City Council
MEETING DATE: 6/10/2015
TITLE:
Title
Red Light Safety Camera Program Update
End
FROM:
George Crum, Police Chief
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
This is an informational item provided for discussion and direction.
Body
BACKGROUND:
Traffic and traffic enforcement have long been recognized concerns for the citizens of Cathedral City. As police departments across the country are all struggling with issues including budgetary concerns and the human resources available to accomplish the increased demands from their citizenry, the growth of the Valley has added additional traffic loads on Cathedral City roadways; thus, increasing the importance for continued traffic enforcement opportunities. As our budgets shrink and demands for service increase, it is prudent to investigate the use of existing and emerging technologies to help make our roadways even safer. These technologies assist our goals and objectives by providing a low cost alternative to meet the demand for safer streets. The Red Light Safety Camera Program has been a part of our overall traffic safety strategy since 2006. As a result of our current program, we have more awareness, less speeding and fewer collisions at our most vulnerable intersections.
The Cathedral City Police Department first implemented the ATS Red Light Safety Camera System beta program in the n/b lanes of Date Palm Drive @ Ramon Road on August 25th, 2006. The monthly cost for the ATS service contract was not to exceed $5,285.00 per month or $63,420 per year, and was originally contracted to be a cost neutral system. Over the next year and a half, the Police Department worked with ATS and the Riverside County Courts in Indio to track and document the fines and revenues generated by the Red Light Camera System. During this period, the original beta test service contract term was extended two times to allow for the fine revenues to catch up to the monthly cost of the system, due to a documentation delay. The beta-test service contract term was extended to August 31st, 2007 and February 29th, 2008.
By January 2008, the monthly revenues generated from fines and penalties covered the complete cost of the ATS service contract over the previous two year period, and the system had generated small but positive revenues in the amount of $5,825.41.
In calendar year 2005, prior to the implementation of the Red Light Safety Camera Program, there were 29 reported collisions at Date Palm and Ramon. By calendar year 2008, the reported incidents had dropped to 7 collisions, which is an approximate 75% decrease in traffic collisions over a three year period.
Due to the success of the Red Light Safety Camera Program creating a noticeable and measureable decrease in traffic collisions, and the system sustaining itself on a cost neutral basis, two additional cameras were added to the program in February 2009. The two cameras were installed w/b Ramon Road @ Landau Blvd, and e/b Vista Chino @ Date Palm Drive. At that time, the cost of the system was reduced to $4,990.00/month per camera or $179,640.00 per year.
In March 2014, the Department re-evaluated the program for cost effectiveness and measureable safety benefits. It was determined that the system continued to reduce the number of traffic collisions in the three RLC intersections; however, the cost of the system was outpacing the revenues generated by the program. As a result, the contract with ATS was re-negotiated to include a substantial decrease in the monthly cost of the system from $4,990.00/month per camera to $3,500.00/month per camera. The annual cost of the system is now $126,000, which is a savings of $53,640.00 per year moving forward.
DISCUSSION:
The Red Light Camera Program has been operational for the past nine (9) years, which provides us with a good historical perspective on the functionality and success of the system. As a result of the data, it is clear that drivers are getting the message to stop on red in Cathedral City. See attachment for detailed analysis and fiscal impact of the Red Light Safety Camera Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
See Attachment
ATTACHMENTS:
Analysis and Fiscal Impact