Do Locals Complain about the Vegas Traffic Light Situation?

I know you've explained why Las Vegas traffic lights are so long before, but have the residents of Las Vegas ever formally complained about it? It seems like they would be raising hell over the amount of time sitting at stoplights.

We're often tempted to raise hell ourselves, while we sit seemingly forever at red lights where there’s no cross traffic or we approach green lights from a mile away that don’t change before we breeze right through, while cars are backed up as far as the eye can see in the other direction, waiting for their red light to finally change to green.

And yes, Las Vegas residents have been somewhat vocal about how long red lights, of which there are nearly 2,000 in the valley, can last here. Some mention waiting through multiple light cycles and observing lights remain red even when there's no cross-traffic. Chatrooms like Reddit are full of complaints; one we saw discussed having to wait through multiple light cycles, due to the short timing of their direction and the long timing of the other, even when no cars are coming from that way.

Also, from to time, media reports focus on driver frustration; we saw one late last year on 13 Action News. In it, a driver claimed she timed a traffic light at seven minutes. That might -- or might not, if the timer was faulty -- have been an exaggeration. Traffic signals in southern Nevada can have cycle lengths of up to 180 seconds, so the time from one green light to the next for a given direction can be three minutes long. We're sure it feels like seven minutes to the people stuck there.

As you say, we've addressed this question previously, explaining that in Las Vegas, traffic signals are managed by timers, not sensors, and signal timing involves balancing such factors as intersection geometry, pedestrian crossing times, and coordination with nearby/staggered signals.

The problem is that the Regional Transportation Commission is stuck with this legacy system. (Reno, by contrast, has been upgrading traffic control from timers to sensors for decades, updating it regularly as the technology evolves. The difference in signal management is striking.) Las Vegas has to tinker with its timers, which to its credit it does continually. The RTC has the FAST team, which works to optimize signal timing to improve traffic flow. And AI has been enlisted to reduce travel times by helping to optimize traffic-signal efficiencies.

In the meantime, the RTC encourages residents to report specific problems with traffic signal timing. Its website has a page that explains how. (We recently reported one ourselves: the faulty signal at the new-ish ramps between Harmon Avenue and I-15.) You can also sign up for text alerts on traffic problems at a link on that page.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

Have a question that hasn't been answered? Email us with your suggestion.

Missed a Question of the Day?

Have a Question?

Tomorrow's Question

Where did casino shills work in the '70s and '80s and how much did they earn?

Comments

Ken Kjelson Jun-27-2025

Unbelievable

So let me get this straight. A city that prides itself on its over the top technology,is sticking to an ancient system of traffic management. Props to the person who asked this question. I have been coming to Las Vegas for over 40 years. Two things I can always count on are having a great time and complaining about the traffic signals.

Donzack Jun-27-2025

Denver

I don’t know if it’s still the same but I remember being in Denver sometime in the seventies and all vehicle traffic would stop and pedestrians could cross safely in any direction in the intersection. Always thought that was a good idea.

O2bnVegas Jun-27-2025

better reporting system

My city has the 311 system for CALLING in non-emergency issues of any kind such as pot holes, sight interference, traffic light problems and more.  It also has the web site with multiple categories in which to type in those and many others like "ditch maintenance" etc.  It is quite responsive to dialing 311.  

HOWEVER, I found that SUBMITTING an issue on the web site (NOT email) also brings quick action and you get an official reply whether 'completed', shuttled to a certain other department, or however it ended up.

This QoD makes me appreciate my own city's system, though we do not have nearly so many major arteries of traffic as Las Vegas has.

Kevin Rough Jun-27-2025

Where does all that tax money go

I feel like I pay a lot of taxes each time I visit Vegas.  Where does that money go that the city and county can't update its traffic system to something more recent.

Raymond Ray Jun-27-2025

Lights

With some of the horrific wrecks I've seen on Vegas streets, people driving close to 100 mph sometimes, you need long stop lights. They should have some kind of radar that would set off a loud alarm if somebody's going about 60 mph as they get close to the intersection. That way people will know not to proceed through the intersection 
.

edibower Jun-27-2025

Always been a problem

This was the first thing we noticed when we started visiting over 30 years ago and hasn't changed since.  Obviously the municipalities dont see it as a problem.  Like so money things in Vegas unless people stop visiting or the locals make it a political issue it probably wont change

Marcus Leath Jun-27-2025

Why "Stuck?

Part of your answer states that Las Vegas is "stuck" with this legacy system.  Why can't they change to sensors?  This makes no sense, but lots of things in LV do not make any sense, either, so perhaps we should not be surprised.  Does it all come down to money?

sunny78 Jun-27-2025

new fee

Maybe the casinos can add a sensor fee on their resort fee to take up a collection for las vegas to get their traffic lights up to the 21st century?

Jeff B. Jun-29-2025

Thanks for answering my questin!

This was my question. I thought of this when I was driving east on West Sahara, which took FOREVER! You can see the stretch of traffic lights that didn't appear to be synced. It must be horrible to have an EV with the A/C running full blast while sitting still. 

I do like sunny78's remark about adding a sensor fee! There's a little bit of me that would be almost willing to pay it!

Sylvia Gosline Jun-30-2025

They need to hire this guy!

https://www.ar15.com/forums/General/Dayton-OH-Teen-Hacks-into-City-Traffic-System-/5-2801567/

Question of the Day - 27 June 2025

Comments