New York Introduces Fourth Traffic Light Color To Make Way For Commuters

Photo 341498937 © Dogorasun | Dreamstime.com

New York City’s Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) is jumping into action with a new type of traffic signal, which it calls the “queue jump” light. The fourth traffic light color is meant to give buses a head start at intersections and hopefully get commuters to their destinations faster.

As the department notes on social media, the new lights—marked by a white stripe—will be installed gradually, with plans to add around 25 each year. This move comes as part of a broader initiative by the NYC DOT and MTA to improve public transportation and ease congestion on the city’s heavily trafficked roads.

We’re installing 25 new queue jumps each year in NYC to give @MTA buses a head-start to bypass traffic and speed up service. pic.twitter.com/aLXOytrXYp

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) November 13, 2024

By giving buses an early signal to proceed at key intersections, the city intends to cut down on delays and make commuting by bus a more reliable option for New Yorkers.

While queue jump lights aren’t entirely new and have, in fact, been around for years, their broader transition represents greater priority granted to public transportation in the city’s bustling traffic environment. These lights give buses a nudge ahead of other vehicles, providing a few crucial seconds that could mean the difference between staying on schedule and getting stuck in a sea of cars.

#gamechanger giving transit priority https://t.co/iA10Ocz6iv

— Sandy James Planner (@sandyjamesplan) November 13, 2024

Understandably, not everyone is on board with the idea, and it’s not just New Yorkers being New Yorkers. Passengers have expressed concerns about safety and whether adding another type of signal might complicate intersections even more.

This will cause more accidents with buses but leave it to the bike bros of the city DOT to create a massive mess

— Samantha (@SamanthaBXgirl) November 13, 2024

Busses are a great way to move a large number of people around very slowly.

— Reza Chowdhury (@RezaC1) November 13, 2024

However, city officials point to early studies from other urban areas that have adopted similar measures, showing that queue jump lights can cut down on bus travel times by as much as 30%.

The new signals are expected to be placed at intersections where buses frequently encounter delays, aiming to improve travel times for riders across the city.

[via WRRV and Hudson Valley Post, cover photo 341498937 © Dogorasun | Dreamstime.com]