Operation Green Light turns Midtown corridor stoplights into go lights

While traffic flow is a big part of what OGL helps with, another important aspect of the program is regional air quality improvements. When cars idle at stoplights or in traffic jams, large amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere. According to an article published by the U.S. Department of Energy, idling cars in the United States release roughly 30 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. Programs like OGL and AirQKC work to limit emissions and improve air quality throughout the region.

State and local governments have made significant public investments in our street and highway networks. Retiming traffic signals for changing travel patterns is a cost-effective way to ensure the public continues to benefit from past investments in our regional streets and highways. OGL provides local agencies an effective tool to manage traffic signal operations into the future and respond to changes in the way the public chooses to use these roadways, whether that means changes in vehicle traffic patterns or more use by pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders.