Item A: Traffic Safety Issues - Laserfiche WebLink

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ATTACHMENT A $250,000, including $175,000 in one-time capital costs. Beaverton – The City of Beaverton currently operates camera systems at 4 intersections. Beaverton staff report that the number of tickets issued at those 4 intersections is significantly less than the national average of 5 tickets per hour. Beaverton’s initial $265,000 investment has generated approximately a total of $200,000 in revenues in the past two years. Medford -- Medford has only recently implemented camera systems at two intersections and does not yet have data regarding the number of tickets issued. However, Medford staff report actual revenue collection is not likely to meet their initial projections. Key Elements to a Photo Red Light Program Based on information from other communities, there appear to be a few key elements related to the implementation of a photo red light program. The primary purpose of the project is to increase the level of compliance with red light ? (stop) signals which may reduce the incidence of collisions directly related to red light violations. This affects the location, and therefore the traffic volume, anticipated under the program. Prior to actual implementation of a camera system, staff would conduct traffic surveys at intersections where historically high levels of red-light running have occurred. Based on the long-term experience of other communities, collisions directly related to red light violations are reduced by approximately 25% after the implementation of a camera system. A 25% reduction is roughly equivalent to 10-15 avoided collisions per year in Eugene assuming cameras were installed at four intersections. However, it’s important to note that collisions at signalized intersections may be caused by a variety of factors that a camera system will not impact, so there is no guarantee that a camera system will be an effective strategy to improve overall traffic safety. A camera system may augment, but should not replace, any part of the City’s current ? traffic enforcement efforts. Camera systems may be an effective deterrent to red-light running but do not necessarily impact other driving habits/actions. For example, recent targeted enforcement efforts have shown that contact with an officer often produces several additional beneficial outcomes by improving community safety through DUII enforcement, impounding vehicles from drivers lacking insurance or driving with a suspended license, etc. Staff recommends that resources currently devoted to traffic enforcement or any other public safety activity should not be diverted to this effort. Revenue generation should not be a goal of the system. Other jurisdictions have ? experienced significant public criticism in part due to the perception of implementing red light cameras in order to generate funds.