Beijing's AI traffic lights go live at 19 intersections, boosting efficiency by 20%

Beijing, one of China's first 'dual-smart' cities, is pushing forward its smart city infrastructure and connected vehicle project, now in phase 4.0. The Haidian district has rolled out AI-powered traffic lights that can sense and analyze road conditions in real time.

The system uses 3D space tracking to generate vehicle paths and full intersection views. It analyzes traffic flow, queue lengths, and congestion, then produces around 200 signal timing plans within 50 seconds. Unlike traditional fixed-timer lights, these AI lights can extend green time by 1 to 15 seconds during traffic jams.

Currently, 19 intersections in Haidian are using the system. At 13 crossings in the Sidaokou area, average vehicle speed increased by 21%, and congestion dropped by about 19%. Beijing plans to expand the tech to the Jingha Expressway and build a city-level active traffic control platform by 2026.