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Phase‑3 review finds fewer crashes at camera locations; council shown vendor contract for consideration
Summary
A third DKS Associates study of Pasco’s red‑light camera system found reductions in total, angle and injury crashes at instrumented intersections since installation; staff presented a proposed five‑year contract with Verra Mobility (Redflex platform owner) for council consideration and discussed possible program expansion.
Pasco police and traffic consultants presented a Phase‑3 evaluation of the city’s automated photo enforcement program at the Feb. 24 workshop and discussed a proposed five‑year agreement (with two one‑year extensions) with Verra Mobility (operator of the Redflex system) to continue program operations.
DKS Associates analyzed citation and crash data for the camera locations installed in 2019. Cameras were installed Feb. 2019 and citations began mid‑August 2019. The consultant reported an initial spike in violations after activation, followed by a plateau; Friday emerged as the highest citation day. One northbound camera on Road 68 showed an artificial citation drop related to a camera‑capture issue that was later corrected.
Most notably, DKS found a decline in crashes at instrumented intersections comparing 2015–2018 (before) to 2019–2022 (after): Road 68 at Burden showed a reduction from roughly 24 crashes per year to about 16 per year; Twentieth and Court fell from about 18 to about 10 crashes per year. The consultant said angle crashes and injury crashes — crash types typically associated with red‑light running — decreased at those locations.
Captain Harpster and consultant Jeff Burger noted those safety improvements as the primary justification for continuing the program. The presentation also screened other intersections for possible future camera placement: 68 & Wrigley, Lewis & 20th, Sylvester & 20th, and an additional leg at existing intersections were identified as potentially viable sites pending required state statutory analyses and council direction.
Financially, staff said the program is roughly cost‑neutral to the city when administrative and capital flows are accounted for; about $500,000 total has been transferred to road‑safety capital projects since program inception. The staff packet included a proposed five‑year contract with two one‑year extensions to Verra Mobility (the company that acquired Redflex). Council members asked whether the program is revenue‑driven; staff emphasized the safety data and said revenues are dedicated to traffic‑safety capital projects, not general fund operating revenue.
Council did not vote on the proposed contract during the workshop; staff indicated the contract will return for council action at a subsequent meeting.
