Everett reports crash reductions, plans $1.15 million safety reinvestment from camera program

Everett city traffic staff told the Community Health and Safety Council committee that locations with automated red-light and school-speed cameras have shown measurable reductions in crashes and traffic speeds since the program became operational in 2024, and that net proceeds from citations will be invested in traffic-safety work.

"We made the system operational in 2024, and crashes immediately dropped to 9," said Corey Hertz, the city's traffic engineer, describing early results at the Horizon Elementary school-speed zone and other monitored intersections. He told the committee the city saw an initial drop in violations after a public-information campaign and activation of the system, with school-zone speeds above 30 mph falling from about 70% pre-activation to below 40% after enforcement began.

The presentation spelled out intersection-level trends. Hertz listed camera sites including Broadway and 16th, Rucker and 41st, several locations on Evergreen Way and Casino Road, and Everett Mall Way and 7th; he said most sites tracked year-over-year drops in projected crash counts for 2025 after cameras came online in late 2023 and 2024.

Hertz presented financial figures tied to the program. The city had projected roughly $1,950,000 in citation proceeds for 2025 but reported actual net proceeds closer to $2,230,000. Projected operating expenses for vendor fees and staff were about $1,310,000, and recent accounting after interfund transfers put actual expenses nearer $1,080,000, leaving roughly $1,152,000 available for safety investments.

"With the net proceeds of 2,230,000.00...approximately 1,152,000.00 to invest in a safety program," Hertz told the committee, and outlined spending categories that prioritize enforcement overtime and targeted patrols, equipment and electrical upgrades, traffic-safety public education, and pedestrian-focused capital improvements.

Planned capital work includes upgrading electrical service at two solar-powered camera locations to permanent PUD power, replacing end-of-life cabinets (notably at 16th and Broadway), enhancing Casino Road flashing beacons, and installing time-of-day school beacons at Hawthorne and Challenger elementaries. Hertz also said the city plans a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon and enhanced crossing at 13th and Colby near Providence Medical Center.

Hertz said staff will bring housekeeping changes to the city's automated traffic-safety-camera ordinance (first adopted in 2008) to align with state statute updates in 2024 and 2025. Proposed language would clarify allowable enforcement locations (school walk zones, parks, hospital zones, roadway work zones and identified high-crash/excessive-speed areas) and update the maximum fine to the current state cap of $145 (previously $124), which is adjusted for inflation every five years. He said the city currently has no intent to expand program size beyond recent additions but wants the ordinance to reflect current law.

The committee also discussed a state-directed allocation of net proceeds. Hertz said that beginning four years after June 6, 2024 (in 2028) the city will be required to transfer a portion of net proceeds minus expenses into the Cooper Jones active transportation safety account, a state fund for traffic-safety purposes; he corrected an initial misstatement and said the percentage is 25% rather than the 50% he first mentioned.

Council members asked about time-of-day patterns, electronic speed-warning signs and timelines for planned beacons. Hertz said he has not yet run a detailed time-of-day violation analysis but expects higher afternoon volumes at some red-light locations; he said design documents and cost estimates for the elementary-school beacons should be available within roughly a month and described intent to install the Hawthorne and Challenger beacons within the year.

Hertz emphasized that citation proceeds are restricted by ordinance to traffic-safety uses and do not go to Everett's general fund. He said staff has modeled revenue-neutral scenarios and can scale staffing or program elements if violations fall, while remaining committed to enforcement and education to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.

Hertz concluded the update by saying staff will return with an ordinance amendment for council consideration that reflects the statutory changes and the program's evolving operational needs.