Transportation

Speed Traps? No: New Spy Cameras In Palm Coast FL Aimed At Overweight Trucks

FlaglerLive | November 11, 2013 Crews last week installed video cameras on both sides of U.S. 1 between Royal Palms Parkway and Whiteview Parkway to monitor the weight of large trucks. (© FlaglerLive) Crews last week installed video cameras on both sides of U.S. 1 between Royal Palms Parkway and Whiteview Parkway to monitor the weight of large trucks. (© FlaglerLive) Not to worry: the ominous-looking spy cameras that have just gone up on both side of U.S. 1 between Royal Palms Parkway and Whiteview Parkway in Palm Coast, are not speed cameras. They’re not even trained at most vehicles. They’re aimed at heavy trucks only, to catch overweight truckers trying to evade the weigh stations either on U.S. 1 or on I-95. The cameras on U.S. 1 went up last week. Another set will be built further north, by the northbound lanes of U.S. 1, opposite the weigh station, as part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s $1.2 million virtual weigh station system that’s been rigging up selected points around the county since last year. Similar cameras have been in place a year at the on-ramp of I-95 north and State Road 100, and at the off ramp from I-95 southbound, onto Palm Coast Parkway. That part of the system cost cameras cost $632,000. A crew at work on U.S. 1 last week. Click on the image for larger view. (© FlaglerLive) The cameras are linked to sensors in the road that are triggered only by heavy trucks, […]

Emanuel Touts Savings In Red-Light Camera Contract

BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter October 25, 2013 2:52PM Sun-Times Library storyidforme: 56887440 tmspicid: 18319330 fileheaderid: 8232492 Updated: October 25, 2013 6:41PM Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Friday turned the page from a $2 million bribery scandal plaguing Chicago’s decade-old red-light camera program in a way, he claims, will save taxpayers $10 million a year. The city signed a five-year contract — with three, two-year extensions — that calls for Xerox State & Local Solutions, Inc. to be paid $1,819 per month to manage and maintain each of the city’s 384 red-light cameras. That’s just 42 percent of the $4,300 monthly fee that Chicago was paying Arizona-based Redflex Traffic Solutions, the company forced out by the bribery scandal. The more favorable terms are expected to save taxpayers $10 million a year over the life of the contract, City Hall said. Mayoral spokesman Bill McCaffrey said the dramatic drop in prices stems from the “different technology” used by the two companies. Redflex had “loop detectors mounted in the street.” Xerox is using less costly radar technology, McCaffrey said. Xerox spokesman Carl Langsenkamp had no immediate comment on the contract finalized Friday. A press release issued by City Hall said the “transition to the new management team” would begin immediately. “Automated red-light enforcement changes drivers’ behavior to reduce the number of crashes and increase the level of safety for everyone,” Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein was quoted as saying in a statement. “We plan to continue this important program with a new […]

Frost & Sullican: Mass Transport Operators Reinforce Security As Threats and Insuracne Claims Grow

Frost & Sullivan: Mass Transport Operators Reinforce Security as Threats and Insurance Claims Grow: — Ideal security solutions will have open architectures to offer convenience and value-added services LONDON, Oct. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — After airports, it is the turn of the global mass transport market to beef up security, as governments begin to address the security risks posed by large-scale unprotected infrastructure. In addition to terrorism threats, rising instances of crime, antisocial behaviour, and insurance claims have turned operators’ attention to new technologies in video surveillance, perimeter security, and sensors. The need for stronger security is undisputed, but mass transit operators are often constrained by lean budgets, especially since it is difficult to demonstrate return on investment (ROI) from these installations. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan ( http://www.defense.frost.com ), Global Mass Transport Security Market Overview, finds that the market earned revenues of $1.76 billion in 2012 and estimates this to reach $3.16 billion in 2021, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7 per cent (2012 to 2021). The market will continue to expand due to large investments in metro projects in China and the proposed expansion of current metro projects in India, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. “Most of the security spending in mass transportation is expected to be directed at securing the stations where travellers gather, buses and rolling stock in which travellers are transported, and the areas adjacent to places where transportation is stationed,” said Frost & Sullivan Aerospace, Defence and Security Research Analyst Krzysztof […]