New York, the “queue-jumping” traffic light arrives to speed up public transport (but there is no shortage of criticism)

TO New Yorka technological innovation is about to change urban traffic management: it’s new “queue jump” traffic light (tail jumping), designed to improve the efficiency of public transport. This new traffic signal, which includes a white stripe on a traditional traffic light, will allow buses to move quickly in certain areas, bypassing traffic.

The city plans to install approx 25 tail jump lights every yearas part of a strategic plan to make public transport faster and less dependent on road congestion. The new traffic light is designed to give city buses a early “green light”.allowing them to proceed before other vehicles at the green light, so as to reduce delays and improve travel times for passengers.

While similar lights are already in use in other cities, New York is looking to expand them to ensure commuters have a faster alternative to private traffic. The lights are meant to be placed at strategic intersections where buses tend to encounter traffic jams and frequent slowdowns.

They would lead to a reduction in travel times of up to 30%

However, this innovation was not welcomed with enthusiasm by all residents. Lots of drivers and pedestrians they showed concern about safetyfearing that the introduction of new signals would increase confusion and further complicate the already complex traffic situation in New York. Furthermore, some have raised doubts about the legality of the new systemwhich could change driving habits consolidated over time.

Despite the criticism, supporters of the project point out that studies conducted in other cities have shown that the adoption of queue jumping lights has led to a reduction of travel times by up to 30%. The goal of the New York Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is to make the bus a more viable and reliable alternative by relieving pressure on congested streets.

In short, the introduction of the new traffic light could represent an important step towards improving public transport in New York to ensure that more and more people are abandoning their cars in favor of public transportbut it remains to be seen whether the benefits will outweigh safety and traffic management concerns.