Photo radar funds down as drivers ease up

ELISE STOLTE

Edmonton’s photo radar fund now risks dipping into the red as local speeders lighten up on the gas.

Council heard Tuesday the fund was $3 million short this year because people aren’t speeding as much as expected, chief financial officer Todd Burge said.

“I would argue that’s a good news story,” said Coun. Ben Henderson, suggesting council wants the budget to hit zero with no tickets because no one is speeding.

“That is a good news story,” added Coun. Scott McKeen, trying to ensure no one thought council wanted to increase photo radar efforts just to balance the budget.

Burge said city efforts to balance the budget will focus on finding other funding for the traffic safety projects, rather than increasing revenue.

The year-end balance for the photo radar reserve is projected to be $8.9 million, $3 million short of what was expected.

If that trend continues, the fund will be $200,000 short by the end of 2018 because council has already committed $9.1 million to various projects.

Gerry Shimko, head of the Office of Traffic Safety, said collisions causing injuries are also down, which is even better news.

His photo radar teams have shifted this month to double their efforts in new 30-km/h zones around elementary and junior high schools.

Over the summer, they were more focused on arterial roads, where higher speeds increase the danger of vehicles running off the roads, he said.

Overall, speeding tickets were down 10 per cent, he said.

Shimko is hoping to save money in the program by slowing the replacement schedule for equipment.