Legislature Passes Life-Saving Speed Camera Legislation for Roosevelt Boulevard
(PHILADELPHIA) — Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) Executive Director Rich Lazer today praised the Pennsylvania Legislature for passing legislation that will make the PPA’s automated speed camera enforcement program a permanent tool in its efforts to improve public safety and save lives along Roosevelt Boulevard – formerly one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the US. The legislation has been sent to Governor Shapiro for his signature.
“Passage of the speed camera legislation is bi-partisan leadership at its best. Rep. Ed Neilson (D., Philadelphia) and Sen. Wayne Langerholc (R., Cambria), must be commended for working together on this critically important legislation that is guaranteed to help save lives and improve public safety,” Lazer said.
“Under our initial five-year pilot program, we reduced speeding along Roosevelt Boulevard by nearly 90%. In addition, our red light camera program has reduced red light running at key intersections in the city by an average of 58%,” Lazer said.
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia spokesperson Nicole Brunet said, “This outcome significantly advances safety, builds on the success of the Roosevelt Blvd program, and will allow the City and Commonwealth to save more lives on state roads. We are grateful to Rep. Ed Neilson and Sen. Wayne Langerholc for their leadership. We look forward to the expansion of this life-saving technology to other dangerous roads and school zones in Philadelphia.”
According to the City’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability, Roosevelt Boulevard has historically accounted for 14% of all crashes in the city and 62 fatalities from 2014 to 2017. According to the Pennsylvania State Transportation Advisory Commission, since the installation of speed cameras, Roosevelt Boulevard saw a 36% decrease in crashes between 2019 and 2021.
There are presently 40 speed cameras located at 10 different locations along Roosevelt Boulevard. As a result of this program, a multitude of safety improvements have been completed on the Boulevard.
The legislation provides technical changes to Act 19 of 2023, creating a permanent automated speed camera program for Roosevelt Boulevard and authorizes five more corridors in Philadelphia, with added driver protections such as new signage requirements.
The legislation also establishes a new pilot program for automated speed cameras in Philadelphia’s school zones and directs that a study of automated speed cameras be conducted to determine expansion on local streets and highways.
“With the risk of pedestrian death reaching 90% when a vehicle travels 58 miles per hour, speed cameras are critical to the success of the PPA’s overall public safety push. With passage of this critically important piece of legislation, we can continue to concentrate on reducing speeding on Roosevelt Boulevard and saving lives,” Lazer said.