Red light cameras, high-tech traffic sensors as part of Windsor’s $ 22.3 million road safety plan

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Windsor’s ambitious new road safety plan will include city-wide red light cameras, the ability to change the flow of traffic in real time, and high-tech sensors that automatically grant bicyclists the right-of-way at intersections.

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Ten new red light cameras will be activated soon, and no one is exempt from a fine.

“The Highway Traffic Act does not allow any vehicle to go through a red light,” said Shawna Boakes, the city’s senior manager of Traffic Operations. “Even emergency vehicles must come to a complete stop and then continue. We will provide further instructions and work with funeral homes on this, but funeral processions will be fined if they go through a red light. “

Many of the complaints we receive, concerns about speed, are on the main roads.

Boakes, Senior Transportation Planning Engineer Jeff Hagan and Mayor Drew Dilkens held a digital media conference Thursday to highlight the plan. The city will spend $ 22.3 million on road safety over the next 10 years, including $ 2 million in 2022.

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Dilkens said the red light cameras will be operational by January 1.

“Free and fair warning,” he said. “You have at least a week. We will post all the intersections so no one will be surprised. And don’t forget that all of these intersections are well signposted. We are not trying to hide the traffic cameras. “

He said the city is working with funeral homes to find routes that help avoid intersections with red light cameras.

The ticket for running a red light is $ 325. Regardless of who was driving, fines are issued to the owner of the vehicle.

This is where the cameras are installed: Wyandotte Street East on Goyeau Street; University Avenue West at Crawford Avenue; Erie Street East at Goyeau Street; Howard Avenue off the eastbound EC Row Expressway exit ramp; Huron Church Road at Tecumseh Road West; Eugenie Street East at McDougall Street; McHugh Street at Clover Avenue; Wyandotte Street at Ouellette Avenue; Ouellette Avenue at Giles Boulevard; and Seminole Street at Central Avenue.

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The city is also installing high-tech traffic sensors called Vantage Next to detect pedestrians, cyclists, scooters, and electric bicycles. In addition to providing traffic engineers with real-time traffic data on active transportation, the system will change traffic lights for cyclists.

“It may take a couple of seconds because it will continue in the cycle that it is currently in, but it will change to be green and oncoming traffic will be red to be able to get through the intersection safely,” he said. Boakes. “The same goes for scooters and motorcycles.”

The first system is already in operation at Lauzon Road and Spitfires Way. Boakes said 15 more locations are planned to be installed in 2022.

The city will spend another $ 500,000, including provincial funding, on 55 new 360-degree CCTV cameras. Boakes said 13 old cameras are being replaced and 42 additional cameras are being installed.

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“This system will allow our signal personnel to monitor and make real-time adjustments to the signal system to increase safety and traffic flow in the city,” he said.

By March 2022, Dilkens said there will likely be 200 cameras around Windsor.

Another $ 1.2 million will go toward other priorities next year, including hiring an active transportation engineer and transportation planning coordinator. The city is also moving forward with a “Vision Zero” task force aimed at eliminating fatalities from accidents and serious injuries.

Each council member has been allocated $ 10,000 for traffic calming measures in their districts. The city will also accelerate temporary traffic calming measures at the request of councilors to respond quickly to residents’ concerns.

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Hagan said permanent speed control measures will be implemented next year at Drouillard Road. The city is considering similar initiatives at Kildare Road, Pillette Road, Matchette Road, South National Street, Tecumseh Road West, Cabana Road, and County Road 42.

“We also incorporated a new arterial velocity control program,” Hagan said. “This addresses speed management on major highways, which is something our previous traffic calming policy didn’t address. Many of the complaints we receive, concerns about speed, are on the main roads. This will directly address those concerns. “

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