MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch
City Manager

SUBJECT: Red Light Camera Locations

DATE: January 16, 2002

The City, working with ACS, has completed analysis of possible intersections for installation of red light cameras. Attached is information from ACS that summarizes the process they went through and the results of this evaluation using the video validation process. The designations 0/10, 1/10, 2/10 and 3/10 on the attached charts represent intervals of one-tenth of a second. Tickets would be issued for all of the violations shown on these attachments.

The contract the City has entered into with ACS has two elements of importance that enter into the decision as to where to locate potential cameras in the City. First, the contract indicates that video validation must show that 35 or more violations a day will be issued at each site or a site will not be constructed unless the City chooses to do so. While the video validation process was done for a 16 hour period and the 35 or more violation number is based on a 24 hour period, none of the City's sites met the threshold of 35 or more violations a day.

Second, the contract with ACS indicates that a minimum average of 100 issued citations per month per camera will be charged to the City if the actual average number issued per camera is lower than 100. ACS indicates that a video validation of approximately 22 violations a day is the approximate number to consider in order to obtain an average of 100 tickets per month. In order to meet the 100 violations per month criteria, the City would need to have 3.33 tickets per day issued at each camera.

The three locations with the highest number of violations are adjacent to each other. These are: Rte. 197 @ Rte. 50 east bound off-ramp traveling south bound on Rte. 197 with 26 violations; Rte. 197 @ Kenhill Drive traveling south bound on Rte. 197 with 21 violations, and Rte. 197 @ Rte. 50 west bound off ramp traveling south bound on Rte. 197 with 19 violations. Staff does not recommend placing three red light cameras in such close proximity.

Given the above information, even though the City has budgeted for the installation of three red light cameras, staff would recommend that only one camera at this time be considered for location at the intersection of Rte. 197 southbound @ Kenhill Drive. Our reasons for this recommendation are as follows.

First, this intersection is located adjacent to the Tasker Middle School. The three most frequent times that red light running occurs at this intersection are in the morning between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., at lunchtime between noon and 1 p.m. and in the afternoon between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. (see attached chart). The morning and afternoon times are when students are arriving at and leaving school, which is a particularly dangerous time to have red light runners.

Second, this intersection was the second worst intersection in the City concerning red light runners, with 21 violations in a 16-hour period. However, staff wants to make sure that the City recoups our investment regarding the installation of these cameras. The cost to install these cameras is $27,830 for each site constructed. The amortized cost for the $27,830 installation costs over the 36-month period of the contract is $775 per month. Also, as noted above, the City has an obligation to ACS of a minimum of 100 tickets per month. The cost to the City per ticket is $27.90. Therefore, the City is obligated to pay a minimum of $2,790 per month to ACS for each camera site.

ACS estimates that there will be a 60% drop in red light runners once cameras have been installed, that approximately 75% of photos result in tickets being issued and that the collection rate ranges between 65 to 70% of tickets issued. Using these estimates, the City could expect the following regarding installing a camera at this intersection with an initial video validation of 21 violations:

· 21 violations X 60% reduction bring the number of violations down to 8.4 per day.

· 8.4 violations per day X 75% ticketing rate yields 6.3 tickets per day

· 6.3 tickets billed per day X 65% collect rate yields 4.1 tickets per day.

In order to meet the 100 tickets per month minimum, the City would need to generate 3.33 tickets per day, so approximately four tickets per day puts us above this threshold. The City will collect $75.00 per ticket. Our costs per ticket are $27.90 to ACS and $5.00 per ticket to Prince George's County. Therefore, the net to the City for each ticket collected is $42.10. At four paid tickets per day, this would yield $5,050 in a month with 30 days. At 3.33 paid tickets per day, this would yield $4,205 in a month with 30 days. Therefore, it appears that the City will have a reasonable expectation of covering our costs using the assumptions above.

The City would be operating at a deficit if we collect less than 51 tickets per month or 1.7 tickets per day. This would result in revenue to the City of $3,825 (51 tickets X $75.00 per ticket). The cost side of 51 tickets per month is outlined below:

100 ticket obligation to ACS at $27.90 per ticket costs $2,790

51 tickets at a cost of $5.00 to Prince George's County costs $255

Amortized cost per month for installation costs of $775

Total cost per month at 51 tickets equals $3,820

Thus, the $3,825 in revenues is just enough to cover the $3,820 in cost at 51 tickets per month. The primary purpose of the red light camera program is to enhance public safety. However, the above detailed focus on costs was provided to show the potential downside of this program from a cost perspective.

Staff has met with ACS and Prince George's County Police Department representatives to establish the details of how this program will be implemented. For the most part, with some minor modifications, this program will mirror the Prince George's County Program. The cameras will be programmed so that cars must be traveling at a rate of speed of 15 MPH or higher to be issued a ticket if they are in violation. This was an issue raised by City Council at the previous public hearing and will prevent motorists that are stopping at an intersection, but may pass over the two loops in the roadway, from being given a citation.

Staff Recommendation

As indicated earlier in this memo, at this time staff recommends one red light camera be installed at the intersection of Kenhill Drive and southbound Route 197. Staff would also recommend that the remaining amount of $56,000, that would allow the installation of two additional red light cameras, be again budgeted for FY 03 for this program. Staff will evaluate the impact of this camera at this location after it has been in place for a reasonable amount of time. By leaving moneys budgeted for this program in FY 03, it affords the City the flexibility to add an additional two cameras should other locations warrant installation.

One additional site, which was not previously identified as a traffic light within the jurisdiction of the City at Route 214 and Jennings Mill Drive, is being currently evaluated to determine the feasibility of a camera at this location. If a camera appears justified, staff will bring this information back to Council before proceeding.

If City Council approves this location at Kenhill Drive and southbound Route 197, the next step in the process will be for ACS to prepare drawings and additional information to be submitted to the State Highway Administration (SHA), for their review and approval. SHA will look at such issues as yellow light length and accident history in determining whether a red light camera is appropriate at this intersection or whether other approaches can be used to more effectively reduce the number of red light runners at this intersection.

Attachments