Page 16 - The Indian EYE 041125
P. 16

North                       The Indian Eye

                          AMERICANNewsline






         16                                                                                                                  APRIL 11, 2025

                Mayor Adams, DOT Commissioner Rodriguez



            Prepare for Expansion of Red-Light Cameras in



        Nation’s Largest Automated Enforcement Network



         Program’s Expansion Builds on Adams Administration’s Commitment to Keep NYC’s Streets Safe



        OUR BUREAU                                                                                            drive in or obstruct bus lanes. In 2023,
                                                                                                              New York City also became the first
        NEW YORK, NY
                                                                                                              city in the nation to use automated
               ew York City Mayor Eric Ad-                                                                    enforcement  sensors  against  over-
               ams and New York City De-                                                                      weight trucks on the BQE.
        Npartment of Transportation                                                                              The RFP issued last summer,
        (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodri-                                                                      sought applicants with a deep un-
        guez have announced DOT has iden-                                                                     derstanding  of  automated  traffic
        tified a vendor to continue managing                                                                  enforcement and had the expertise,
        New York City’s automated enforce-                                                                    experience,  and  financial  strength
        ment camera programs, including                                                                       necessary to improve New York
        its red-light cameras, speed cameras,                                                                 City’s programs. The RFP also
        and bus lane enforcement cameras                                                                      sought applicants that could sustain a
        citywide, as well as cameras used to                                                                  five-year contract. After an in-depth
        enforce weight limits on the Brook-                                                                   evaluation of all applicants’ technical
        lyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). Ver-                                                                     proposals,  field  product  demonstra-
        ra Mobility was identified to manage                                                                  tions, and oral presentations to an
        the programs — the largest network                                                                    evaluation committee and techni-
        of its kind in the nation — and DOT                                                                   cal  advisors,  DOT  identified  Verra
        will now enter into contract negotia-                                                                 Mobility as both having the capacity
        tions with the company. DOT’s auto- ment cameras in New York City are   reducing the number of overweight  to operate large-scale  camera sys-
        mated enforcement programs have  a necessary step toward making our  trucks on the BQE. Now, wherever  tems and the technical capabilities
        proven highly effective at changing   streets safer for all New Yorkers, and   drivers  might break the  rules,  our  to expand to newer equipment. As
        driver behavior and making streets   since the passage of this law, we’ve   speed and red-light cameras, and   part of the RFP, the city had specif-
        safer. The selection stems from a re- increased  the  use  of  these  technol- even our buses, might catch them in   ically asked companies to leverage
        quest for proposals (RFP) issued last  ogies — reducing dangerous driving  the act, ultimately encouraging bet- recent innovations in camera-based
        summer and is expected to include a   behaviors and crashes, and ultimate- ter, safer driving.”       technology to tackle new challenges,
        five-year contract.               ly saving lives,” said Mayor Adams.   “Automated enforcement cam- including the growth in obscured li-
            All of New York City’s automat- “Traffic  safety  is  public  safety,  and   eras have proven highly effective at  cense plates used on ghost cars. DOT
        ed enforcement camera programs re- even before this weekend’s tragic ac-  changing driving behavior to reduce   expects the selected firm to upgrade
        quire state authorization and include   cident in Brooklyn, we knew that it   speeding, red-light running, blocking  the  current  Automated  Traffic  En-
        caps on the number of locations   was vital that we hold dangerous driv- bus-stops, and driving overweight  forcement systems while maintaining
        where cameras can be sited. This   ers accountable. This year, we will  vehicles on the BQE. We are happy  public safety and program perfor-
        previously included a stringent cap   quadruple the number of red-light  to expand this work, which has been   mance. Among the other standout
        on the number of locations where   cameras across the five boroughs to   among the keys to our Vision Zero   features of the company’s proposal
        red-light cameras could be installed   save lives — ensuring consistent en- efforts to save lives on our streets,”  were a commitment to 32 percent mi-
        — just 150 signalized intersections, or  forcement that protects pedestrians,  said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez.  nority- and women-owned business
        less than 1 percent of the intersec-  cyclists, and motor vehicle drivers  “Whether we are expanding our work  enterprise utilization and a commit-
        tions in the city. Last year, the Ad- alike. Today, we are working toward   against overweight trucks or dramat- ment to community partnerships and
        ams administration successfully ad- a safer and more responsible city for  ically  growing  the  reach  of  our  red- education.
        vocated for the expansion of red-light  all that can be the best place to raise   light cameras, we expect that we can   In 2022, Governor Hochul and
        cameras to additional locations, and   a family.”                   continue our nation-leading efforts   the state Legislature approved an
        New York Governor Kathy Hochul       “Automated enforcement is criti- to keep our roadways safe.”     expansion of the speed camera pro-
        signed legislation into law renewing   cal to keeping all roadway users safe   DOT’s automated enforcement  gram to 24/7 operation after the Ad-
        and expanding the city’s red-light  and protecting our infrastructure,”  programs are designed and closely  ams administration’s advocacy, lead-
        camera program to 600 signalized in-  said  Deputy  Mayor  for Operations   monitored by agency staff, covering  ing to 30 percent decline in speed
        tersections. The city plans to begin its  Jeffrey D. Roth. “Thank you to our  thousands  of cameras and sensors   camera violations over the first year
        red-light camera program expansion   state partners for  expanding our  that help to enforce New York state   expanded hours were in effect. That
        this year.                        ability to use this technology to de- laws against drivers who, among oth-  state law is up for reauthorization in
           “Expanding automated enforce- ter speeding, red-light running, and   er violations, exceed speed limits and   the current state legislative session.


                                                               www.TheIndianEYE.com
   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21