Novosibirsk Connects Traffic Signals to a Unified System
In the Novosibirsk metropolitan area, traffic signals are moving beyond fixed schedules to become part of a unified system that can “see” traffic and adjust to changing conditions.
The city’s intelligent transportation system (ITS) now connects 189 traffic signal installations and 901 traffic-flow detectors. As a result, the signals can be managed centrally, while the detectors continuously collect data on street congestion. The system follows a simple but important principle: sensors measure traffic, algorithms process the data, and signal timing is adjusted when needed. For example, a green light can be extended in a direction where more vehicles have accumulated.
This is adaptive traffic control based on established algorithms, not artificial intelligence. The approach can account for neighboring intersections, pedestrian safety and the overall capacity of the road network. Bringing these components together into a functioning network gives city officials a clearer, data-based picture of traffic conditions.
What the System Means for the City and the Country
For Novosibirsk, the project is first and foremost a tool for improving urban mobility. Adaptive signal control can reduce waiting times at intersections, make public transit more predictable and help road services respond to traffic congestion more quickly. Over time, the system could make wider use of a “green wave,” coordinating traffic signals along major roads to reduce the number of stops. The accumulated traffic data will also support urban planning: officials will be able to assess proposed traffic-pattern changes, identify roads for reconstruction and pinpoint persistent bottlenecks in the network.
Nationally, Novosibirsk’s progress is part of a broader trend. Russia’s Ministry of Transport has set a goal of bringing at least 66 cities to the first level of ITS maturity by 2030. Novosibirsk offers an example of phased implementation, from establishing a basic platform to expanding the detector network and upgrading traffic signals.
A Brief History of ITS in Russia and Worldwide
The development of Novosibirsk’s intelligent transportation system reflects several years of systematic work. In April 2022, the region established a government ITS information system to collect and process road data. By June 2025, 113 traffic signals had been connected; by October 2026, that number had risen to 189. The increase reflects a gradual expansion from pilot sections to a broader network.
At the federal level, the trend is clear: by the end of 2025, 32 metropolitan areas had reported reaching the first level of ITS maturity, and Novosibirsk is contributing to that progress.
International experience shows that adaptive traffic control delivers the greatest benefits when integrated into a broader system. In Singapore, for example, the GLIDE system covers about 2,700 intersections and adjusts green-light duration based on traffic volumes and coordination with neighboring intersections. In São Paulo, smart traffic signals have been considered part of a wider program to improve overall urban mobility.
Results and Next Steps
Connecting hundreds of devices creates the infrastructure for more precise and efficient traffic management. The near-term outlook is realistic: the region is expected to expand detector coverage along major roads, upgrade traffic signals and improve coordination on key routes. Over the longer term, traffic-flow data could be integrated with information on weather, roadworks and public transit schedules. That would allow the system not only to respond to congestion but also to predict it in advance.
The ultimate measure of success, however, will not be the figures in progress reports but feedback from residents. Will their commutes become shorter? Will they spend less time waiting at intersections? And will public transit run more predictably? These practical outcomes will show how much smarter Novosibirsk’s transportation system has really become.
