"When did our local leaders stop being public servants and become full-time fundraisers, albeit for public purposes?"
Letters:
It's all about revenue
June 04, 2006
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Copyright 2006
Did I miss something? When did our local leaders stop being public servants and become full-time fundraisers, albeit for public purposes?
I first noticed this phenomenon during the recent round of public meetings by the North Texas Council of Governments on potential toll roads. Little mention was made of improved mobility, better accessibility or better roads. The discussion was about how much we could charge drivers, how to divide the cash and how much cash prospective toll contractors would have to provide up-front to get the contracts.
Now it's cameras to catch red-light runners. Already the police chief in Arlington is figuring out how to spend the excess funds raised. Does no one understand that if the program is successful there will be no excess, only continued payments to the contractor, estimated by columnist Jack Z. Smith at $5,000 per month? (See May 26 column.)
Early adopters of cameras had to shorten the yellow cycle to improve the cash flow, and I suppose the ultimate is to go simply from a green to red signal as the very early stop signals did.
John Sweek, Arlington
Cities always want more revenue. National safety studies have shown that the length of the yellow light dictates both safety and revenue from traffic cameras. A longer yellow promotes safety and accidents decrease, but when the pause is lessened, revenue soars!
Traffic cameras are about revenue. A city that leases a camera at $60,000 per year needs for drivers to understand that yellow means: 'Speed up. We need the money.'
Justus Hardin, Fort Worth
© 2006 Fort Worth Star-Telegram: www.dfw.com
It's all about revenue
June 04, 2006
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Copyright 2006
Did I miss something? When did our local leaders stop being public servants and become full-time fundraisers, albeit for public purposes?
I first noticed this phenomenon during the recent round of public meetings by the North Texas Council of Governments on potential toll roads. Little mention was made of improved mobility, better accessibility or better roads. The discussion was about how much we could charge drivers, how to divide the cash and how much cash prospective toll contractors would have to provide up-front to get the contracts.
Now it's cameras to catch red-light runners. Already the police chief in Arlington is figuring out how to spend the excess funds raised. Does no one understand that if the program is successful there will be no excess, only continued payments to the contractor, estimated by columnist Jack Z. Smith at $5,000 per month? (See May 26 column.)
Early adopters of cameras had to shorten the yellow cycle to improve the cash flow, and I suppose the ultimate is to go simply from a green to red signal as the very early stop signals did.
John Sweek, Arlington
Cities always want more revenue. National safety studies have shown that the length of the yellow light dictates both safety and revenue from traffic cameras. A longer yellow promotes safety and accidents decrease, but when the pause is lessened, revenue soars!
Traffic cameras are about revenue. A city that leases a camera at $60,000 per year needs for drivers to understand that yellow means: 'Speed up. We need the money.'
Justus Hardin, Fort Worth
© 2006 Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Sunday, June 04, 2006
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