Honolulu is rolling out smarter traffic lights on the Waianae Coast, which should mean shorter waits at red lights for local drivers.

• The city is swapping old buried road sensors for cameras and radar that detect waiting cars in real time.
• The new data feeds into a central traffic management center, letting officials adjust signal timing and clear backups faster during incidents.
• Drivers on the coast have long complained about getting stuck at lights that seem to ignore them, sometimes getting out of their cars just to hit the pedestrian button.
• Officials say the cameras are strictly for traffic flow, not for issuing red-light or speeding tickets.
• Installation has started in Ewa and is moving toward Nanakuli next.

Outlook: As more intersections get connected, commute times on the coast should gradually improve, though full buildout will take time.