While some may be racing to the New Year, the City of New Orleans is encouraging residents to slow down.
This past October, Mayor Mitch Landrieu proposed New Orleans 2017 budget which included the funding of 66 new redlight cameras.
At the turn of the New Year, the Office of the Mayor reports that the city will deploy 45 new traffic cameras between January and April of 2017.
City officials have been supportive of new traffic cameras despite some public opposition. Col. Mark Jernigan, Director of the City of New Orleans Department of Public Works, believes cameras will make New Orleans a safer place.
“We have come a long way in making driving safer in New Orleans but we still have work to do. We want the public to be aware that there are consequences for those who break the law and jeopardize the safety of our students, bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians,” Jernigan said in an official press release.
The majority of the cameras installed will track speeds at and nearby school zones. According to the Office of the Mayor, the camera technology will track violators who are traveling faster than six miles over the posted limit.
As of 2016, only 16 percent of New Orleans schools are assisted with traffic camera technology.
New cameras will be installed near 45 schools in the city. School zones in New Orleans are from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2:45 to 4:45 p.m.
Affected schools include St. George’s Episcopal School on Napoleon Avenue, Lafayette School on South Carrollton Avenue, McDonogh 28 Elementary on Esplanade Avenue, and Wheatley Elementary on Orleans Avenue.
For a full list of school zones with active camera, and cameras to be activated by April of 2017, click here.
- City council questions addition of 66 red light cameras [Curbed NOLA]