The state of Texas decided to preempt local traffic safety laws by banning all red light camera programs.
"Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday signed a bill to ban red light cameras statewide," report Jeff Bell and Ashley Goudeau.
Gov. Abbott was signing House Bill 1631, approved by both houses in the Texas legislature in May. The bill forces cities to phase out existing red light cameras. "It requires cities and counties that are able to get out of their contracts with red light camera vendors to do so," according to the article. Five cities have contracts that prevent immediate action to end contracts with red light camera options.
According to Bell and Goueau, the political debate surrounding the bill squared Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford) against Rep. Ramon Romero (D-Fort Worth). Rep. Romero tied red light cameras to traffic safety, while Rep. Strickland suggested that the cameras infringe on constitutional rights and don't actually stop drivers from running red lights.
Studies of Chicago and Houston have shown that red light cameras improve traffic safety. A study of 158 cities found that fatal crashes increased by 30 percent in cities that removed red light cameras as compared to those that continued to operate cameras.
The bill seemed unlikely to make it out committee in April, but overcame the final obstacles on the way to approval. Gov. Abbott posted a triumphant video of himself signing the new law into effect to Twitter .
I just signed the law that bans red light cameras in Texas. #txlege pic.twitter.com/AyF28hxGwO
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 1, 2019
The Associated Press also provides coverage of the bill's signing.
FULL STORY: Gov. Abbott signs bill banning red light cameras in Texas
Automated Traffic Enforcement Struggles to Find Footing in California State Legislature
If Texas lawmakers hate it, California lawmakers must love it, right? Not so fast.
Vision Zero...Without the Enforcement
As a leading bicycle advocacy organization withdraws support for police enforcement of Vision Zero plans, the discretionary practices of traffic enforcement come under rejuvenated scrutiny.
State Legislation Responds to Pedestrian Safety Failures in Connecticut
So far in 2020, drivers have killed 15 pedestrians on Connecticut roads.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association