Friday’s Headlines Smile for the Camera

A nationwide push for camera policing, a takedown of congestion pricing skeptics, and more.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on July 21, 2023

Tom Page, CC

Cities are increasingly turning to cameras for traffic enforcement, despite concerns about surveillance and racial equity, because they've been proven to reduce speeding and red-light running (Smart Cities Dive). Seattle, with its short-staffed police department, is one city that's pushing for more automated enforcement (The Urbanist).
A Planetizen columnist knocks down the idea that congestion pricing will make downtowns less appealing.
There are ten options on the table for I-94 in Minneapolis, including repairing the freeway as-is, expanding it or turning it into a boulevard. (Star Tribune)
Seattle's city engineer was recently promoted to the newly created position of chief transportation safety officer in charge of implementing Vision Zero. (KIRO)
Oklahoma City adopted a Vision Zero policy. (Journal Record)
Tired of being in the top 10 for pedestrian deaths, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan wants to nearly double the city budget for sidewalks and crosswalks. (First Coast News)
A rezoning to promote walkable businesses will accompany Denver's new East Colfax bus rapid transit line. (Denverite)
California cities are falling behind on complete streets compared to cities in such unlikely places as Texas and Louisiana. (CalBikes)
Golf cart-driving residents of suburban Pasco County, Florida, will soon have a place to cross one of the most dangerous highways in the U.S. (Tampa Bay Times)
Cobb County in suburban Atlanta is considering a new transit hub. (Marietta Daily Journal)
The Portugese city of Porto is limiting cars in the city center and building 30 kilometers of bike and pedestrian paths. (The Portugal News)
Just weeks after announcing a reversal of Madrid's low-emissions zones, the city's new right-wing government asked people to stop driving during the current heatwave. (Reuters)