PHOENIX — This year, red light cameras will be back at City of Phoenix intersections, after a near-unanimous vote from the city council.
“Red means stop, yellow means slow down — I think that has changed over the years due to our lack of ability to enforce it," Councilwoman Ann O'Brien from District One said.
The city will place ten cameras at intersections to be chosen based on crash risk and history of red-light running.
Concerning data is pushing the city council to join other major Valley cities in bringing back red light cameras. In 2023, the council says 20 people died due to red-light runners, and more than 800 people were injured.
Injury lawyer Joseph D'Aguanno says driver behavior worsened once the deterrent of tickets disappeared.
“The City of Phoenix saw a 60% reduction of red-light running when the cameras were in, and nearly a third reduction in fatalities," D'Aguanno said. "Since then, the numbers have gone up."
If you’re one of the growing number of people who use Valley Metro to get around, the South Central Light Rail extension, connecting downtown Phoenix to south Phoenix, is set to begin operating this year.
Voters passing Prop 479 paved the way for over $9 billion to be invested in transit through 2045.
“This will poise us well to continue to have the best transportation rides and commute times of a major city," Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke said.
The Maricopa Association of Governments will also continue to move forward with its I-10 corridor improvement project.
Plans are in place to add a collector-distributor road from the tunnel to the mini-stack to improve traffic flows.
More ADOT improvement projects
In the new year, the Arizona Department of Transportation has a long list of improvement projects coming to the Phoenix and Tucson areas, as well as northern Arizona.
ADOT expects to complete the Broadway Improvement Project on I-10 and the I-17 Improvement Project.
The department tells ABC15 that crews are almost done adding a third lane from Anthem Way to Black Canyon City.
ADOT is also building flex lanes north of Black Canyon City to help alleviate traffic buildup between Flagstaff and Phoenix.
In the Tucson area, ADOT expects to complete a widening project on the I-10 by the end of 2025 as well.
Many of the projects in the Maricopa County area will be funded by Prop 479 which voters passed in November, a 20-year continuation of a transportation sales tax in the county.
Have a road concern near you? Reach our Operation Safe Roads team at Roads@abc15.com.
