Council approves one-year sole-source contract with Red Speed for red-light camera at Oakton and NW Highway

Park Ridge’s City Council on May 18 approved a one-year sole-source agreement with Red Speed Illinois LLC to continue automated red-light enforcement at the intersection of Northwest Oakton and Northwest Highway.

Chief Kampworth, presenting for public safety, told the council Red Speed "has provided these services which include installation, monitoring, citation processing support and maintenance," and noted the vendor holds an IDOT permit that can take more than a year to obtain, a key factor in recommending sole‑source procurement.

Staff provided a multi-year snapshot of crashes and citation reviews: 20 accidents at Oakton and NW Highway in 2023, 25 in 2024, and 34 in 2025, with nine crashes reported so far this year through April. Staff also reported thousands of citations were reviewed: 5,270 total citations reviewed in 2024 (with 612 rejected), and 4,662 reviewed in 2025 (653 rejected). Chief Kampworth cautioned that some early data required hand searches and may be incomplete.

Council members probed how many accidents were specifically tied to right‑on‑red turns and whether the camera reduced the backups and blocking of westbound Oakton at NW Highway during rush hours. "I don't have that information," Chief Kampworth said, noting detailed linkage of violation type to crash reports would require hand searches of past reports.

Alderman Fred said he would vote no, arguing he is "not convinced that it changes the behavior of drivers" and called the program "more of like a revenue stream for the city." Other members expressed a mix of support and reservation: some said they wanted a thorough year of data and comparisons to other high‑impact intersections before expanding the program; others said traffic safety complaints from residents justified continuing the camera.

Because the contract was presented as a sole-source procurement, council members discussed the two‑thirds voting threshold required for approval. After discussion and roll call, the council approved the one‑year contract; staff said earlier committee action amended the original two‑year proposal to one year and that a prior committee vote had passed.

Council members asked staff to return later in the year with more specific, comparative data on crashes and the program’s effectiveness in preventing collisions, and to report whether the camera’s presence is producing meaningful safety benefits beyond citation revenue.

The contract will be in effect for one year while staff monitors outcomes and prepares more detailed comparisons for council review.