Committee approves LADOT update to automated speed-enforcement pilot; DOT outlines site analysis and procurement timeline

The Los Angeles City Council Transportation Committee on Sept. 10 approved Los Angeles Department of Transportation recommendations to advance the city’s automated speed enforcement pilot program, including a consultant-led site analysis, community engagement and procurement steps, Committee Chair Councilwoman Heather Hutt said.

The action moves LADOT closer to selecting locations for speed cameras authorized under the state law referenced repeatedly in the meeting (referred to in the transcript as “AB 6 45”), and to a procurement process that staff said could take six to 18 months depending on whether the city can piggyback on another jurisdiction’s contract.

LADOT project manager Chris Reiter, who the department described as “managing the AB 6 45 program,” told the committee the department has “done a kickoff meeting with our consultant to put together the, draft list of 200, and then we will narrow that down to 125 of the final locations” and that the consultant will perform the data work “this month” with some locations expected to be ready next month.

Why it matters: LADOT and public-safety advocates say automated speed enforcement targets speeding, which they identify as a primary factor in traffic fatalities. Brett, director of LA County advocacy for Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE), told the committee that SAFE’s review of six pilot cities shows Los Angeles has completed about 25% of the required steps and that SAFE will…