Latest news with #JessicaLamarre
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Edmonton to pull photo radar from school and playground zones this summer
The City of Edmonton is planning to scrap mobile photo radar in all school and playground zones because it's not generating enough revenue. The city said it will instead redirect resources into upgrades like more crosswalks and speed bumps. The province announced in December it would be banning photo radar on all provincial highways and connectors, restricting photo radar use to school, playground and construction zones. It would also no longer allow speed-on-green cameras at intersections. The change came into effect in April. According to Edmonton's director of safe mobility, Jessica Lamarre, the photo radar in school and playground zones was subsidized by revenue from photo radar on arterial roads, such as Anthony Henday Drive and Yellowhead Trail. "Playground zones have become some of the most safest spots on our street," she said at a news conference Wednesday. "They have high speed compliance, and they have low crash volumes and severities." Since 2019, the city has invested more than $6 million into playground zone upgrades, according to Lamarre. "Rather than scaling back our efforts, we're choosing to adapt by stepping forward with a new approach that prioritizes long-term visible safety improvements in these important spaces," said Lamarre. In a statement, Minister of Transportation Devin Dreeshen says he's encouraged to see municipalities taking a new approach to improve traffic safety. Debbie Hammond, the executive director of the Safer Roads Alliance, a non-profit organization in Edmonton, doesn't support the move. "I think this is a double whammy because I didn't expect Edmonton of all places, all cities, to pull this technology," she said. "They were the city in this province and probably in Canada that were really at the forefront of road safety and leveraging data to keep our roads safe. So it's a sad day for Edmontonians and Albertans to know that this technology is actually being removed." While she notes that collisions in school and playground zones are low, she said much of that work is because of the presence of photo radar. WATCH | EPS warning drivers to slow down: "We wouldn't have that technology there in those neighbourhoods if it wasn't needed," Hammond said. "There are drivers, I see it in my neighbourhood all the time. They don't slow down and with little people running on and off the roads, I think it's probably not the best decision to be doing that." The city said the decision would bring Edmonton closer to its Vision Zero goal, to achieve a road system with zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Edmonton was one of the first cities in Canada to implement such a plan. For Brandon Kwong, board chair of the advocacy group Paths for People, the goal is to get to a place where fewer photo radar sites are needed. However, that requires sufficient infrastructure and road designs that ensure drivers won't speed. Kwong said the city isn't quite there yet. "Ultimately, I think we see safer infrastructure and roadway designs as being the best ultimate solution to encouraging better driver and roadway behaviour," he said. "But we know that that will take a long time to roll out … and in the meantime, we're seeing a lot … in terms of traffic violence." Lamarre said the city will continue to prioritize road safety in playground zones. "We've heard loud and clear from families and from school communities that the challenges they're facing in playground zones go far beyond speeding," she said "People are worried about unsafe crossings, aggressive driving, illegal parking and U-turns and chaotic drop-offs and pick-ups that can sometimes put kids at risk." Photo radar will be pulled from all school and playground zones in the city starting July 1.
CBC
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Edmonton to pull photo radar from school and playground zones this summer
The City of Edmonton is planning to scrap mobile photo radar in all school and playground zones because it's not generating enough revenue. The city said it will instead redirect resources into upgrades like more crosswalks and speed bumps. The province announced in December it would be banning photo radar on all provincial highways and connectors, restricting photo radar use to school, playground and construction zones. It would also no longer allow speed-on-green cameras at intersections. The change came into effect in April. According to Edmonton's director of safe mobility, Jessica Lamarre, the photo radar in school and playground zones was subsidized by revenue from photo radar on arterial roads, such as Anthony Henday Drive and Yellowhead Trail. "Playground zones have become some of the most safest spots on our street," she said at a news conference Wednesday. "They have high speed compliance, and they have low crash volumes and severities." Since 2019, the city has invested more than $6 million into playground zone upgrades, according to Lamarre. "Rather than scaling back our efforts, we're choosing to adapt by stepping forward with a new approach that prioritizes long-term visible safety improvements in these important spaces," said Lamarre. In a statement, Minister of Transportation Devin Dreeshen says he's encouraged to see municipalities taking a new approach to improve traffic safety. 'Double whammy' Debbie Hammond, the executive director of the Safer Roads Alliance, a non-profit organization in Edmonton, doesn't support the move. "I think this is a double whammy because I didn't expect Edmonton of all places, all cities, to pull this technology," she said. "They were the city in this province and probably in Canada that were really at the forefront of road safety and leveraging data to keep our roads safe. So it's a sad day for Edmontonians and Albertans to know that this technology is actually being removed." While she notes that collisions in school and playground zones are low, she said much of that work is because of the presence of photo radar. WATCH | EPS warning drivers to slow down: How EPS is managing traffic safety after the province cut photo radar 21 days ago Duration 1:45 "We wouldn't have that technology there in those neighbourhoods if it wasn't needed," Hammond said. "There are drivers, I see it in my neighbourhood all the time. They don't slow down and with little people running on and off the roads, I think it's probably not the best decision to be doing that." Vision Zero The city said the decision would bring Edmonton closer to its Vision Zero goal, to achieve a road system with zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Edmonton was one of the first cities in Canada to implement such a plan. For Brandon Kwong, board chair of the advocacy group Paths for People, the goal is to get to a place where fewer photo radar sites are needed. However, that requires sufficient infrastructure and road designs that ensure drivers won't speed. Kwong said the city isn't quite there yet. "Ultimately, I think we see safer infrastructure and roadway designs as being the best ultimate solution to encouraging better driver and roadway behaviour," he said. "But we know that that will take a long time to roll out … and in the meantime, we're seeing a lot … in terms of traffic violence." Lamarre said the city will continue to prioritize road safety in playground zones. "We've heard loud and clear from families and from school communities that the challenges they're facing in playground zones go far beyond speeding," she said "People are worried about unsafe crossings, aggressive driving, illegal parking and U-turns and chaotic drop-offs and pick-ups that can sometimes put kids at risk." Photo radar will be pulled from all school and playground zones in the city starting July 1.
Calgary Herald
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Calgary Herald
City of Edmonton ends school photo radar, citing costs and issues beyond speeding
The City of Edmonton is eliminating photo radar at schools and playground zones, shifting its focus to permanent safety upgrades like speed bumps, curb extensions and improved crossings. Article content Starting July 1, mobile enforcement will no longer be used in playground zones. Article content Article content The change follows recent restrictions under Alberta's updated Automated Traffic Enforcement Guideline and marks a new phase in the city's approach to traffic safety. Article content Article content 'This is not a retreat from automated enforcement,' said Jessica Lamarre, the city's director of safe mobility, speaking at Michael Strembitsky School on Wednesday. She said the change aligns with the city's continued commitment to Vision Zero and protecting its most vulnerable road users. Article content Since 2015, the city has implemented safety improvements at more than 250 elementary schools. Since 2019, it has invested more than $6 million into additional playground zone upgrades, including new crossings, curb extensions, traffic calming measures and visibility enhancements. Article content In just the past two years, more than 175 safety improvements have been made in playground zones through the Street Labs program. This includes enhanced infrastructure for people walking and cycling at 10 schools and 14 speed bump or speed table installations. Article content Article content 'Playground zones have become some of the most safest spots on our streets,' said Lamarre. 'They have high speed compliance and they have low crash volumes and severities.' Article content Funding shift and enforcement changes Article content Until now, playground zone enforcement was subsidized by revenue generated from photo radar on high-speed, high-volume roads. New provincial restrictions have significantly reduced the number of locations where photo radar can be used. Article content While playground zones are still eligible, the broader revenue model that supported enforcement is no longer sustainable. Article content 'Rather than scaling back our efforts, we're choosing to adapt by stepping forward with a new approach that prioritizes long-term visible safety improvements in these important spaces,' Lamarre said.
Global News
25-06-2025
- Global News
Edmonton scraps playground zone photo radar amid low tickets: ‘No longer financially sustainable'
It appears Edmonton's efforts to crack down on speeding in school and playground zones has been such a success, the city says the efforts are no longer generating enough revenue to keep enforcing those areas. Starting July 1, mobile photo radar will no longer be used in the city's 247 playground zones, the City of Edmonton announced on Wednesday. It comes after the Alberta government introduced new, stricter rules on where photo radar enforcement can be conducted — which has led to a drop in money coming in. While communities can still use photo radar in school and playground zones, the city said the overall scaling back means it has to be much more mindful about where resources are deployed. 'Playground zones have become some of the most safest spots on our streets. They have high speed compliance and they have low crash volumes and severities,' said Jessica Lamarre, the director of safe mobility with the City of Edmonton. Story continues below advertisement 'But behind that success is a financial reality that can't be ignored. Until now, enforcement in playground zones has been highly subsidized by revenue generated from photo radar on Edmonton's other high-speed, high-volume roadways.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "But behind that success is a financial reality that can't be ignored. Until now, enforcement in playground zones has been highly subsidized by revenue generated from photo radar on Edmonton's other high-speed, high-volume roadways." The new Alberta government regulations took effect April 1, prohibiting photo radar on numbered provincial highways like Anthony Henday Drive and limiting its use to school, playground and construction zones. As well, the 'speed-on-green' function for intersection cameras is now restricted to red light enforcement only — and only allowed in areas with a higher frequency rate for collisions, injury and fatal collisions, relative to similar areas or intersections over a three-year period. The new rules reduce the overall number of sites where photo radar could be used by about 70 per cent — from about 2,400 sites to around 650 across the province. Story continues below advertisement In Edmonton, there used to be enforcement at 504 locations but the city removed 171 sites, leaving 333 spots where speed enforcement can be conducted. Intersection cameras also are now wrapped in highly visible yellow and blue tape. Earlier this year, the city estimated the province's rule changes would result in an annual revenue drop of approximately $12 million. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Without the broader revenue stream from tickets issued on high-speed roads, the city said continuing enforcement in areas with low rates of speeding such as playground zones is no longer financially sustainable. 'In most of them, we're looking at only one violation per hour, so that application of resources is not really getting us the best bang for our buck, given how safety's improved so much in these spaces with our investments over years,' Lamarre said. 'By pivoting to more of the physical traffic-calming features, we know that there will be that consistent 24/7 speed control put in place.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "By pivoting to more of the physical traffic-calming features, we know that there will be that consistent 24/7 speed control put in place." Lamarre stressed this doesn't mean the city is retreating from automated enforcement. 'It's an intentional evolution based on what we're seeing in the data and what we are hearing from Edmontonians,' she said. 1:58 Calgary police issue nearly 26,000 fewer speeding tickets since photo radar ban announced Speeding isn't the only issue in playground and school zones, according to Lamarre. Story continues below advertisement 'People are worried about unsafe crossings, aggressive driving, illegal parking and U-turns and chaotic drop-offs and pick-ups that can sometimes put kids at risk,' she said. 'The photo radar reduces speeds, but it can't fix those other kinds of behaviours, and that's why we're investing in infrastructure that can.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The photo radar reduces speeds, but it can't fix those other kinds of behaviours, and that's why we're investing in infrastructure that can." The city said it is now redirecting resources into physical upgrades and traffic-calming changes that address safety concerns regularly raised by students, families and educators. The city is launching two projects to trial new solutions at school areas that are experiencing bad driving behaviour. One will test reducing speed limits on arterial roads during school hours, using flashing beacons and bold pavement markings to signal to drivers that they're entering a school area. Story continues below advertisement The city said the other will physically block illegal parking and stopping in areas that compromises visibility and safety at crosswalks. View image in full screen Traffic calming near a playground zone at Michael Strembitsky School in south Edmonton on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Global News Traffic-calming measures such as speed humps, curb extensions and additional safe-crossing installations with traffic control will be used in more playground zones, Lamarre said. 'The results of trialling these creative approaches will help inform expansion to other parts of the city, and it's going to help us respond to the real-life challenges that people are facing in playground zones,' she said. 'Playground zones are working. They are among the safest areas in our city, and we're doubling down to make them even better. This change isn't about doing less, it's about doing more of (what) works in new and exciting ways.' View image in full screen A road in Edmonton's Ottewell neighbourhood. Speed bumps and other traffic calming measures were installed in four Edmonton neighbourhoods, in an attempt to reduce traffic and speeding on residential roads. September 29, 2015. Lisa Wolansky, Global News The trials will take place near two schools: Highlands School on 118 Avenue in north-central Edmonton, and a second location that has yet to be announced. Story continues below advertisement Lamarre said a lot of Highlands students walk or bike to school, which is along an arterial road that doesn't qualify for the permanent 30 km/h school speed reduction under the Traffic Safety Act. 'We are trying a new approach where when flashing lights are present on the speed limit sign going through that area, it'll be reduced during that time to 30 km/h. We're going to give that a shot for the high-volume movement times, pick-up, drop-off, lunchtime, to see how that works,' Lamarre said. View image in full screen A playground zone at Michael Strembitsky School in south Edmonton on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Global News Designated times for reduced speeds is something seen around schools in rural Alberta and communities outside Edmonton, she added, so it isn't an entirely new concept. There is no price tag attached to the initiative, the city said. Lamarre said existing funding in the city's four-year budget will be redirected from mobile and automated enforcement to the trials.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- CTV News
No more photo radar in playground zones, city to focus on other safety measures
The City of Edmonton is removing photo radar enforcement in playground zones next month as the school year winds down and many students begin summer break. Edmonton officials say the decision aligns with their 'ongoing commitment to Vision Zero,' which is outlined on their website as an effort to have zero traffic-related injuries and deaths by 2032. 'Playground zones are some of the most sensitive spaces in our transportation system, and they have always been - and will continue to be - a priority for the city,' Jessica Lamarre, Edmonton's director of Safe Mobility, said in a news release on Wednesday. She added that the city has invested more than $6-million in upgrades like new crossings and improved visibility measures since 2019. The injection of funds comes after assessing every elementary school in Edmonton for safety needs over the past ten years. 'These upgrades have helped make playground zones spaces that have some of the lowest rates of speeding and collisions in the city,' Lamarre said, adding that speeding is only one part of the safety challenge. According to Lamarre, the broader concerns include traffic flow, crossing safety and watching out for bad drivers in school zones. 'While automated enforcement is incredibly effective at reducing speeds, it doesn't target this wider range of challenges,' she continued. 'Reinvesting these funds allows us to respond more directly to what people are experiencing every day and to make playground zones safer in a more lasting, visible way.' New restrictions under the provincial government's Automated Traffic Enforcement Guideline - which limits where cities can use photo radar - was also a factor in the city's decision. The city said photo radar in playground zones was made possible with money from photo radar on Edmonton roadways like Anthony Henday Drive, Whitemud Drive, and Yellowhead Trail. Without this revenue, officials are adjusting their approach and 'redirecting resources into physical upgrades and creative solutions that respond to the broader safety concerns' from the school communities. The removal of photo radar enforcement in playground zones starts July 1. The city says the announcement will give communities time to adapt and prepare before the next school year.
