AGENDA #7
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to Petitions Regarding the SafeLight Chapel Hill Program
DATE: January 26, 2004
The following report is in response to petitions received and referred by the Council at its January 12, 2004 regular meeting. The petitions were submitted by:
a) Council Member Mark Kleinschmidt regarding ending the SafeLight Chapel Hill Program by terminating the agreement between the Town and ACS, Inc. (Attachment 1).
b) Mr. Bobby Clapp, a resident of Chapel Hill, requesting that the Town Council continue the SafeLight Chapel Hill Program (oral petition, no written text provided to the Town Clerk).
The Manager recommends that the Council defer consideration of ending the SafeLight Chapel Hill Program until January 2005 following completion of the Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) study of the effectiveness of the SafeLight camera program in Chapel Hill.
If the Council chooses to end the program now and terminate the contract with ACS, Inc., adoption of the attached resolution would direct the Manager to do so.
The SafeLight Chapel Hill Program is authorized by State enabling legislation. The Town Council approved implementation of the program in late 2002. The Program currently includes two camera installations that have been in operation since September 2003, with two additional camera installations approved, installed and ready for operation. The Town contract provides for as many as ten camera installations.
During the past 3-4 years, the Council has received the following information and has taken the following actions regarding automated enforcement of red light violations:
1) May 8, 2000 The Town Council requested State enabling legislation for automated enforcement of red light violations in Chapel Hill. Such legislation was subsequently enacted by the State Legislature.
2) January 16, 2001 The Town Council held a Public Forum on automated enforcement of red light violations.
3) May 7, 2001 The Town Council enacted a local ordinance authorizing automated enforcement, and authorized the Manager to advertise for proposals.
4) May 29, 2002 The Town Council received a report and recommendation for a contractor to set up the Chapel Hill program. The Council authorized the Manager to negotiate a contract with ACS, Inc.
5) May 12, 2003 The Council received a status report on the program and authorized the Manager to enter into the agreement with the City of Charlotte to use SafeLight logo.
6) October 27, 2003 Town Council received a status report and response to a citizen petition regarding the SafeLight Chapel Hill Program.
Details of all information presented to the Council regarding automated enforcement can be found on the Town’s website at www.townofchapelhill.org under the section for Council agenda materials and then by date of meeting.
Program Statistics:
SafeLight cameras were installed and operational on September 9, 2003, on the northbound approach of US 15-501 at Sage Road; and on the northbound approach of Airport Road at Estes Drive.
Two additional cameras have been installed, one on the northbound approach and one on the southbound approach of US 15-501 at Europa Drive/Erwin Road. These cameras are expected to be operational within the next thirty days.
The two currently operating Safelight cameras photographed a total of 1407 apparent red light violations from September 9 through December 31, 2003, and 551 citations were issued. A summary of the violations, citations, and payment history is provided in Attachment 2. Approximately 35-40% of the violations resulted in citations being issued. This relatively low percentage is primarily because of image quality problems with the camera at the intersection of US 15-501 and Sage Road. We have brought this matter to ACS’s attention and they have installed a supplemental camera at this location to improve the image quality during certain times of day and year when sunlight reflection on license plates is a problem.
Specific information about the SafeLight Chapel Hill Program can be found on the Internet at safelight.townofchapelhill.org.
Response to Town Council Questions:
At the January 12 meeting, Council members asked for information on several matters related to the SafeLight Program. A Council member also asked that we include draft minutes of the January 12 meeting regarding the SafeLight item. The Council’s inquiries and our responses are provided below, and the requested minutes are provided in Attachment 3.
1. Information was requested on engineering and technological alternatives for improving intersection safety/operations.
Response: Town and NCDOT staff periodically review all signalized intersections for safe and effective operations. The process includes field observations and review of geometric conditions, signal timing plans, and accident data. If operational and/or safety deficiencies are identified, appropriate remedies are implemented and monitored for effectiveness. In response to the Council request, at its September 9, 2002 meeting, staff provided a report on engineering and technological alternatives for improving intersection operations. The report is provided in Attachment 4.
2. Information was requested about engineering and technological measures implemented at the SafeLight camera intersections and at other locations in Town.
Response: Based on field investigations and Federal Highway Administration Guidelines for Using Red Light Cameras, we implemented the following measures at the SafeLight camera intersections:
The NCDOT has agreed to replace all regular signal lenses with LED units on State roads in Chapel Hill. The contract to perform this work was awarded by the State and is expected to be complete in the next six months.
3. Information was requested about the details and duration of the Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) study associated with the SafeLight Chapel Hill Program.
Response: The study that ITRE is performing in Chapel Hill is the first of its kind to be designed prior to camera installations, including baseline data unaffected by any camera installation influence(s). The ITRE study is evaluating both camera and non-camera (control) sites selected randomly from a pool of intersections for which baseline data had been collected before any cameras were installed in Chapel Hill. The results of the study are intended to show: (1) the effectiveness of automated enforcement cameras in reducing collisions; and (2) the effect (if any) that cameras have on modifying drivers’ behavior with regard to red light violations.
Dr. Joe Hummer, Principal Investigator for the ITRE study, provided an e-mail letter (Attachment 5) stating that the study could be completed in December 2004 if four camera locations are in operation. This could be accomplished provided that the two cameras that are currently installed on US 15-501 at Europa Drive are put into operation as planned in February. Please see Dr. Hummer’s letter for more information. Dr. Hummer plans to attend the January 26th Council meeting to respond to Council’s questions, if any.
4. An inquiry was made whether or not any elements included in the future traffic signal system upgrade project would reduce red light running.
Response: We do not believe that the traffic signal system upgrade project would offer new opportunities to reduce red light running at system intersections.
Options for Town Council Consideration:
We offer the following options for the Council’s consideration and cite advantages and disadvantages of each. We confine our points to management and engineering issues and recognize that there are other criteria that might be used for evaluation of options.
Option #1: Continue the program and install up to ten cameras per the existing contract.
Advantages:
· More intersections could be monitored without significant investment of additional Town resources.
· ITRE could analyze a larger number of intersections, thereby improving efficacy of its study.
· Program revenue may increase.
Disadvantage:
· Town staff administrative work would increase along with increase in number of camera locations.
Option #2: Defer further discussion of terminating the program until January 2005 to allow the ITRE study to be completed and limit the program during the coming year to the four camera locations now constructed.
Advantages:
· ITRE study could be satisfactorily completed.
· Program revenue may increase.
Disadvantages:
· Only limited number of intersections would be monitored relative to the number of intersections that might benefit from camera installations.
· Administrative work would continue.
Option #3: End the program and terminate the Town’s contract with ACS, Inc.
The initial term of the Town’s contract with ACS, Inc. is three (3) years. The contract includes language allowing termination of the contract by the Town, without cause, upon thirty days written notice to ACS. Attachment 6 is an excerpt from the contract regarding termination. The Contractor would have seven days to complete pending work and stop operations. The Town would be responsible for paying the Contractor any outstanding amounts due in accordance with the contract stipulations.
Advantage:
· No further program administration time required of Town staff.
Disadvantages:
· ITRE study could not be completed.
· Terminating a contract without cause could adversely affect the Town’s ability to obtain the lowest possible cost proposals on future contract work.
CONCLUSION
We think that the use of automated enforcement technology may reduce the number of red light violations and some types of traffic accidents at signalized intersections in Chapel Hill. We expect automated traffic enforcement to function as a supplement to existing Police resources rather than as a means for freeing up existing resources for new assignments. We believe that the SafeLight Chapel Hill Program may provide practical and effective opportunities for the Town to improve intersection safety conditions for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Given the short period of time that the Chapel Hill SafeLight Program has been in operation, we are unable to draw any valid conclusions at this time about the success or failure or benefits or detriments of the program. We would be better able to evaluate the program after more data is accumulated.
MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the SafeLight Chapel Hill Program continue with the existing four cameras in operation through December 2004, after which we would provide a report to the Council with recommendations about whether or not to continue, expand, or terminate the Program.
1. Council Member Mark Kleinschmidt Petition (p. 7).
2. Summary Report of SafeLight Citations and Payment History (p. 8).
3. Draft Minutes of January 12, 2004 Council meeting (p.35).
4. September 9, 2002 Council Report regarding Engineering and Technological Improvements (37).
5. Letter from Dr. Hummer, ITRE Principal Investigator (p. 40).
6. Excerpt from ACS, Inc. Contract: Article 7, Termination without Cause (p. 43).
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE TOWN MANAGER TO TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT WITH THE ACS, INC. TO STOP THE SAFELIGHT CHAPEL HILL PROGRAM (2004-01-26/R-8)
WHEREAS, the Council received a petition from a Council member requesting to stop the SafeLight Chapel Hill Program by terminating the contract with ACS, Inc; and
WHEREAS, the Council referred the petition to the Manager for preparing a response to the petition; and
WHEREAS, the Council received a report from the Manager in response to the Petition;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council directs the Manager to terminate the agreement with ACS, Inc.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council directs the Manager to stop the SafeLight Chapel Hill Program.
This the 26th day of January, 2004.