Latest news with #ProjectGreenLight
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Boston is notorious for traffic delays. Here's how Google has helped change that
Last year, with Boston ranked among the world's worst cities for traffic delays, local officials partnered with Google in hopes that its mapping and artificial intelligence software could help untangle the city streets. The results are encouraging, according to data the city unveiled Thursday, enough so that the program is expanding. Officials have already used Google data and analytics at more than 100 intersections across the city to retime traffic signals to better match traffic flow. This has led to an average 20% drop in vehicles unnecessarily stopped at those lights, Mayor Michelle Wu's office said. For example, at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Richmond Street, next to Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in the North End, the improvements reduced traffic delays by 21%, the city said. At the corner of Beacham Street and Maffa Way in Charlestown, delays dropped 24%. The two intersections saw vehicles unnecessarily stopping roughly a third less often — among the clearest improvements citywide — after officials better coordinated the traffic signals with others nearby, the mayor's office said. Boston is one of two U.S. cities, along with Seattle, and 18 worldwide, participating in the Google program, known as Project Green Light. Since partnering with Boston in February 2024, the program has analyzed data from hundreds of city intersections with traffic signals. 'It has been a highly effective tool,' Boston Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge said in a statement Thursday. City officials look forward to expanding the traffic analysis to additional intersections, he added. Read more: Boston seeks to regulate delivery app drivers to preserve safety, reduce traffic 'Small traffic hotspots from mistimed signals or curbside issues' are often the cause of more expansive congestion, Wu said last year when city officials announced the partnership with Google. 'Targeting these micro spots goes a long way.' The city has used Google's AI-driven recommendations to adjust traffic signals at 114 especially congested intersections across 20 neighborhoods. Read more: Boston to review, remove some bike and bus lanes, mayor says The traffic analysis from Google allows Boston's Traffic Management Center to synchronize traffic signals at nearby intersections or change 'green time' between lights to match demand, the mayor's office said. That means 'drivers now spend less time waiting through multiple signal cycles, both reducing how often they are starting and stopping driving and reducing overall traffic delays.' The city found a 13.5% reduction in traffic delays at intersections where it implemented the program's recommendations, with some locations improving by as much as 24%. Read more: Cameras on Mass. roads could catch speeders under governor's proposal An added benefit, the city said, was the reduced environmental impact of cars idling in traffic. Over a year, vehicles could collectively save, on average, an estimated 4,000 gallons of fuel at each adjusted traffic signal. At Beacham Street and Maffa Way in Charlestown, one of the intersections that benefited most from Google's analytics, drivers could collectively save up to 14,000 gallons of fuel annually. Big changes expected at Boston Calling 2025 after 'unbearable' crowds last year 11-year-old Holyoke actor lands role in Huntington Theatre musical Here's who's on the ballot for Boston mayor, City Council — so far Dorchester teen accused of ramming Boston Police officer with moped Rising Red Sox prospect records first Double-A hit after early promotion Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Detroit teen heading to trial for shooting 13-year-old at bus stop
The Brief A judge bound a 16-year-old girl over for circuit court, sending her to trial for four felony counts after she shot a boy at a bus stop. The victim testified in court on Tuesday during the teen defendant's preliminary exam. The accused shooter was charged with felony firearm and assault counts. (FOX 2) - A 16-year-old charged in the nonfatal shooting of a teenage boy at a bus stop in Detroit had her case bound over for circuit court after a judge found enough evidence to send it to trial. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office charged the female defendant with several felonies including assault with intent to murder after she was arrested in April. Big picture view On Tuesday, a 13-year-old boy appeared in court to testify against a teenager accused of shooting him in the leg and rear on April 23. He was with his friend at a bus stop near 7 Mile and Gilchrist when he was struck, testifying in court before footage of the incident was shown. "I was laying there and my cousin had ran down the street and that's when he called the police," he told the court during the preliminary exam. The shooting led to the arrest of two people, including the 16-year-old charged with pulling the trigger. He also told the court he had never seen or spoken with either of the girls who were eventually arrested. Dig deeper The 16-year-old was charged as an adult with assault with intent to murder, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, and three felony firearm charges. The judge bound her over for circuit court on four of the six counts. His decision followed security footage from a nearby Project Green Light location that was played, showing the shooting. A Detroit police officer positively identified the defendant during the exam. What's next The 16-year-old will be back in court on May 28. Her bond remains $500,000 cash surety. The Source A preliminary exam from Tuesday was covered while reporting this story.
CBS News
14-05-2025
- CBS News
Detroit police shut down gas station after clerk shoots at customer
Detroit police shut down a gas station on the city's east side after they say a clerk shot at a customer on Monday. The incident happened at a Valero gas station near Conant and E. McNichols Road. On Tuesday, Assistant Police Chief Franklin Hayes did not provide details on what led up to the shooting, but said the clerk fired a shot from behind the glass. Hayes did not say whether the customer was shot, but said the individual was hurt after shards of glass fell on him. Hayes said the customer, who did not have a weapon on him, was taken to a hospital for treatment. "The clerk's life was not in danger in any way, and he was behind the protection of bulletproof glass," Hayes said. "These actions (are) reprehensible, and we're not going to tolerate that." The clerk was taken into custody. Meanwhile, Hayes gave a stark warning to stores in the city. "If this happens again, they will see me, and they will see this group. They will see angry residents," he told reporters. "This is not OK. And anyone that makes the decision to do this, we will shut you down. This is a privilege to own and operate a business here in the city of Detroit, but if you treat the residents like that, there's no place for you." Hayes said the gas station was part of Project Green Light Detroit, a citywide partnership with multiple gas stations that allowed police to install cameras connected to DPD's headquarters. He said the store will be removed from the program. The incident is under investigation.
Axios
14-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Detroit mayor's race sit-down: James Craig
If elected mayor, former police chief James Craig would enlist an independent party to take a deep dive into the city's financial health. The big picture: Axios' interview with Craig is the latest in our series interviewing mayoral candidates on their policy priorities. The race is heating up, with the April 22 candidate filing deadline nearing. The primary is in August. Context: Craig is running as the only stated Republican in a Democratic stronghold, though the race is nonpartisan and Craig has name recognition. Plus, he says he's running as a native Detroiter and public servant and has experience working well across parties. Flashback: He started his police career in the city in 1977 and served on other police forces for decades, including as chief, before returning to Detroit as chief from 2013-2021. Craig helmed the police department as it recovered from the bankruptcy, improved morale and sped up response times, he says. He ran for governor in 2022, an effort derailed by alleged fraudulently collected signatures on campaign paperwork. He dropped a bid for U.S. Senate last year. State of play: Craig spoke with Axios about his leadership history and his plans for neighborhood policing, small businesses and federal funding. He says he wants to expand on the work Mayor Mike Duggan has done. What he's saying: When it comes to finances, he would use his experience rooting out waste in government to increase efficiency and use resources better. "One of the first things I'd do as mayor is launch an independent forensic audit of the financial health of the city," he says, considering the city's past difficulties. "Bring in a firm that will not only report out on the health, but come back with recommendations and then … report that out to our community." Zoom in: On public safety, he would start out with assessing the needs of the police department. He'd focus on trust and work to strengthen community-specific neighborhood policing. He also highlighted the creation of Project Green Light under his watch. The program protects customers and small businesses from crime and deters criminals, but it has been criticized for asking businesses to pay to receive services. Between the lines: Craig hears residents say they feel left out of the city's momentum and says thriving requires focusing on overlooked neighborhoods. Though he wants to work with big developers like Dan Gilbert and Ford, he would also focus on small-scale developers and businesses that need help getting through bureaucracy, zoning and red tape. Plus, Craig would take a strong stance on education and bring in his experience working with students while policing in Los Angeles and Cincinnati. He also emphasized his ability to work with President Trump's administration to help get the city federal funding. Craig endorsed Trump for 2024, and Trump praised him over his handling of 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. He called Trump an innovator and risk taker and said he likes that Trump has moved quickly to solve problems. Context: One theme of the mayor's race is big business and community — balancing the varied interests and needs of those affecting and affected by how Detroit is evolving. "We have to bring people to the table … and have open discussions," Craig says. "The tension happens when a city makes decisions unilaterally and maybe just focuses on 'we want the development' and that's it. No, bring the community in. That's who we work for." The bottom line: We asked Craig about a quality he would offer as mayor that is different from other candidates. "I bring executive-level leadership. I'm the candidate who can continue to bring stability to the city," he says, adding that people want to know who can continue the work of Duggan's administration and not regress.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Detroit Police Department chief, political candidate set to run for mayor
Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig is looking to make a comeback, filing paperwork to run for mayor in this year's election. Craig filed his "Chief James Craig for Mayor" candidate committee Monday, allowing him to collect donations for the August primary. A message was left with Craig's campaign, which has not responded yet. Craig was appointed police chief by Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr after the city filed for bankruptcy. Craig led the department during the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations, when he was scrutinized for excessive force against protesters, who filed a lawsuit against the city and called for his resignation. The city eventually settled for $1 million to resolve the lawsuit, which claimed Detroit Police officers used tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, mass arrests and more without probable cause. Craig also faced scrutiny for the department's use of facial recognition technology, which resulted in two wrongful arrests. Though he counts Project Green Light, the police department's surveillance initiative intended to reduce crime by setting up cameras at participating businesses, as an accomplishment for the city. He served as Detroit's police chief for eight years before retiring in 2021. Craig then pursued a run for governor in 2022 on the Republican ticket, however, state officials knocked him off the ballot after it was discovered his nominating petitions contained fraudulent signatures, leaving him short of the required number to qualify. He unsuccessfully opted to run on a write-in campaign. The city of Detroit mayoral primary is nonpartisan. The former police chief then ran for a U.S. Senate seat in 2024 but suspended his campaign, acknowledging he was eyeing a run for Detroit mayor instead. Joining him in the race, so far, are The Rev. Solomon Kinloch of Triumph Church; City Council President, Mary Sheffield; former City Councilwoman and nonprofit CEO Saunteel Jenkins; Detroit City Councilman Fred Durhal III; attorney Todd Perkins; businessmen Joel Haashiim and Jonathan Barlow; and activist Rogelio Landin. Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@ Follow her: @DanaAfana. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ex-Detroit Police Chief James Craig to run for mayor in 2025 election
