ELK GROVE, Calif. — The city of Elk Grove is trying to help reduce traffic by improving two busy roads.
“It’s one of our biggest complaints from residents, congestion relief, and people want reductions in traffic as we are going to give it to them,” said Jeff Werner with the City of Elk Grove, as he explained what officials are calling a “green wave.”
The city’s traffic engineers have started synchronizing stoplights along Elk Grove and Laguna Boulevards. The traffic light coordination means a driver at a red light should encounter nothing but green lights from this point on, as long as they are driving the speed limit.
According to Werner, the new light coordination will save drivers along Elk Grove Boulevard between Bruceville and Elk Grove-Florin roads one to three minutes during peak commute hours.
“It doesn’t seem like a lot but that could be the difference between being on-time or late to work,” he said.
Drivers on Laguna Boulevard from Bruceville Road to Highway 99 will save the same time, Werner said.
“Elk Grove Boulevard and Laguna are two of our more heavily-traveled corridors that have the highest volumes and the major commute routes for people that are looking to get in the freeways, both Highway 99 and I-5, so this is going to very helpful,” Werner added.
ABC10 tested out the new coordinated lights. It took the crew less than four minutes to drive along Elk Grove Boulevard from Bruceville to Elk Grove Florin, which was right on cue, according to Werner. In total, the crew saves two minutes and 30 seconds.
The “green wave” won’t only help locals, but other drivers in the Sacramento region.
“This is just the first step,” Werner said.
The second phase of the project would take it west to Interstate 5. The city hopes to have that plan ready by the spring of next year.
Other cities in the area are also trying to do the same thing. It’s a cooperative effort in cities like Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, and Folsom.
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