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Boston starts using Google AI to rejigger traffic-light timing to reduce road congestion
By adamg on Thu, 08/08/2024 - 2:42pm
One approach rejected by Boston officials.
Boston, which has some of the worst traffic congestion in the world, has adjusted the timing of lights at four intersections in the Fenway, Mission Hill and Jamaica Plain through the use of a Google-based AI application to improve traffic flow- and could extend the application to even more intersections.
Since February, the city's traffic and IT departments have been feeding signal information into Google's Project Green Light, which combines it with its own real-time traffic feeds to generate recommendations for timing changes.
The city said today that using Google's recommendations, "stop-and-go traffic has been reduced by over 50%" at the intersections of Huntington Avenue and Opera Place in the Fenway and at Amory and Green streets in Jamaica Plain.
For the past five months, Project Green Light has analyzed traffic at hundreds of signalized intersections using AI and Google Maps driving trends to provide recommendations for optimization of traffic signals and patterns. The Boston Transportation Department’s traffic engineers assessed each recommendation for safety, feasibility, and effectiveness to determine if the recommendation could be implemented. Once implemented, Project Green Light then measures the impact on traffic patterns and provides this analysis to BTD to continue monitoring for any future needed changes. ...
BTD engineers are considering more recommendations from Project Green Light to be implemented throughout 2024. The program has also helped the City monitor traffic signal infrastructure by ensuring signal control boxes, copper/fiber-optic connections, and loop sensors are properly working.
The city says that by improving traffic flow, the changes could also reduce carbon emissions from vehicles idling at lights.
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Comments
How did Google end up running the world?
"I don't know. it's a mystery". ask Google
How about the walk signals?
Can Boston fix the walk signals so that pedestrians get a head start and the walk sign stays lit for the entire cycle of traffic moving in that direction?
If Cambridge and most other cities have figured this out, Boston can too. There is no reason for the walk sign to turn red while traffic has a green for several more minutes.
This doesn't need AI, it needs someone at BTD to go update the controller.
Somerville really takes the
Somerville really takes the cake on this one. There are multiple Somerville intersections where a crosswalk crosses a one-way street, but has a “Don’t Walk” sign while traffic on the one-way street is stopped at a red light with a “no turn on red” sign. Day Street in Davis Sq, Mossland St at Somerville Ave, etc. There is no legal move for a car to traverse the crosswalk, yet pedestrians are told to stay out of the crosswalk.
It’s infuriating to me as a pedestrian, and it only makes things less safe, because it trains us to cross against the ped light—with no warning when the light is going to turn green for cross traffic.
The thought has come to me…
The thought has come to me more than once that if self-driving cars aren’t really going to work, why not intelligent traffic signals?
That thought typically comes as I’m stopped at one intersection after another, especially at night, when there is absolutely no cross traffic.
Don't need AI for that
And most intersections in the city already have vehicle sensors that can detect scenarios like that - the lights would just need to be programmed for it. At least back in the day really late at night they would just turn all the lights to flashing yellow and let nature sort things out.
First off, “AI.” (False
First off, “AI.” (False advertising. Algorithm improved)
Secondly, will Alphabet offer a “Lexus Lane” subscription service for those who can afford it?
And, Will it clear traffic for motorcades, VIPs and emergency vehicles?
Finally, if it moves us along better, then I guess that’s good, but I like our wetware- it’s bonding and gives is a sense of community and history, even if it means being a glutton for punishment. We are not NY, or DC with its big city problems and its unfortunate, freedom and autonomy reducing solutions like red light cameras. (Ok, ok of red light cameras speed things along then that’s a gain of freedom.) Think about the Wendy’s ‘Soviet Fashion Show’ commercial; do we want to cast aside our virtues and individuality to be just a mini version of one of many? Dayvear. Very nice. Eveningvear. Very nice.
Do something with Belgrade Ave. and W. Roxbury Parkway
Granted the Parkway side is the primary side, but giving them a full minute while Belgrade only gets a few seconds (sometimes as few as six) is absurd.
If only AI could stop….
…. drivers from gunning it through red lights.