traffic control

Quebec first city in Canada to use AI tech to sync traffic lights

Peter Black, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

peterblack@qctonline.com

Acity pilot project using artificial intelligence to reduce traffic jams, the first of its kind in Canada, is already proving its worth, officials say.

The city released results of the program at a news conference on Aug. 20, indicating the Green Light technology, provided free by Google, “helps reduce frequent stop-and-go traffic and polluting emissions.

“Since its launch, the Green Light project has demonstrated the potential to reduce frequent stop-and-go traffic by up to 30 per cent and estimated CO2 emissions at urban inter- sections by 10 per cent.”

The system analyzes driving trends from Google Maps and AI to map traffic patterns to suggest adjustments to engineers who can then make the changes. Green Light has been deployed in 11 intersections throughout the city.

In a release, Mayor Bruno Marchand said Quebec City “is one of the most advanced cities in North America when it comes to smart mobility. It’s therefore only natural that it’s the first Canadian municipality to partner with Google.”

He said, “An innovative project like Green Light allows us to concretely optimize our road network, making travel more fluid and efficient.”

The city cited the example of one notoriously congested intersection as an example of the effectiveness of Green Light. The area is where Ave. Saint-Sacrement meets Boul. Charest, and then crosses Rue Semple/Rue Borne two blocks north.

The city study observed, “During late-afternoon rush hour, the traffic lights were slightly out of sync, causing delays for motorists travelling down Ave. Saint-Sacrement, leading to increased traffic jams and delays.”

Using the Green Light technology, “Google proposed reducing the time lag between the lights by 15 seconds to align the crossing with those at Semple and Charest. Northbound travel, the most frequent in this area according to 2023 data, is now smoother and better co-ordinated.”

Laurence Therrien, public affairs manager at Google Canada, said, “Through the Green Light project, we are using AI to reduce traffic congestion and emissions in the city. We are delighted to offer this free tool to Quebec City, making it the first Canadian city to adopt Green Light.”

The city says it will implement the Green Light project at other intersections in the city with problematic traffic congestion. “By continuing to expand the Green Light project, Quebec City is acting as a leader for other Canadian municipalities.”

Quebec City is one of only 19 cities in the world selected by Google for the Green Light program.