Phoenix City Council OKs red light runner, portable speed camera program
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
Phoenix City Council is moving forward with implementation of an automated enforcement safety program with hallmarks of the effort including additional red light runner cameras and the deployment of regular mobile photo radar units.
As Phoenix streets and intersections become more dangerous and as local residents decry daily reports of dangerous collisions across all municipal districts — an area that encompasses 5,000 miles of local thoroughfares — members of Phoenix City Council during its Oct. 22 policy session voted 8 to 1 to move forward with a reinvigorated photo radar program with technology including red light runner cameras along with fixed, and mobile speed camera technology.
Councilman Jim Waring, who represents District 2, was the lone dissenting vote on the measure yesterday meanwhile officials at City Hall, say they are hoping to get the program fully operational by fall 2025.
Vice Mayor Debra Stark, who represents District 3 and is in pursuit of re-election this November, offered impassioned remarks on why roadway safety measures need to be taken across all districts in the city of Phoenix.
“Several years ago, it’s quite unfortunate, but Phoenix saw an uptick in pedestrian and red light fatalities,” she said during the Oct. 22 public hearing. “Certainly, this is not something we want to brag about. But because of that, we as a council have started to talk about roadway safety.”
Vice Mayor Stark who chairs the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee, says existing enforcement tools are not effective due to a drastic reduction in traffic duties at the local police department.
“We are down to I think 40 motor units,” she said of police units focused on traffic enforcement. “More and more residents have said, ‘it is time we take a look at it [photo radar] especially when our surrounding cities have this already in place’ … it is tough issue to talk about, but I for one am tired of hearing of fatalities that could have been avoided.”
Officials at City Hall report the Phoenix metropolitan area has seen a dramatic increase to fatal crashes, with 132 fatalities and 6,698 injuries reported from 2017 to 2023. In 2023 Phoenix saw 20 fatalities and 810 injuries, data shows.
Phoenix City Council is moving forward with these efforts to reinvigorate its automated enforcement safety program:
- The issuance of a request for proposals by Spring 2025 for red light runner cameras, portable speed towers, and mobile speed vehicles. Additional services such as the ‘Speed on Green’ and ‘Fixed Mid-Block’ cameras could be included in the contract for future consideration.
- Implementation of a RLR enforcement program. The RLR program is to be managed with fixed cameras at intersections where current data has shown high numbers of angle crashes, focusing on those with the highest number of serious and fatal injuries. It is recommended that up to 10 RLR cameras be installed in the first year based on the current crash data.
- Implementation of portable and mobile speed enforcement program. Cameras can be used at mid-block locations on a roadway segment where data may show excessive speeding in between intersections and can also be placed in school zones. It is recommended that up to six portable cameras be implemented in the first year based on current data or in school zones.
- Implementation of a minimum 30-day warning period where warning notices would be sent in lieu of citations. A warning period would be at the onset of the program for both red light running and speed enforcement cameras and throughout the program when new camera locations are added. The city is covering the costs during the warning period, which is estimated to be $10,000 per 30-day period per camera location.
- Implementation of a public information campaign to inform the public about the program.
Phoenix leaders point out an automated traffic safety program has been done before.
“Phoenix previously managed an automated enforcement safety program that started in 2001 with 10 intersections equipped with red-light cameras and two mobile speed vehicles used in 15 mile per hour (mph) school zones,” said Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson “The intent of the program was to deter red-light violations, reduce speeding violations, and reduce crash frequency and severity.”
In her report to City Council, Ms. Erickson pointed out, in all, the previous program included 12 fixed red-light cameras at 12 intersection approaches and a total of eight mobile speed vehicles for specific use in 15 mph school zones and other pedestrian crossing points near schools.
Of note: In the last year of the program, which was fiscal year 2018-19 the program generated approximately $1.3 million in gross revenue from citations. From this gross revenue, the city paid the vendor $31.85 per adjudicated citation. After the vendor payments and staff costs, the net program revenue for that fiscal year was approximately $57,000, while the five-year average net annual revenue was approximately $28,000.
Read the report for yourself HERE
Phoenix City Council: A spike in red light running fatalities spurs action
District 1 Councilwoman Anna O’Brien, co-chair of the Public Safety & Justice Subcommittee, says she has been an advocate for improved roadway safety since taking office. Ms. O’Brien, running unopposed, is seeking re-election this November.
“Of the top 10 worst intersections by crash risk ranked by the Maricopa Association of Governments, Phoenix has nine,” Councilwoman O’Brien said following the Oct. 22 policy session. “In fact, Phoenix accounts for 19 of the top 20 worst intersections. To drive the point home, we have 28 of the top 30 worst intersections. This isn’t conjecture, this is science and data. We can and must do better.”
Councilwoman O’Brien says she hopes to see a change in motorist behavior along Phoenix thoroughfares.
“The goals of this program are to hopefully curb driver behavior on the Phoenix roadways. Based on a previous report from AAA, Arizona has the highest rate of red light running fatalities nationally, per capita,” she said.
“Locally, Phoenix accounts for nine of the top ten worst intersections in the county, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments. Success of this program will be measured by the reduction of crashes happening within these Phoenix intersections.”
Councilwoman O’Brien says she hopes to see the program blossom.
“I hope for this program to continue to expand. My district features over 16% of the 30 most dangerous intersections in Maricopa County, according to MAG. I want the residents in my district to feel safe and not have to worry about someone barreling through a red light when they go pick up their groceries or stop by their local library,” she said.
“We’re down over 600 officers in Phoenix and don’t have the manpower we previously had to perform traffic enforcement. These pieces of technology are additional tools in our toolbelt to crack down on traffic violations. I hope, long-term, we don’t continue to have over 16% of the 30 most dangerous intersections in the Valley.”
