Richmond Leader

RICHMOND, Va. –   The Richmond Police Department (RPD) in conjunction with the City’s Vision Zero Task Force, under the umbrella of the Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW), and with the support of the Safe and Healthy Streets Commission, the Richmond City Council, and Mayor Levar M. Stoney, will be deploying four safety cameras on a pilot basis within the following school zones:
•    Site A: Linwood Holton Elementary School

o    Safety Camera A1: Northbound Hermitage Road

o    Safety Camera A2: Westbound Laburnum Avenue

•    Site B: Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts

o    Safety Camera B1: Eastbound Semmes Avenue

o    Safety Camera B2: Westbound Semmes Avenue

The Vision Zero Task Force is continuing its work to improve the safety of people who walk, roll and bike across streets within school zones regardless of their age or ability.

The goal is to eliminate speeding on city streets, particularly within active school zones.  

Based upon the Code of Virginia adopted by the General Assembly and the Ordinance (2021-371) adopted by Richmond City Council with the support of Mayor Stoney, the Safe and Healthy Streets Commission, and the Vision Zero Task Force, the following key points are highlighted for the public:

•    Warning signs will be posted indicating that safety cameras to monitor vehicle speeds are in operation.

•    A warning period of 30 days will be in effect once the cameras are in operation where warnings will be issued to the owner of vehicles.

•    After the 30-day warning period, the registered owner of a vehicle shall be liable for a monetary civil penalty imposed if such vehicle is found to be traveling at speeds of at least 11 miles per hour above the posted school crossing zone or highway work zone speed limit within such school crossing zone or highway work zone, while such zone is active.

o    Within the first 30 days of the first violation, the civil penalty shall be $50;

o    For all subsequent violations after the first 30 days after the first violation, the civil penalty shall be $100.

•    Safety cameras will be in operation for up to two hours during the morning arrival times and up to two hours during the afternoon dismissal times when school is in session.

•    Additional information will be posted on www.rva.gov for detailed information about the Safety Camera Program.

The Safety Camera Program is one part of a comprehensive approach to better manage speeds within the City of Richmond.  

Incorporating recommendations from the Vision Zero Task Force, DPW uses the complete streets approach along with Vision Zero principles to change the build environment to make roadway and safety improvements, such as:

•    The construction of 200 speed tables citywide in this current fiscal year, using a $1.1 million allocation of local resources supported by the Mayor and the Richmond City Council

•    The implementation of traffic calming measures with additional crossing enhancements for people walk, roll, or ride transit

•    The improvement of streets using roadway conversions to prioritize transit like the Broad Street Streetscape project

•    The installation of pedestrian hybrid beacons for people crossing multi-lane streets

•    The reallocation of street space using roadway conversions to provide quick build bike infrastructure using the City’s resurfacing program

•    The construction of accessible sidewalks with pedestrian countdown signals and high visibility crosswalks to transit stops

•    The conversion of intersections into modern roundabouts

•    Securing over $650 million in discretionary funding for transportation projects to change the built environment

•    Retiming traffic signals to encourage speeds to follow the speed limit, creating a wait at the next red light for people that elect to speed

•    Engaging public on developing safety culture through its Speed Management Symposiums and to share the City’s comprehensive approach to speed management

o    Note: the next symposium will be held Wednesday, November 8 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Main Street Station, located at 1500 East Main Street.

•    Participating in an ongoing National Speed Management Pilot Program

•    Lowering all speed limits on city-maintained streets to a maximum of 35 mph, except for one regional freeway at 45 mph

•    Launching public service announcements to encourage slowing down to a stop for people crossing the street

Two additional expansions are planned for the Safety Camera Program that will bring the total number at the pilot stage from 4 to 26 safety cameras, covering 13 school zones.  RPD will continually monitor the program’s effectiveness and have the ability to move these mobile safety cameras as needed when crash data indicates a higher-priority location has been identified. The data collected by these devices is not permitted to be used in other investigations.

For more information on Safety Camera Program, please visit us online at: https://rva.gov/police/safety-camera-program

For more information on Vision Zero, go to https://www.rva.gov/public-works/vision-zero

Original source can be found here.