Some cities take their surveillance of traffic violations very seriously. Washington, D.C., this time we're looking at you.
Sarak Kliff and Soo Oh report on the work of Jonathan Melby and Angela Buffington, who since 2006 have gathered and maintained a massive database of all of the red light cameras and speed cameras in North America. "This database now has 3,699 red light cameras and 1,413 speed cameras — although that could change as the list is updated each week," according to Kliff and Oh.
Kliff and Oh used the database to produce an interactive map of each of those cameras, which allows users to compare each city's traffic cameras. The article accompanying the map also includes thoughts and insights Melby and Buffington about the process of maintaining the database. For instance, the database reveals Washington, D.C. to have the most traffic cameras in the country. Melby and Buffington also report some of the characteristics of camera systems in cities like New York and Phoenix.
Read the full story: America’s 4,150 traffic cameras, in one map
USDOT Formally Moves to Ban DC Traffic Cameras
Despite the proven success of automated traffic enforcement in other cities, the Trump administration wants to eliminate D.C.’s speeding and red light cameras.
Studies Repeatedly Show Traffic Cameras Save Lives
Although divisive, speed and red-light cameras significantly improve road safety, but many U.S. jurisdictions remain resistant.
Legislation to Ban Traffic Cameras Creates Odd Political Alliances
Republicans and the American Civil Liberties Union back bills to ban red light and speed cameras in Iowa, while Democrats and law enforcement want to allow cities and counties to retain automated traffic-enforcement tools.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
US buildings threatened, destroyed by fires set to triple by 2060
Researchers found a high fire risk for socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods in the American West.
LA residents may be allowed to paint their own crosswalks
Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky put out a motion instructing the Los Angeles Department of Public Transportation to study the feasibility of allowing volunteers to paint crosswalks.
Dallas moves to overhaul its zoning code
The city's zoning reform will allow more multi-family and mixed-use developments.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority