Suffolk, Virginia Development News

Suffolk City Council Reviews Traffic Safety Camera Program Update and Traffic Safety Fund Proposal

The city council reviewed an update on the automated traffic enforcement program and the proposed Traffic Safety Fund. The program, adopted in March 2023, utilizes speed monitoring devices including red light cameras, work zone cameras, school zone cameras, and school bus cameras to improve safety. Legislative updates from the General Assembly have led to changes in signage, notification procedures, and fund usage. The presentation highlighted significant decreases in citations issued across various zones, indicating a change in driver behavior. The proposed Traffic Safety Fund will manage revenues generated from these enforcement measures and reinvest them into safety projects. The fund's use is structured to cover program costs, prioritize highway work zones, high-risk intersections, school crossings, and safety red zones before allocating to broader safety initiatives such as traffic safety planning, speed management, and bicycle/pedestrian safety. The council also discussed specific intersection performance and signage concerns, with the police department committing to review data and signage for certain high-violation areas. The ordinance to approve the Traffic Safety Fund was set to be on the consent agenda.