At Thursday’s Board of Selectmen meeting the three-person board, who serve as the town’s traffic authority, voted unanimously in favor of installing 10 speed cameras – not to be mistaken for red light cameras – to be located in school zones.
The cameras were enabled by a new law that was debated around the time Greenwich’s Planning & Zoning commission was reviewing the proposal for a new Central Middle School. At the time, neighbors described Stanwich and Orchard as racetracks. Neighbors in the area of Orchard Street were particularly vocal about speeding cars, noting that many students in Cos Cob walk to the middle school.
At last year’s neighborhood input sessions hosted by Greenwich Dept of Public Works, complaints about speeding cars in school zones were rife, especially in neighborhoods without sidewalks.
Families on the east side of Orchard Street and Coachlamp Lane said the speeding was so bad they didn’t let their children walk to school a stone’s throw away. Shiro Nogaki said a speeding car had plowed through the front door of his family’s home at 219 Orchard Street.
Steve Soler described installing speed cameras as an “easy lift” for the town.
“The minute those cameras go up, everybody’s Waze is going to say ‘speed light camera in place,’ and they’ll slow down,” Soler said at the time.
And so it followed that at the April 10 Selectmen meeting Police Chief James Heavey sought the blessing of the Selectmen for the 10 speed cameras.
Public Act No. 23-116 Sections 10-14 and 16-18 authorizes Connecticut towns and cities to use of Municipal Automatic Traffic Enforcement and Safety Devices “ATESDs,” at locations within school zones, pedestrians safety zones and other designated areas, contingent on the municipality adopting a specific ordinance and submitting a plan to the CT Dept of Transportation for approval every three years.
According to the Dept of Transportation, if a device detects a violation of a municipal traffic ordinance a citation may be issued. The citation will be mailed to the vehicle owner’s address within 30 days after the owner’s address has been confirmed by the Connecticut Dept of Motor Vehicles. The ticket can’t exceed $50 for first offense and $75 for each additional offense. A fee up to $15 can be charged for electronic processing of a payment for the fine.
Chief Heavey said the vendor selected through an RFP was “True Blue.”
He noted that just so far in the month of April there was a 51% increase in traffic enforcement made possible by grants, and in the same period there was a reduction in accidents by 43%.
He said in March there was a 104% increase in traffic enforcement and an 18% reduction in accidents.
“That’s what we’re talking about. It’s not to generate to generate finances. It’s not to do anything other than create a safe environment around schools,” he said.
Heavey said consultants had recommended 10 schools in town to assign the automated boxes based on their having the highest number of speeders.
He also said the application had already been submitted to the State Dept of Transportation and the Selectmen’s approval was the last formality.
“Hopefully our permit would be issued within 60 days,” he said. “Meaning the cameras could be installed in time for the start of the new school year.”
Chief Heavey said during the first 30 days violators will receive warnings, and after that there would be enforcement.
The Chief said he anticipated a 60%-70% reduction in speeding around schools.
As for red light cameras, he said that would also require state approval to install, and certain criteria must be met.
“There’s only one or two lights in Greenwich that would qualify based on the number of accidents,” he said. “A lot of people see the cameras on the traffic lights that are used to control volumes. We do not use them to for traffic enforcement.”
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In advance of the speed enforcement cameras being installed, Heavey said there will be extensive outreach to inform drivers before the cameras are installed.
“I’m sure once the signs go up on either end of the speed enforcement cameras, people will slow down even before we turn the cameras on,” Heavey said.
He added that the traffic cameras would enforce the speed limit in the moment, including a slower speed limit in a school zone during school hours.
“It’s automated. It will take care of that,” he said.
First Selectman Camillo said he did not think a second read was necessary and neither he nor the Chief had heard complaints.
The Selectmen voted to close the public hearing and then voted to approve the plan for the Town of Greenwich’s automated traffic enforcement safety device plans for 10 schools.
On Almira Drive, children board the school bus to Glenville School. Credit: Leslie Yager
Families wait to cross Putnam Ave to Cos Cob School as cars whiz by. 2018