Hamilton proposes six new photo radar speed camera locations
Hamilton is proposing to squeeze six more photo radar locations into a year-long study of whether automatic speed cameras make local streets safer.
The city started the pilot project in October with two cameras on Stone Church Road between Dartnall and Pritchard that caught more than 5,600 speeders in a single month, with the lead-footed drivers averaging 14 km/h over the limit.
The cameras were poised to rotate monthly through 12 community safety zones" chosen based on an evaluation of traffic volume, speed, collision data and site-specific factors like nearby schools.
But some councillors expressed bewilderment at the locations - including Stone Church, a 50 km/h arterial road with no schools or parks nearby. Ward Coun. Tom Jackson called it a head-scratcher" of a choice.
In a report going to councillors Monday, transportation operations director Edward Soldo said the city has evaluated more than 50 additional streets in consultation with councillors" and is proposing to add six more photo radar sites.
One of the locations is Mountain Brow Boulevard, between Broker Drive and Mohawk Road, where Jackson said residents have agitated for measures to cut speeding along the scenic but winding residential road.
There are still plenty of idiots tearing up and down the road," said Mountain Brow resident David Johnson, who spearheaded a successful petition several years ago to reduce the boulevard speed limit.
Johnson said his street has seen several infamous crashes over the years - including one woman in June who sped off the edge of the escarpment. But he added other Mountain arteries also see unnecessary and tragic" speeding problems, including Upper Ottawa and Upper Gage.
An 11-year-old boy, Jude Strickland, died after he was hit by a truck Dec. 2 while crossing an intersection along Upper Gage with a crossing guard. The driver of the truck allegedly did not stop for the traffic light and has been charged with dangerous driving causing death.
Anything we can do encourage people to slow down on all of these streets would be great," Johnson said.
The addition of six more photo radar locations mean some speed enforcement sites will only see cameras for two weeks at a time next year.
Coun. Chad Collins said he appreciated the expanded list. I think the more neighbourhoods we can get (the cameras) into to evaluate their effectiveness, the better," he said. There are plenty of (speeding) hot spots and based on what I'm hearing from residents, no lack of requests."
The city will use the one-year experiment to determine whether the cameras actually reduce speeding and make streets safer for pedestrians and other vulnerable users." Early analysis of the Stone Church statistics suggest 186 speeders were caught on camera per day, but the average speed through October gradually dropped below the 50 km/h limit.
The experiment has sparked a wide variety of reactions, ranging from praise from road safety advocates to outrage from motorists convinced the cameras are a cash grab. The cameras were painted over the night before the experiment went live, but the damage was quickly fixed.
The other new locations - if council signs off on the list this month - include Hunter, Gage and Lottridge streets in the lower city, as well as sections of Regional Road 56 near Binbrook and Highway 5 in Flamborough.
Photo radar: upcoming speed enforcement locations, including proposed new locations
December: Bellagio Avenue between Fletcher Road and Keystoney Crescent;
January: Lawrence Road between Gage Avenue and Ottawa Street;
February: Lawrence Road between Cochrane Ave and Mt. Albion Road;
March: Lewis Road between Barton Street and Highway 8;
April (first two weeks): Trinity Church Road between Guyatt Road and Dickenson Road;
April (second two weeks): Hunter Street between James Street and Wellington Street;*
May (first two weeks): Harvest Road between Tews Lane and Forest Avenue;
May (second two weeks): Lottridge Street between Cannon Street and Beechwood Avenue;*
June (first two weeks): Main Street between Parkside Drive and John Street;
June (second two weeks): Mountain Brow Boulevard between Broker Drive and Mohawk Road;*
July (first two weeks): Broker Drive between Kingslea Drive and Brentwood Drive;
July (second two weeks): Gage Avenue between Cannon Street and Beechwood Avenue;*
August (first two weeks): Second Street between Charles Street and King Street;
August (second two weeks): Regional Road 56 between Golf Club Road and Guyatt Road;*
September (first two weeks): Greenhill Avenue between Quigley Road and Mt. Albion Road;
September (second two weeks): Highway 5 between Harrisburg Road and Troy Road*
*New proposed locations