SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Traffic cameras get green light from council

By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
   Motorists will soon be under the watchful eye of a traffic light camera as they pass through the intersection of Route 522 and Route 1, including Promenade Boulevard.
   The Township Council passed the resolution 4-1 Tuesday night awarding a contract to an Arizona company that will place cameras at the intersection.
   The bid went to Redfelx Traffic Systems, which is based in Phoenix, Arizona and has more than 20 years of experience in the field, according to the company’s website.
   As part of the bid, the company will apply to move the location of the cameras to the Route 522 and Route 1 intersection, township spokesman Ron Schmalz said.
   The council first discussed putting the cameras at the intersection of Henderson Road and Route 1 in December, and changed the plan to place the cameras at Route 1 and Route 522 instead because of reportedly higher number of accidents there.
   The state Department of Transportation approved that intersection as part of it’s five-year pilot program, and will now have to approve the intersection change, Mr. Schmalz said.
   Mr. Schmalz said earlier that other locations proposed when the township applied to participate in the program in 2008, included the intersections of Ridge Road and Route 1, and Blackhorse Lane and Route 1.
   At the Feb. 22 council meeting, however, Mr. Schmalz said there are reportedly are more incidents of running red lights at the Route 522 and Route 1 intersection than at the Henderson Road and Route 1 intersection.
   Mr. Schmalz also reported at the previous meeting that there were 72 accidents, including 10 with injuries in 2010 at the Route 522 and Route 1 intersection.
   Councilman Joseph Camarota said Tuesday night the council will receive monthly reports on the new cameras to be able to assess the program’s effectiveness.
   After Tuesday’s meeting, Mr. O’Sullivan said he voted against the ordinance because of concerns about Big Brother, and information stating that traffic cameras reportedly resulted in an increase of rear end accidents.
   The cameras are part of a pilot program that has a third party company monitoring the red light cameras, which would have the cameras make a photographic record of the alleged offense, which would be reviewed by local police who would have the discretion of issuing a ticket to the driver, officials said earlier.
   Even though Mr. O’Sullivan said he was willing to be open minded about putting cameras on the traffic lights as a matter of public safety at the Feb. 22 meeting, he said he decided to vote against the measure.