Red-light traffic cams costly and result in lower revenue
Q You have written that cities are not using redlight traffic cameras because they “can cost anywhere from $75,000 to $100,000 per direction” and that cities were choosing instead the cheaper rat boxes.
However, I find this hard to believe. Traffic cameras can save thousands of dollars a day in officer expenses in a big city like San Jose. And they make all of our lives safer.
What is the real reason cities are not installing traffic cameras? Our leaders are endangering all of us by not installing them.
— Peter Reynolds
Los Gatos
A Money is a factor, and a drop in tickets in some cities means less cash to cover costs. Menlo Park recently voted to get rid of its cameras at five intersections that cost $26,000 a month to operate. Cash from the camera program declined to $24,000 in 2017-18 compared with $127,000 in 2013-14.
San Francisco just reactivated 12 cameras, but that is down from 20 last year. There are no cameras in Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties and no push to install them there.
Cameras remain in San Leandro, Fremont, Daly City and Millbrae.
Oh yes, the fine for having your mug captured on camera is $490. Q Freeways congested all day every day including weekends, so some people want metering lights on Interstate 880 on Saturdays. That sounds more like the need to improve and widen freeways instead.
— Larry J.
A Express lanes and more transit are coming, as is some highway widening on Highway 101 in the South Bay and in Marin, plus (hopefully) a new bridge across the bay, a wider, safer Highway 37 and new interchanges at dozens of roads.
Q The Highway 85 commute between 101 and Interstate 280 could instantly be improved at almost no cost by removing HOV lane restrictions in the reverse commute direction. I’ve noticed multiple times that because the HOV lanes in the off-commute direction are barely used (except for a few cheaters), traffic is slowed in the remaining lanes even though the freeway has more than ample capacity to handle the commute without slowing except that one lane is not available. Any chance of getting this fixed? — K.O.
A No. The 85 carpool lanes will become FasTrak eventually in both directions.
Q Are the details of the rework of Mathilda Avenue at Highway 237 online somewhere? I’ve been looking forward to it for more than 40 years.
— Rick James
A Go to www.vta.org/mathildaimprovements.
Q Will rubberized materials be used in San Jose for the upcoming repair work?
— Fred Castillo, San Jose
A Definitely. Recycled tires will be used to seal 73 miles of local and neighborhood streets. This will divert approximately 11,000 scrap tires from going to a landfill.