Synchronized traffic lights can be part of ‘green’ city

By Lethbridge Herald on November 13, 2025.

Editor,

Lethbridge is often praised as a “green” city, with its many parks, beautiful trails, and expanding network of bike lanes. However, one area where the city could make significant progress toward sustainability and efficiency is in synchronizing its traffic lights.

Anyone who has driven through downtown Lethbridge, say along 4 Avenue South, knows the frustration of hitting red lights. Travelling from Stafford Drive to Scenic Drive, you’ll quickly notice that when the light turns red at 8 Street, the lights at 7, 6, and 5 Avenue simutaneously follow the same cycle—red, amber, and green—all at once. 

The result? You’re forced to stop at least once and usually twice, even when traffic is light and there’s no real need to halt.

The situation isn’t any better on Mayor Magrath Drive. One recent afternoon, I was stopped at 16 Avenue South, only to find myself halted again at Henderson Lake Boulevard, then at 19th Avenue, 20 Avenue, and finally at 22 Avenue or Scenic Drive. 

Five stops within a very short space —not exactly a model of efficiency for a city that prides itself on being environmentally conscious.

Synchronizing our traffic lights would not only improve the flow of traffic but also reduce unnecessary idling, fuel consumption, and emissions. But it would also make our streets safer. Right now, many impatient drivers speed up after getting a green light, hoping to make it through the next intersection before it turns red. This creates dangerous conditions and increases the likelihood of collisions.

Fewer stops mean less frustration for drivers and less pollution in the air we all share. It’s a practical, cost-effective step that aligns perfectly with Lethbridge’s image as a forward-thinking, sustainable community.

If we are serious about being a “green” city, we need to look beyond our parks and bike lanes and address the inefficiencies in our road system. 

A co-ordinated traffic signal system throughout the entire city would be a simple, visible, and immediate way to make Lethbridge both greener and more livable.

Ken Moore
Lethbridge