Galveston city officials consider using artificial intelligence to deal with influx of traffic

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Galveston city officials want to turn to artificial intelligence to help fix its traffic woes.

Census data shows Galveston has only about 50,000 people. However, city officials said it can climb by tens of thousands on holidays, events, and when cruise ships are in port.

"If you live down here, you learn to work around the clog so to speak," Galveston resident Robert DeWolfe explained.

To make traffic move faster, officials are considering a new method that has some neighbors asking questions.

"I'm a little weary of it," DeWolfe said. "I think it can lead to some wrong steps."

City officials plan to spend nearly $20 million, primarily from a federal grant, to implement artificial intelligence at all 106 intersections.

"I'm not aware of any other ones who have done it all the way out like we're proposing right now, and probably because AI is kind of in its infancy and it's growing rapidly," Galveston Assistant City Manager Brandon Cook explained.

City leaders said cameras will be installed around the island, and AI will be able to access them. Based on what AI is seeing, traffic lights will be adjusted in real-time.

Thursday's city council agenda is an item to start with a pilot program. Officials said the plan would be to start at the Seawall before next summer season.

Then, they aim to implement AI at the remaining intersections within three years. The technology wouldn't operate alone.

Officials said workers would monitor it. AI, though, isn't their only option.

During a workshop meeting on Thursday, they discussed the worsening traffic situation.

"I think we're lucky that we haven't had a major accident, a major crisis," one leader said.

That's why they're considering a traffic study. "As we get more and more demand, that's just more taxing on our infrastructure and our systems, so we need to find out smarter and better ways to deal with this type of demand," Cook said.

Neighbors are worried that the issue may only get worse as more events, holidays, and cruise lines arrive.

"I think they're going to have to look into it because once they get rolling, and they're going to have cruise ships in here every day, they're going to have to take a look at the traffic situation," DeWolfe said.

It is a look that could come in the form of artificial intelligence to help move you around the island quickly soon.

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