Have you ever sat at a red light downtown and wondered what it takes to keep traffic signals across Raleigh working day in and day out? We recently caught up with our Traffic Engineering team to get a behind-the-scenes look at how it all works—and trust us, it’s more complex (and fascinating!) than you might think.
How many traffic signals does Raleigh maintain?
Raleigh is responsible for maintaining more than 700 traffic signals across the city, including those you pass every day downtown. That means everything from making sure the lights are timed correctly to repairing equipment when something goes wrong.
Are the signals connected to each other?
Yes! Many of our signals are part of a connected network. This allows engineers to adjust timing remotely, helping keep traffic flowing more smoothly—especially during rush hour or big events downtown.
What happens if a signal goes dark?
If the power goes out, signals switch to a backup battery system to keep operating for a period of time. If the outage lasts longer than the backup can handle, the intersection reverts to a four-way stop until power is restored and the signal is back online.
Do signals “know” when cars are waiting?
They sure do! Many of Raleigh’s intersections use sensors in the pavement or cameras mounted on poles to detect vehicles, which helps make traffic flow more efficient by adjusting signal timing in real time.
How often are signals checked?
Our Transportation team performs routine inspections and respond quickly to reports from residents. If you ever notice a signal issue, you can report it through Ask Raleigh—and our team will take it from there.
Next time you stop at a red light, remember there’s a whole team behind the scenes making sure traffic keeps moving safely and smoothly. It’s a small part of what makes Raleigh work—one signal at a time.