HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9279INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
No. 9279
July 20, 2010
Page 1 of 3
SUBJECT: AUTOMATED RED LIGHT CAMERA SAFETY PROGRAM UPDATE
The purpose of the Automated Red Light Camera Safety Program is to improve public safety by
reducing collisions and injuries related to red light running through a combination of law
enforcement and improvements to the way traffic signals work throughout the city.
CITATIONS /FINES:
The number of citations that have been issued since inception of the program is 172,179. The
City's Hearing Officer holds an average of 225 hearing requests for violations per month. He
estimates that 50% are related to not stopping on red before turning right. A comparison of the
fine for a citation against a ticket issued by a Police Officer is as follows:
Red Light Camera citation Police Officer ticket
Civil citation Criminal citation
$75 $134.90 ($104.90 plus state fee of $30)
No court costs if appealed $67.10 court cost if appealed
Does not go on driving record Does go on driving record
The amount of fines designated to the City since inception of the program is $2,070,826. The
City's portion has been spent on installation of loop detectors, repair of traffic signal poles,
installation of temporary sidewalks, sidewalk replacement, and the construction of the new Joint
Emergency Operations Center.
The same amount ($2,070,826) has been or will be given to the State of Texas. The State
amount is deposited to the Trauma Care Fund. On September 8, 2009 we were notified that
$9,192,322 was distributed to 128 eligible hospitals throughout Texas. JPS Hospital received
$533,440 and Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital received $264,279.
ACCIDENT REDUCTION:
Accident data were evaluated in October 2009 for a report that is due to TxDOT annually. The
data showed that over the previous year (July 1, 2008 — June 30, 2009) Phase 1 had an 11 %
reduction in crashes and Phase 2 had a 72% reduction in crashes. Fortunately, drivers in cities
where red light cameras are installed succumb to the "halo effect" where cautious driving habits
learned at camera - monitored intersections spread to intersections where cameras are not
installed.
RIGHT -HAND TURN CITATIONS:
The city's contractor, American Traffic Solutions, performs a final quality control review before
sending citation images and videos to the Police Department for review. Right -hand turn citations,
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
,.F
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
No. 9279
July 20, 2010
Page 2 of 3
SUBJECT: AUTOMATED RED LIGHT CAMERA SAFETY PROGRAM UPDATE
as well as straight through and left -hand turn citations must show a vehicle going over 10 MPH
before the citation is forwarded for review. The Police Department performs a final review and
approval before citations are issued. If the following Texas Transportation and City codes are not
observed a citation can be issued:
Sec. 545.151. VEHICLE APPROACHING OR ENTERING INTERSECTION.
(a) An operator approaching an intersection:
(1) shall stop, yield, and grant immediate use of the intersection: and
(2) after stopping, may proceed when the intersection can be safely entered
without interference or collision with traffic using a different street or roadway.
• Sec. 544.007. TRAFFIC- CONTROL SIGNALS IN GENERAL.
(d) An operator of a vehicle facing only a steady red signal shall stop at a clearly
marked stop line. In the absence of a stop line, the operator shall stop before entering the
crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. A vehicle that is not turning shall remain standing
until an indication to proceed is shown. After stopping, standing until the intersection may be
entered safely, and yielding right -of -way to pedestrians lawfully in an adjacent crosswalk and
other traffic lawfully using the intersection, the operator may:
(1) turn right; or
(2) turn left, if the intersecting streets are both one -way streets and a left turn is
permissible.
• City of Fort Worth Code Chapter 22 Motor Vehicles and Traffic
Sec. 22 -38. — Traffic- control signal legend.
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic- control signals exhibiting different colored
lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only
the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals
carrying a word legend, and said lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles
and pedestrians as follows:
(3) Steady red indication.
a. Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop at a clearly
marked stop line, but, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side
of the intersection, and, unless prohibited by a traffic- control sign, may then
turn right or, if the intersecting streets are both one -way streets and left
turns are permissible, may turn left, after standing until the intersection may
be entered safely, yielding right -of -way to pedestrians lawfully within an
adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. Traffic
not so turning shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
No. 9279
July 20, 2010
Page 3 of 3
SUBJECT: AUTOMATED RED LIGHT CAMERA SAFETY PROGRAM UPDATE
The city, within its jurisdiction, may prohibit such turns on a steady red signal
by posting a notice that turns of that type are prohibited. Such notice shall be
erected at such intersection giving notice thereof.
NUMBER OF CURRENT AND FUTURE CAMERAS:
The program was initiated on January 1, 2008 with 13 cameras at various locations within the
city. Phase 2 began in January 2009 with 12 additional cameras. Satisfied with the success of
the program Council approved another 10 cameras which were added in October 2009 bringing
the current total to 35. We propose to add ten cameras (Phase 4) on October 1, 2010. The
addition of these cameras will bring our total to 45. New camera locations will be at the following
intersections:
S/B Bryant Irvin Rd @ 1 -20 Svc Rd (TxDOT)
S/B Hulen St @ Granbury Rd
W/B Granbury Rd @ Hulen St
S/B Beach St @ Long Ave
W/B Trinity Blvd. @ Precinct Line Rd
E/B E. Allen @ South Frwy Svc Rd (TxDOT)
W/B E. Allen @ South Frwy Svc Rd (TxDOT)
E/B E. Rosedale @ South Frwy Svc Rd
(TxDOT)
W/B E. Rosedale @ South Frwy Svc Rd
(TxDOT)
N/B Crowley Rd @ SW Loop 820 (TxDOT)
D e A. Fissele , P.E.
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS