No Red Light Enforcement Cameras For Phoenixville

There will be no red light cameras on the streets of Phoenixville. There will, however, be money from the red light cameras in other Pennsylvania cities to pay for a study of traffic lights in the borough.

Even members of the Phoenixville Borough Council wanted to be sure they understood the resolution about red light cameras that was put on their agenda this week.

In clarifying the issue Borough Manager Jean Krack reassured council members that there has never been a plan to put red light cameras in the borough. He also acknowledged that the item as it appeared on the agenda was confusing because the source of the funds for a study of traffic lights is revenue from the red light cameras in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Krack told the council.

The money collected from red light camera fines in the state is distributed not only back to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh but to other jurisdictions like Phoenixville as well, Krack said.

The Phoenixville traffic light study will be funded by a $42,500 PennDOT grant. It will look at traffic volume and patterns and the timing of red lights in the borough.

That assurance appeared to address the concerns voiced by many members of the public before the discussion. It did not sway the vote of three council members who voted against taking the money to pay for the new traffic study.

Middle Ward Councilman Karl Bucus said he was voting no because he opposes Automated Red Light Enforcement in priniciple and therefore would not to spend money generated from the red light enforcement cameras, regardless of where those cameras are located.

Council President Richard Kirkner said Bucus' argument was enough to convince him to vote no also. North Ward Councilman Christopher Bauers cast the other no vote. West Ward Councilman James Kowaleski was absent.

The PennDOT funds will study traffic patterns and volume that determine timing of lights. Borough Manager Jean Krak says the last study was done in 1999. Several council members expressed frustration over the current red light timing system and said they hope the new PennDOT-funded study would actually help improve the timing mechanisms in red light control boxes.