Santiago, Chile, has joined the global movement to combat urban traffic congestion and emissions by implementing Google’s AI-powered Green Light project. This cutting-edge solution optimizes traffic light synchronization, significantly reducing stop-and-go traffic, improving commute times, and cutting emissions at intersections.

The city, which ranks 126th globally in traffic congestion according to the TomTom Traffic Index 2024, sees commuters spending over 100 hours annually stuck at traffic signals. On average, a 10-kilometer trip involves more than 23 minutes waiting at red lights. Such inefficiencies contribute substantially to urban CO2 emissions, with transportation responsible for 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Google Research’s Green Light leverages mobility data from Google Maps and Waze to pinpoint congestion-prone intersections. This real-time data is analyzed by AI to create actionable recommendations, enabling engineers in Santiago’s Traffic Control Operations Unit (UOCT) to adjust signal timings without requiring expensive infrastructure upgrades. According to Google, this technology has proven to reduce unnecessary stops by 30% and intersection-based CO2 emissions by 10%.

Since its inception in 2021, Green Light has been adopted by 15 global cities, including Manchester, Hamburg, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Seattle, and Boston. Santiago is now the latest to benefit, adapting 10 intersections to the system in collaboration with Chile’s Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications. “This project demonstrates how technology can significantly impact the fight against climate change,” said Frías, a key leader in the initiative.

With Green Light currently managing over 30 million trips monthly across its global network, Santiago’s integration marks a significant step toward sustainable urban transportation. As this AI-driven solution expands, it offers a scalable, eco-friendly approach to urban congestion and air quality improvements, aligning with global sustainability goals.