Red-light cameras coming to Granite Shoals

By CHRIS PORTER • Daily Tribune Staff

GRANITE SHOALS - Local leaders say student safety was the deciding factor in a recent decision to bring red-light enforcement cameras to Granite Shoals’ two major intersections.

Mayor Frank Reilly in August signed a contract with Redflex Traffic Systems Inc., which will conduct a traffic survey and install red-light cameras at up to three intersections. The contract lasts for five years, with two automatic one-year extensions.

The initial study will begin in early October, officials said.

“They will first do a study to determine whether and where the best places are to put the camera,” Reilly said. “If it looks like it will be beneficial to the city, we’ll go ahead and move forward.”

The most likely spot for the first camera is the intersection of Phillips Ranch Road and RR 1431, Reilly said.

“Highland Lakes Elementary is there, and it’s probably the busiest intersection in the city,” he said.

Another likely spot is the intersection of Valley View Drive and RR 1431 at the opposite end of the city.

“Both of those are intersections at both ends of the city, so it makes sense to have the cameras there,” Reilly said. “A lot of people come through Granite Shoals these days.”

Police Chief J.P. Wilson said he supports the new system, adding the cameras will improve safety on what he calls a dangerous road.

“The speed limit through the city (on RR 1431) is 50 mph,” Wilson said. “We’ve asked (the Texas Department of Transportation) for several years to slow down the speed limit at Phillips Ranch Road and 1431, and they’ve said no. We’ve had fatalities there from people running red lights, and I’m hoping a red-light camera will help keep the area safe for students.”

The red-light camera system operates similar to the former Marble Falls speed van. A camera mounted near the traffic signal will capture a digital image of violators’ vehicles and license plates, and a citation will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

Wilson said red-light violations are civil penalties that will be handled in the city’s Municipal Court, though an online payment option may be available.

“It’s not that expensive,” he said. “It’s not going to be a ‘gotcha’ game where we’re out to make money. It’s strictly for public safety.”

Signs will be posted to warn drivers about the cameras, Wilson added.

Reilly and Wilson agreed the system is a necessity in the face of increasing traffic on that stretch of RR 1431.

“We have asked and re-asked TxDOT to slower the speed limit there, and their answers have been no,” Reilly said. “We got a letter from them last week where they said they were going to continue studying it, but it doesn’t look promising. Their goal is to move traffic and ours is to save lives.”

Wilson asked local residents to write their elected representatives about the issue.

“It’s dangerous. This city’s traffic continues to grow daily,” he said. “I think we really need a school zone out there, but they have basically said no every time.”

Each day, dozens of parents and school buses carry students to and from the area, as cars rush through the intersection.

“I encourage every person who has a child going to school at Highland Lakes Elementary to write Sen. (Troy) Fraser or their representative and flood the TxDOT Austin office,” Wilson said. “I’ve tried to play nice, I’ve tried to send letters, but they’re not giving us the time of day. They don’t seem to think the children of Granite Shoals are worth keeping safe.”

In the meantime, Wilson said the red-light enforcement cameras are a good start to slow traffic at the intersection.

“I’m behind this 100 percent,” he said. “It’s a safety issue.”

Australia-based Redflex provides traffic enforcement systems worldwide, including red-light cameras and speed enforcement cameras.

Reilly said the company approached the city about installing the red-light cameras.

“They’re on a state bid-list contract, so we were able to use their services without going out for bids,” Reilly said. “They and Nestor (Traffic Systems Inc.) are the two primary traffic enforcement system providers.”

The company’s services come at no cost to the city, though Reilly said Redflex will collect a portion of the fine from every citation.

Reilly said the city chose to work with Redflex after considering Rhode Island-based Nestor’s current financial woes.

The company’s stock closed at 89 cents per share Friday, still short of the $1 goal set by the Nasdaq Exchange. Nestor faces de-listing from the technologies market if its stock doesn’t close at $1 for 10 consecutive days by Oct 1.

chris@thepicayune.com

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Red-light cameras coming
to Granite Shoals