Two New Traffic Cameras To Keep An Eye on You
After taking a bit of abuse on Twitter for not posting on this sooner, we’re going to mention traffic cameras now …
This is a public service announcement for all our friends out there. The City of Tacoma now has two new speed cameras in operation as of 12:01 this morning. The first one is in the Bay Street curves down by the Emerald Queen Casino. The second one is located at North 26th and Orchard Streets near Downing Elementary School. Where’d these come from?
While we don’t recall anyone speaking against this 4 months ago during public comment, we do have these notes from the July 21st City Council Meeting:
Ordinance No. 27822 amends Chapter 11.60 of the Municipal Code, relating to Automatic Traffic Camera Systems, to implement a pilot program for the use of one automated traffic camera system to detect speed violations, as authorized by the Washington State Legislature. Current law restricts these cameras to school and construction zones. Seattle and Tacoma were approached by the State to pilot one camera per city. The camera would be installed in the Bay Street curves – a location with about 125 accidents per year.
To help with the adjustment, you get a warning for two weeks. The violations become real on December 1st – or as real as a parking ticket. Are you going to slow down now?
Filed under: public-safety
2 comments
R Rob McNair-Huff November 18, 2009
Regarding the question about why Tacoma has installed two traffic cameras rather than one, the traffic camera on Bay Street is operating as part of the pilot project authorized by the Washington State Legislature earlier this year. The traffic camera near 26th and Orchard streets is one of a number of cameras installed across Tacoma as part of a separate pilot project to allow cameras in school zones. That second camera is located adjacent to Downing Elementary School.
Z Z November 19, 2009
So quickly do these things go from Pilot to Perminate. If you want to do something to reduce the collisons in the bay street curve, rebuild the curve and close the driveway to the casino. Most of the problems in the area stem from the casino driveway in close proximity to the curve and freeway offramp. Also, you may want to send the city sign crew out to fix the camera’s warning sign coming from the east. Its obscured behind other signs in the area. And Finally, was any thought given to the fact that the camera flash might cause problems for oncoming drivers in the curve at night and in the rain? While personally i’d find it funny if that thing caused more wrecks in the area, i dont think those motorists blinded by it than crashing head on into oncoming traffic would think that way… Just food for thought.