Washington: Camera Companies Oppose Congestion Reduction Measure

Next Tuesday, Washington state voters will consider Initiative 985. If adopted, I-985 would force local jurisdictions to synchronize traffic signals at high-volume intersections, open High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes during non-peak hours and prohibit the imposition of tolls to raise general revenue. I-985 pays for the synchronization mandate by, among other things, diverting red light camera profits into a traffic congestion relief fund. The measure’s co-sponsor, Tim Eyman, says taking away camera profits would stop local governments from installing the devices as a cash grab. After I-985 qualified for the ballot, five cities dropped plans to adopt photo enforcement. As you’d imagine, the revenue provisions have sparked vicious and vociferous opposition from groups that stand to lose money from the new deal.

Nearly a quarter of the $152,969 raised for the “No on 985” effort came from Signal Electric and American Traffic Solutions, companies involved in traffic camera projects. Toll road firms spent a reported $20k on the anti-985 effort. The American Council of Engineering Companies Washington, HDR Engineering, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Wilbur Smith Associates all fear a loss of business if the measure passes and tolling no longer become an option for state officials to balance the budget.

In direct violation of the Hatch Act, the U.S Department of Transportation recently began efforts to influence the I-985 vote. A top official issued grave warnings about the “degradation of transit performance” if voters approve the measure. The Federal Highway Administration issued an “October surprise” letter last week designed to raise doubt in voters minds about a possible loss of federal funding as a result of the I-985 provision that would open HOV lanes in off-peak hours.

Seattle’s two main newspapers have also attempted to derail the initiative’s passage. “Vote in favor of the initiative and your kid will get smashed in the legs by fenders of a car running a red light, or your grandmother killed as she uses a crosswalk after getting off a bus,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly wrote.