50 red light enforcement cameras from 25 intersections across the city to be removed

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the removal of 50 red light enforcement cameras from 25 intersections across the city earlier this month.

The Chicago Department of Transportation conducted a review of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s crash data from 2013, and as a result the cameras will be removed from 25 intersections that have had one or no right angle crashes or that had "total crash rate" of less than one crash per million of vehicles annually.

The program was initiated by former mayor Richard Daley’s administration in 2003, and 32 cameras were removed from 16 intersections by Emanuel in last year, which was the first time in the program’s history that any cameras were.

"Red light cameras help reduce the most dangerous crashes and allow police officers to concentrate on fighting crime, not writing traffic violations, and public trust is vital for this program to be effective," Emanuel said in a statement. "The reforms we are announcing today build on this work to allow for increased community input, enhanced public safety and improved transparency."

Red light cameras will be removed from Northwest Side intersections that include Elston and Foster avenues, Harlem Avenue and Northwest Highway, McCormick Boulevard/Kimball Avenue and Lincoln Avenue, Osceola and Touhy avenues, Pulaski Road and Montrose Avenue, and Western and Pratt avenues.

Red light cameras also will be removed from the intersections of Ashland Avenue and 47th Street, Ashland and 63rd Street, Ashland and Archer avenues, Ashland and Diversey avenues, Ashland and Garfield Boulevard, California Avenue and 31st Street, Central Avenue and Madison Street, Cicero Avenue and the Stevenson Expressway, Cornell Avenue and 57th Street, and Cottage Grove Avenue and 95th Street.

Also, Damen and Blue Island avenues, Halsted and 63rd streets, Halsted and 83rd Street, Jeffrey Avenue and 79th Street, Narragansett Avenue, 55th Street and Archer Avenue, Stony Island Avenue and 83rd Street, Vincennes Avenue and 111th Street, Western Avenue and 51st Street, and Western, Armitage and Milwaukee avenues.

Emanuel also announced reforms that include requiring a community meeting be held before cameras are removed, moved or added, allowing first-time offenders to enroll in an online safety course instead of paying a $100 fine, and accelerating installation of pedestrian countdown timers at the 42 remaining intersections that do not have timers.

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