An £8.3 million investment to upgrade traffic signals across the Liverpool City Region has delivered significant carbon savings and annual cost reductions of £684,000.
The Combined Authority, working with local authorities, has completed a retrofit programme covering approximately 700 traffic signal sites, replacing outdated halogen technology with energy-efficient LED signals. The project achieved 1,234 tonnes of CO₂ reductions and annual energy savings of 2.28 million kWh.
Completed at the end of last year, the LED Traffic Signals Upgrade forms part of the Liverpool City Region's Pathway to Net Zero, supporting Mayor Rotheram's commitment to making the region carbon neutral by 2035.
"This project shows exactly how tackling the climate emergency can go hand in hand with making people's lives better," said Councillor Steve Foulkes, Chair of Liverpool City Region Transport Committee. "By upgrading hundreds of traffic signals across our city region, we're cutting carbon, saving hundreds of thousands of pounds in energy costs every year, and making our roads safer and more reliable."
The programme prioritised sustainability by retrofitting individual signal aspects rather than replacing complete heads wherever possible, reducing material waste and supporting recycling.
Beyond environmental benefits, the upgrade enhances road safety through improved visibility from modern lens technology and significantly reduced failure rates, supporting the region's Vision Zero Road Safety Strategy.
The project has been shortlisted for recognition at the Decarbonising Transport Awards in London this March.