The traffic signal system in Charlotte includes 638 traffic signals, on both State highways, and on the city's street system. All of the signals are maintained by CDOT.

The 140 traffic signals in the Center City area are part of a coordinated signal system. The system has four different timing patterns for different periods during the day, and four timing patterns for special weather or events. Within these patterns, to maintain the progression between signals, the timing is fixed, and not dependent on in-road sensors as in much of the rest of the City. 

For the rest of the city, CDOT has 35 arterial signal systems coordinating an additional 324 intersections. Each of the systems has its own controlling computer, which is connected to the main City Hall computer that monitors the systems. Although these systems do give priority to traffic on the main streets, in-road sensors called loops or video camera detection do sense the presence of vehicles on the side street and adjust their patterns accordingly. Examples of arterial systems are Monroe Road, South Boulevard and Freedom Drive. The remainder of the signals operate independently and in response to presence and volume of traffic. Minimum and maximum times given to each approach are set based on conditions by time of day and day of the week. 

The city also has two reversible lane traffic signal systems - on 7th Street and Tyvola Road. CDOT has six high-mounted rotating cameras in the Center City area so that traffic technicians in the City Hall Traffic Control Center can visually monitor traffic on the primary Center City streets and on the surrounding freeways. CDOT also has 22 cameras along the Central Avenue and Monroe Road corridors with an additional six on Independence Boulevard to come on-line soon.