Cable lube will help. Preferably "Dry Slide".
If it has an inner plastic liner, yes, dry slide.
If it has a steel inner cable inside, rides on a steel outer cable meaning? Then, sewing machine oil, 3-in-1 oil type runs into the stands and soaks it faster is all.
I did an easy pull for a customer and it made a little difference but when I lubed the cable it cut the pull pressure in half. I am sure it was a combination of both but the lube is your best bet first.
Second part is cable routing:
U or C sort of mean the same loop as opposed to an S or V loop. Those might bind with too sharp a curve, meaning. So when replacing cable, the easier you can move that inner cable, [without hooking up either end] to see how easy it "statically moves," the less arm pump at the traffic light.