google.

How do you avoid traffic jams? Tell us in the comments.