College Park council approves five automated stop‑sign monitoring locations

The College Park City Council on June 3 approved installation of five automated stop‑sign monitoring devices at intersections in school zones across the city.

The move responds to a pilot program and data review the city completed last year. Director of Public Services Jitinder Kocher told the council the city “had done a pilot program” and then vetted sites with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Committee, deployment feasibility criteria and “other mandatory requirements from the state law.”

Kocher said the city began with about 14–15 candidate locations, shortened that list to nine and then to five after applying the criteria. He told the council the ordinance enabling stop‑sign monitoring was introduced earlier this year, passed May 13 and has an effective date of June 3.

Councilmember Whitney moved the motion to approve the five sites; the motion listed the locations and associated school zones as read into the record: Edgewood Road at 50 Second Place (Hollywood Elementary School, District 1); College Avenue at Yale Avenue (University of Maryland/College Park Foundation, District 3); St. Andrew’s Place at Davidson Street (Cherokee Lane Elementary School, District 4); Rhode Island Avenue at Lakeland Road (Paint Branch Elementary School, District 2); and Calvert Road at Rhode Island Avenue (University of Maryland/College Park Foundation, District 3). The motion passed without recorded opposition.

Councilmembers and staff discussed how additional sites would be requested and approved. Kocher said future additions must meet the same data‑driven vetting and feasibility criteria; City Manager Kenny Young added the council had asked staff to take a “slow and steady approach” so the city can evaluate operating data before expanding locations. Councilmember Riggs said vendors typically finance capital costs and that site selection involves collaboration among the city, the vendor and county council members.

Kocher confirmed the next step after the council vote is to present the approved locations to the Prince George’s County Council for its review and approval. He also said the city is still finalizing operational details and vendor arrangements and that a contract will be returned to the council for approval when completed.

Councilmembers asked staff to prepare a public communications plan and to explore a brief grace period at rollout before fines are issued. Staff said they will provide a cost analysis and further details about adding sites if council directs expansion in the future.

How the devices will be paid for and the final contract terms were not decided at the meeting; Kocher and city staff said they expect the vendor to cover capital costs but will return a contract to the council for approval.

Votes at a glance: 25‑GS‑57 — Approved. Motion to install five stop‑sign monitoring devices at the school‑zone intersections listed above; no roll‑call tally recorded in the public minutes.

Ending: Staff said it will return to the council with final vendor and contract documents, a communications plan and any recommended procedures for adding additional monitoring locations.