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Speed on green approved

The city wants motorists along St. Albert Trail to slow down, and it's going to use speed-on-green technology to make sure they do. On Monday night, council agreed to convert the city's existing red-light cameras along St.
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The city wants motorists along St. Albert Trail to slow down, and it's going to use speed-on-green technology to make sure they do.

On Monday night, council agreed to convert the city's existing red-light cameras along St. Albert Trail so they can also issue tickets to motorists who speed through intersections.

The decision was approved in a 6-1 vote, with Coun. James Burrows the lone voice of opposition.

"We believe that we have demonstrated that there is an opportunity to utilize this technology to try and improve traffic intersection safety," said Chris Jardine, the city's general manager of community and protective services.

The speed-on-green program will take effect Sept. 1, and is designed to counteract the recent increase in traffic collisions along Highway 2.

"In the past few years, major injuries from traffic collisions have increased significantly," said St. Albert RCMP detachment commander Insp. Warren Dosko.

According to figures from the first quarter of 2009, non-injury traffic collisions have more than doubled this year to 521 compared to 241 for the same period in 2006.

Collisions that resulted in injuries also increased to 42 in the first quarter, compared to 24 in 2006 and 34 in 2008.

The intersections with the highest collision rates over the last five years are: St. Albert Trail and Hebert/Gervais Road (312 accidents), St. Albert Trail and Sturgeon Road/St. Anne Street (197), St. Albert Trail and Boudreau/Giroux Road (195), and St. Albert Trail and McKenney Avenue/Bellerose Drive (190).

"Every decision that we make on traffic has a ripple effect in other areas," Jardine said. "You may see an improvement in the other two intersections where there isn't any [enforcement]."

The city estimates the average speed on green infraction will cost motorists $100. That figure is based on the average rate of speed over the limit.

Cash grab

But Burrows thinks the decision is just another attempt to get at taxpayers' wallets.

"I just think it's just another cash grab," said Burrows. "Some people have said photo radar is a cash grab, we need more police to do actual traffic violations, not computers and automation."

Based on conservative estimates, the city expects the program will generate $15,000 in ticket revenue this year alone and a further $40,170 in 2010.

Other councillors disagreed the scheme is a money grab.

"This is a no brainer to me," said Coun. Lorie Garritty. "It's a very, very simple answer to the people driving through St. Albert on their way to Edmonton — if you don't want to get a ticket, slow down."

The city's photo radar operator, Affiliated Computer Service of Dallas, will operate speed on green.

The city expects to issue up to 1,125 tickets in September, but after that infractions will decrease, on average, 25 per cent per month. Ticket revenue will be used for other road safety initiatives, however no details have been released.

An education campaign about speed-on-green will be launched for residents before September.

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