County scuttles proposal for new mobile speed cams

Skeptics, rejoice. The menace of speed cameras along county highways is finally behind us.

Pima County officials already put the nails in the proverbial coffin weeks ago when they opted against renewing a contract with Tempe-based American Traffic Solutions.

The supervisors voted 4-0 in January to reject a proposal by ATS to take down 7 of the 11 cameras on county roads and put up new mobile units near public schools.

The cameras themselves have yet to be torn down, which made some people nervous, and information that the sensors (but not the cameras) were not turned off made people worry even more.

But it was a request last month for a comprehensive plan to reduce speeding and improve safety along county roads that made people the most suspicious, since at least one strategy would eventually reintroduce speed cameras on Pima County roads.

Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry ruled out those chances last Friday, essentially throwing the nailed-shut coffin back into the ground and throwing six feet of dirt on top it.

A report from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it would “be difficult, if not impossible,” to prioritize placement of a handful of cameras in hundreds of school zones.

The memo also downplayed the effectiveness of a proposal to use mobile camera units, noting the units would likely have only limited success if moved frequently.

The report also suggested bad driving behavior would return as soon as the cameras were towed away.

Huckelberry said he considered the matter closed and would not move forward with any future discussions with ATS.

Drivers still have to concern themselves with red-light cameras operated under contract with the city of Tucson, which are still very much active.

Road Q

Q: James Kuhn asks: “When is Pima County going to reset the light on South Wilmot at Valencia? Before Davis-Monthan reopened its south gate, there was no traffic. Now, with all the added traffic at that intersection, the light on Wilmot is still only green for 17 seconds. It was timed during the D-M rush out of the base for about 11 consecutive lights. Do they plan on changing it?”

A: Good news, James, they do.

Priscilla Cornelio, the director of the Pima County Department of Transportation, explains:

“Pima County Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation Authority are currently improving Valencia Road from Alvernon Way to Wilmot Road. The intersection of Valencia and Wilmot improvement does include signal adjustments in addition to paving Wilmot Road from Valencia to the Davis-Monthan gate.”