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.
Philadelphia Magazine’s 2023 Best of Philly — Best City Agency
Nobody likes getting a parking ticket, but despite issuing over 1.5 million of them last year, the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) was just named the “Best” city agency for 2023 by Philadelphia Magazine. This selection is a testament to our Executive team’s hard work, dedication, and vision and our more than 1,000-strong workforce.
PPA in the News 2023
Wednesday, December 13th, 2023:
Monday, December 11th, 2023:
Thursday, November 9th, 2023:
Finally: The PPA made a map of Philly’s residential permit parking zones
One Man’s Quest To Change the PPA — City Cast Philly Podcast
Saturday October, 7th, 2023:
Rich Lazer Would Like You to Love the PPA. No, Seriously.
Thursday, October, 5th, 2023:
Beyond the Curb: How the PPA Enhances Public Safety & Quality of Life
Friday, September, 29th, 2023:
Q&A with PPA Executive Director Rich Lazer
Tuesday, September, 19th, 2023:
Traffic camera programs in Pa. are reducing fatalities and speeding, officials say
Wednesday, June 13th, 2023:
The Pa. legislature should make speed cameras permanent
Monday, May 1st, 2023:
Cars will now be ticketed for parking on street-sweeping routes and in bike lanes
PPA’s Bike Lane Enforcement Unit Hits the Streets
Friday, April 28th, 2023:
Philly will increase policing of bike lanes in effort to improve traffic safety
Join the PPA Bike Enforcement Patrol Launch on May 1
PPA To Start Cracking Down On Cars Parked In Bike Lanes
Thursday, April 27th, 2023:
PPA will soon launch cycling patrols to crack down on parking in bike lanes
PPA will start cracking down on parking in bike lanes next week
PPA to Start Issuing Bike Lane Tickets for Illegally Parked Cars
PPA to start cracking down on cars parked in bike lanes
Drivers beware: PPA is stepping up enforcement of Philly bike lanes
Stay in your lane: PPA to roll out new bike lane enforcement unit
Wednesday, March 29th, 2023:
Thursday, March 9th, 2023:
Major U.S. cities cracking down on missing and fake license plates
PPA Launches Tool To Tackle ‘Ghost Cars’ on Philly Streets
Tuesday, March 7th, 2023:
Philadelphia Parking Authority cracking down on ‘ghost cars’
Monday, March 6th, 2023:
Ghost cars’: Philadelphia cracking down on cars missing license plates to avoid tickets, towing
Friday, March 3rd, 2023:
PPA gets rare Philly ” /> after it starts towing cars without license plates
Tuesday, February 28th, 2023:
Ghost Cars’: Blurred Plates, No Plates on Philly Streets, Beyond
Thursday, February 23rd, 2023:
City removes abandoned shipping container that was blocking drivers views
Thursday, January 12th, 2023:
Philadelphia receives $14.5M in speed-enforcement funding
Saturday, January 7th, 2023:
Crashes are down 36% on Roosevelt Blvd., thanks to speed cameras. Pa. is urged to approve more.
PPA in the News 2022
Tuesday, September 27th, 2022:
Ticketing blitz’ will target drivers double-parked in Center City bus lanes
Monday, September 26th, 2022:
Philly is cracking down on drivers who block bus lanes
Police in Center City ramp up enforcement against drivers blocking bus lanes
Tuesday, September 20th, 2022:
PPA to Increase Ticketing of Illegal Bus Lane Parking – NBC10 Philadelphia
Philly will increase enforcement of bus lane restrictions to help reduce traffic congestion
Ramped up bus lane enforcement coming to Center City – Metro Philadelphia
Saturday, September 17th, 2022:
Philadelphia Parking Authority to install several new red light cameras in the city
Friday, September 16th, 2022:
Philadelphia Parking Authority to drivers: Look for more red-light cameras in the next year
More red-light cameras are coming to Philly streets, including one by the Rocky statue
Sunday, July 31st, 2022:
Philadelphia Parking Authority starts de-escalation training after an uptick in assaults (Bridging Philly — KYW Podcast)
Wednesday, May 25th, 2022:
Philadelphia joins cities tackling bike lane violations
Monday, May 23rd, 2022:
Bike-mounted officers to keep Philadelphia cycle lanes clear
Thursday, May 19th, 2022:
Speed cameras are saving lives and should stay | Editorial
Wednesday, May 18th, 2022:
PPA is marshaling a cycle-mounted patrol of officers to ticket vehicles that block bike lanes
PPA to Crack Down on ‘Dangerous’ Drivers Parking in Philly Bike Lanes
After writing 26,000 tickets in 8 years for bike lane parking, PPA hires officers to crackdown
Philadelphia Parking Authority to introduce new initiative to improve safety for bicyclists
PPA Pledges Enforcement Officers on Bikes to Increase Enforcement of Illegal Bike Lane Parking
Parking Authority announces bike lane enforcement initiative
Wednesday, May 11th, 2022:
PPA: Roosevelt Boulevard Speeding Violations Decrease by 91% Since Cameras Installed
Speed cams on Roosevelt Boulevard are slowing drivers, and curbing violations, report says
With Speeding Down on Roosevelt Blvd., PPA Wants to Expand Speed Cam Program
A picture is worth $100: Speed cameras successfully slowing traffic on Roosevelt Blvd.
Tuesday, May 10th, 2022:
Speeding tickets and crashes fell after enforcement cameras came to Roosevelt Blvd.
Wednesday, April 6th, 2022:
More than 1 million have downloaded mobile pay-parking app, PPA says