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College Station to consider addition of five red light cameras
Texas Department of Transportation approval pending for traffic safety devices
By: Teri Ruland
Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: News
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The basis for the decision of where the red light cameras would be placed is on accident and citation data. Out of the 17 possible locations for red light cameras, five were chosen.
"We'll work with the vendor to develop construction documents. We'll provide them to TXDOT for their approval because we're required to because they'll be on state right-of-way. We'll start an education program where we get on the radio and spread the word to notify everyone of the new locations and when they'll be coming online," said Troy Rother, city traffic engineer of College Station.
There is a contract that states additional cameras may be added if there are signatures from TXDOT and the Mayor of College Station Ben White.
"Council will approve the mayor to sign off on the incorporation of the new locations for the red light cameras. The big approval from TXDOT comes from approval of the construction documents," Rother said.
Once the signatures are acquired, the implementation of red light cameras can begin.
"We'll move forward with installing the [cameras. Putting them in their locations] won't happen right away. There'll have to be engineering done. It won't happen overnight," said Wayne Larson, College Station director of public communications.
There are four intersections with red light cameras located at: Texas Avenue at Walton Drive, Harvey Road at Munson Avenue, Harvey Road at George Bush Drive East and Wellborn Road at George Bush Drive.
"At the end of last fiscal year, Sept. 30, based on the citations paid, the city sent approximately $181,000 to the state to be deposited to regional trauma center account," said Larson.
According to College Station's government Web site, about 36 percent goes toward operational fees and the remaining 64 percent is split between the city and the state. The city sent a portion of the revenue to benefit trauma centers in the area to offset the cost of unmet trauma care costs.
Proposed locations
Northbound Texas Avenue at George Bush Drive
Eastbound George Bush Drive at Texas Avenue
Westbound George Bush Drive at Texas Avenue
Eastbound Harvey Mitchell Parkway at Texas Avenue
Northbound Texas Avenue at Holleman Drive
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