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Oakbrook Terrace to learn status of red-light cameras
Oakbrook Terrace is hoping to have red light cameras installed at Illinois 83 and 22nd Street, but needs Illinois Department of Transportation approval before it can do so. | Chuck Fieldman—Sun-Times Media
Updated: March 11, 2013 2:19AM
OAKBROOK TERRACE — Oakbrook Terrace officials should know more about the future of red-light cameras at Illinois 83 and 22nd Street following a Thursday meeting.
City Manager John Carpino said Monday that city officials would meet with representatives of SafeSpeed, LLC, a Chicago company with which Oakbrook Terrace has a contract for the installation and maintenance of red-light cameras.
SafeSpeed has been conducting additional traffic studies at the intersection since getting a contract with the city in September. The Oakbrook Terrace City Council approved the contract and adopted an ordinance that would allow for the installation of red-light cameras and for the administrative adjudications of red-light violations.
City officials should learn Thursday if results of the traffic study by SafeSpeed indicate a need for red-light cameras. If that is the case, approval for cameras installation will be sought from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
If installed, red-light cameras would be installed at the Route 83/22nd Street intersection for southbound traffic on Route 83 and for eastbound traffic on 22nd Street. Those two traffic patterns have experienced the greatest number of intersection accidents since the beginning of 2010, Police Chief Wayne Holakovsky said.
The decision by the City Council to pursue red-light cameras was met by opposition from the Oak Brook Area Chamber of Commerce and the Oak Brook Village Board.
Tracy Mulqueen, president and chief executive officer of the Oak Brook Area Chamber of Commerce, said red-light cameras would have a negative impact on businesses in the area. The Oak Brook Village Board agreed.
Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Tony Ragucci said the installation of red-light cameras is a safety issue and would not be done in an effort to generate revenue from fines.
“I understand the concerns of Oak Brook and the chamber,” he said. “Oakbrook Terrace has been studying this for five years, and it’s for safety. In my opinion, this intersection warrants red-light cameras.
The red-light cameras capture images of vehicles entering the intersections, and citations can be issued to drivers who don’t come to a complete stop before making a right turn on red, or those entering an intersection while the light is red. Revenue from citations would go to both SafeSpeed and the city.
