By Jung Gatoona

With the Los Angeles City Council having voted to stop the city's red-light camera program a few months back, Councilmember Jose Huizar raises an interesting question in his request for a report on Metro's red light camera program. Should Metro continue and expand its current photo red light enforcement? The LA City Council had voted to end its photo red light program after much heated debated on whether the program and its cameras actually made intersections safer. There was also the confusion with LA's Superior Court, and their willingness to enforce traffic citations through the cameras. Later it was shown that the program cost more than it generated.

Currently, as part of Metro's safety program, there are several cameras installed at grade crossings along the agency's Blue, Orange, and Gold Line. While a majority of these cameras are set up to enforce left-turn movements, a number of these are for catching straight through movements on red light violations. As of now, the installation of such cameras is incorporated into Metro's design criteria for all future fixed guideways.

Staff at Metro has stated that the usage of red-light camera enforcement has been effective in reducing accidents and unsafe driving behaviors. While that may be the case, there is great evidence that suggests engineering measures, such as improving on signal visibility or increasing the yellow and red phases of traffic signals, are more effective in making intersections safer than photo enforcements.

At present, Metro spends approximately $3,036,000 per year on its photo red light enforcement program. If less expensive engineering countermeasures could be put into action, this money can be reallocated to better use, such as providing additional transit service. In a motion by Councilmember Jose Huizar, he requests that the "Board direct the CEO to report back on Metro's photo red light enforcement program, specifically the ability to enforce citations, the effectiveness in reducing accidents and unsafe driving behaviors, and whether engineering countermeasures should be implemented instead."

Illustration | Jung Gatoona