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Home My WebLink AboutII. A. Traffic Enforcement Cameras 2.18.2025Stop Light & Speed Enforcement Camera Update Deputy Chief Billy Zelms February 18, 2025 1 Today’s Objective •Seeking direction from City Council on the desired scope of future Stop Light and Speed Enforcement Cameras: •Stop Light Enforcement Cameras •School Zone Speed Enforcement Cameras •Construction Zone Speed Enforcement Cameras 2 Supporting the City Council Focus Action Plan •2.26 Review and update the City’s Master Transportation Plan and Model to support transportation options and modes, reduce congestion, and improve safe travel for the community at large •3.21 Continue public safety efforts to ensure a safe and healthy environment for residents and visitors 3 Background •On July 11, 2023, Public Works provided a presentation to City Council on Roadway Safety with the support of the Police Department regarding traffic safety and neighborhood calming. •The presentation included information regarding the General Assembly decision that granted each locality in the Commonwealth of Virginia the authority to utilize photo speed enforcement in work zones and school zones. •§ 46.2-882.1 – Photo Speed Monitoring ($100 civil penalty) •10 mph or greater over the speed limit •Not reported to DMV •School Zones •Construction Zones 4 Background (cont.) •With the current stop light camera contract expiring, and in consideration of legislation authorizing speed enforcement in school and work zones, there is an opportunity to combine these enforcement technologies when soliciting for a new camera enforcement contract. 5 History of Stop Light Enforcement Cameras •The PhotoSafe program was first implemented in 2004 •Short-lived & terminated on July 1, 2005 •General Assembly passed legislation & cameras returned on March 13, 2009 •11 intersections were selected for monitoring •Accident rate •Number of red-light violations •Pedestrian safety concerns •Violations result in a civil penalty of $50 •No DMV points or insurance implications •Process to contest violation in court or via written affidavit 6 History (cont.) •Cameras have proven successful in improving traffic safety •Since 2016, total crashes at 9 of 11 monitored intersections have decreased by an average of 37% •Some locations have experienced reductions in traffic crashes by 70% •A 2020 study conducted by Florida International University found stop light cameras significantly reduced right-angle crashes & serious/total injury crashes 7 The Opportunity •An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)Study reported speed cameras resulted in a 19% reduction in the likelihood a crash would involve a fatality or incapacitating injury •IIHS also noted speed cameras in a particular jurisdiction quickly resulted in a reduction in the number of vehicles traveling at least 10 mph over the speed limit – ultimately changing driver behavior 8 The Opportunity (cont.) •This technology can enable the City to address community concerns of speeding in vulnerable areas, such as school zones •The Police Department routinely utilizes motorcycle officers to enforce speed limits in school zones •This program would enable the Police Department to redeploy these officers to other locations where there are traffic concerns •Revenue could be directed to address City Council’s priority for neighborhood traffic calming & safety on our roads 9 Request for Proposal Update •RFP process is in final stages •Prior to vendor selection, City Council is being asked to give policy direction as it relates to the scope of contract implementation •Stop Light Cameras •School Zone Cameras •Construction Zones •Cost to administer stop light camera alone will either be revenue neutral or potentially require the General Fund to supplement in the future 10 Stop Light Camera Cost Considerations •Annual revenue is approximately $1.8 million •Supports cost of the program and general Police Operations •Current (FY25) annual expense is $1.01 million •Vendor payments ($740k) •4.0 FTEs – Public Safety Investigators ($265k) •Annual expense after new contract will be $1.8 million •Contract cost expected to double •No additional revenue anticipated from new contract 11 Speed Enforcement Camera Considerations •Speed enforcement cameras will increase the cost of the contract •$2,300 - $3,900 per camera •Speed enforcement technology allows for violations to be captured across multiple lanes of traffic •$100 civil penalty •Other localities have captured a significant number of violations from speed enforcement cameras •Norfolk – 10 school zone speed cameras (4,500 violations per day) •Suffolk - $1 million in fines per month 12 Speed Enforcement Camera Revenue Locality Number of Cameras Number of Sites Type of Camera Revenue Estimate Chesapeake 11 10 School Zone $6.6 million -FY24 Hampton 12 12 School Zone Effective 10/15/24 Norfolk 19 10 School Zone $4.2 million - FY25 Suffolk 12 11 School and Work Zone $12.5 million -FY24 York County 6 6 School Zone $1.7 million- FY25 (effective 9/26/24) 13 Consideration When Determining Scope •Revenue for stop light cameras alone are likely looking to break even with the cost of operation •While behavior change is our intended primary outcome,there was a desire from City Council to use any revenue to assist with enhanced support to traffic calming and pedestrian safety •However, without the potential revenue of the school zone and work zone cameras, there would likely be no funding available to do so •In addition, we could get to a point where the GF may need to supplement the cost of the program if operational costs exceed revenue 14 2025 General Assembly Update Multiple pieces of legislation introduced that would either restrict or enhance the program. These remain in flux during the last week of session. Under consideration: •Reduce civil penalty from $100 to $50 •Route excess revenue to state Commonwealth Transportation Board to be used for the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program •Expand where the cameras are allowed to include the priority pedestrian corridor as identified by the Department of Transportation in the statewide Pedestrian Safety Action Plan and other areas designated by the Commissioner of Highways •Require calibration of the speed cameras in the same manner other speed measurement devices are calibrated •For school zones,require proof that the blinking signage was in operation •If funds stay local, require funds be used for planning, design, and construction projects for traffic safety, speed management, and bicycle and pedestrian safety and local systemic safety initiatives otherwise eligible for funding through the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program established pursuant to § 33.2-373 and require that such excess funds shall first be used for such purposes in highway work zones, school crossing zones, and high-risk speed corridors prior to being used for such purposes in any other area •Allow for the use of stop sign and pedestrian crossing cameras in school zones 15 Process & Timing for Implementation 16 •We are on a month-to -month contract extension with our current stop light camera vendor •Once a vendor has been selected for the current RFP: •Staged go-live based on Council direction •Begin with stop light camera installation •Should speed camera enforcement be selected, it is anticipated to take 4 months for site selection, permitting, and equipment installation •30-day warning period upon camera activation Council Direction •Seeking direction from City Council on the desired scope of future stop light and speed enforcement cameras •Stop Light Enforcement Cameras •School Zone Speed Enforcement Cameras •Construction Zone Speed Enforcement Cameras •Next Steps •Draft Ordinance based on City Council Direction •Stop light enforcement •School zone enforcement •Construction zone enforcement – require briefing prior to implementation 17