Fines from Phila.'s red-light runners being spread around state

The state is again divvying up Philadelphia's red-light camera fines.

This time, $1.5 million collected from motorists who ran red lights in Philadelphia last year is being distributed to 26 Pennsylvania cities and towns, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said.

Another $1.5 million is going to Philadelphia for highway-safety projects.

That brings to $20 million the fines from red-light cameras that have been given to governments around the state in the last two years: $10 million to Philadelphia and $10 million to the rest of the state.

Philadelphia is the only place in the state allowed to operate red-light cameras. Legislation to allow other cities to use the cameras passed the state Senate last year but has not moved in the House.

The cameras have generated debate in Pennsylvania and elsewhere over their role as revenue-generators as well as safety devices.

Motorists caught by red-light cameras at 21 Philadelphia intersections have paid about $50 million in fines since the program started in 2005.

More than half that money has gone to pay the expenses of operating the program, mainly to American Traffic Solutions Inc., the Scottsdale, Ariz., company that installs and maintains the cameras, and to the Philadelphia Parking Authority, which administers the program.

The remainder goes to PennDot, which splits it between Philadelphia and the rest of the state.

The money being doled out now includes $85,000 for pedestrian-safety improvements on Normal Street in Edinboro, Erie County; $33,000 for new guardrails on Bucktail Avenue in Chapman Township, Clinton County; fixes for a stone wall in Moscow, Lackawanna County; $12,000 for a left-turn light in Moon Township, Allegheny County. Closer to home are $146,030 to Caln Township and Downingtown, Chester County, for improvements on Business Route 30 and U.S. Route 322, and $205,000 for signal controls on U.S. Route 1 in Concord Township, Delaware County.

The $1.5 million coming back to Philadelphia will be used for safety improvements at the city's most dangerous intersections - new signs, pavement markings, guardrails, and pedestrian countdown lights.

In addition to the 21 Philadelphia intersections now monitored by red-light cameras, four other intersections await approval to get cameras: Academy Road and Grant Avenue; Knights Road and Woodhaven Road; Byberry Road and Worthington Road; and Byberry Road and Bustleton Avenue.