Just so you know if you're daydreaming or yakking on your handheld cell phone while driving through certain intersections in Philadelphia, there are now three more red-light camera intersections in West and North Philly - bringing the total number to 13.
I'm not superstitious, but that number doesn't bode well somehow.
It can cost you a $100 fine if you run red lights at 58th and Walnut streets, Broad Street and Hunting Park Avenue and Ninth Street and Roosevelt Boulevard, in addition to the other cameras already installed.
The mayor and city council authorized the three newest cameras in May. The grace period for violators of the above three intersections ended Jan. 7. Two more cameras are proposed for the Broad Street area near City Hall.
I got caught by one at Broad Street and Oregon Avenue in South Philly about two years ago because I got stuck behind another car. So take it from me, it's not worth taking a day off from work to fight it since the cameras usually don't lie. At least no points were added to my driving record.
The Philadelphia Parking Authority, administrator of the program, tells AAA Mid-Atlantic that it selected the three latest intersections for the cameras because of a high number of crashes and red-light running incidents there.
Road Watcher has mixed feelings about their effectiveness in preventing crashes and notes some reports that they may even contribute to rear-end crashes.
AAA supports red-light camera programs only when certain protections are in place for motorists. It has criticized some red-light camera programs in the Mid-Atlantic region primarily because they are tainted by poor administration and operating standards.
AAA has supported the Philadelphia program because of its legally mandated operating standards. Even so, it has continuously called for more disclosure of statistical information for motorists. The city's program is based on safeguards incorporated into authorizing legislation in 2003 that promote safety enhancement, not revenue generation.
The PPA now publishes an annual report.
Granted, I can see the need for such cameras on the accident-prone speedway known as Roosevelt Boulevard - complicated by 12 lanes with numerous intersections. But it's too easy to snag someone on busy Broad Street with its gridlock and Center City traffic.
According to the PPA report filed with PennDOT dated Sept. 23, total program revenue for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, was $7.3 million; program expenses were $4.3 million; net year income was $3 million.
The total due to the PennDOT Motor License Fund for last year was $3 million. As of the last payment on June 1, 2008, $2.5 million was paid. The balance due for Fiscal Year 2008 of $660,394 was paid on Aug. 28, 2008.
There were a total of 89,156 citations issued plus 19,871 warnings for all intersections active during the fiscal year. As of March 31, 2008, there was $2.6 million in unpaid violations, according to the PPA report.
Maybe, Delaware County towns should get on the ball and have these cameras installed on busy roads like Baltimore Pike, Township Line Road (U.S. Route 1),West Chester Pike (Route 3) and U.S. Route 322, which certainly have their share of red-light runners.
The other red-light camera intersections are:
Roosevelt Boulevard at the intersections of Mascher Street, LevickStreet, Rhawn Street, Welsh Road, Southampton Road, Grant Avenue, Cottman Avenue and Red Lion Road; 34th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue; Broad Street and Oregon Avenue.
DRIVER CENTER CLOSINGS
PennDOT's driver license and photo centers will be closed Saturday, Jan. 17, and Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Customers may still obtain a variety of services and products online through PennDOT's 24-hour Driver and Vehicle Services Web site, www.dmv.state.pa.us.
Online services include driver's license and photo ID renewal, vehicle registration renewal, driver history services, change of address and exam scheduling.
There are no extra fees for using online services.
A complete listing of 2009 holiday closings at PennDOT's driver and photo license centers is available online on the above Web site.
CHESTER
New traffic patterns are scheduled to begin Monday on Flower Street, Fourth Street and Second Street in Chester as part of PennDOT's $71.1 million project to construct two new ramps off the Commodore Barry Bridge.
It will provide direct access between I-95 and Route 291 (Second Street). Construction is scheduled to finish in 2011.
Work crews will restrict Norris Street at Front Street and at Delaware Avenue. Flower Street in both directions will be closed between Second and Front streets, and motorists will be detoured.
ROUTE 202 BRIDGE
Construction will begin in April to rehabilitate the three-span bridge carrying U.S. Route 202 over SEPTA-owned railroad tracks in West Goshen, Chester County, at a cost of $3.7 million. The project is scheduled to finish in November 2010.
Starting this spring, PennDOT will replace the superstructure (steel I-beams and concrete deck) on the Route 202 bridge located between Matlack Street and the Westtown Road Interchange.
The project will be built in five stages in order to keep Route 202 open to two lanes of traffic in each direction during most times of the day.
The bridge's steel beams and concrete deck have deteriorated to the extent that they must be replaced, according to PennDOT District Executive Lester C. Toaso. The bridge was built in 1954; it is 68 feet wide and 138 feet long and carries 49,000 vehicles a day.
Route 202 will remain open to traffic during construction, but motorists will face changing traffic patterns and lane closures during overnight hours - 10 p.m.-5 a.m. - and possibly on weekends.
In April 2007, PennDOT installed 24 steel support columns beneath the structure to reinforce the deck and keep the bridge from being posted with a weight restriction.
SCHUYLKILL EXPRESSWAY
Overnight travel restrictions are scheduled this week on the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) between the South Street and I-676 interchanges in Philadelphia for overhead bridge construction.
Motorists are advised to allow additional travel time during the overnight hours because backups will occur during the removal of protective shielding and installation of new downspouts on the overhead Schuylkill Avenue structure.
On Monday-Tuesday, 10 p.m.-5 a.m., I-76 East/West will be reduced from two lanes to one. The left lane will be closed in each direction.
Wednesday to Friday, 10 p.m.-5 a.m., I-76 West will be reduced from two lanes to one. The westbound right lane will be closed during this time.
BRIDGE INSPECTIONS
The left lane will be closed on the northbound I-95/Girard Point Bridge in Philadelphia 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays for bridge inspections.
Traffic Delays
Middletown - Route 352 North/South, patching between Upland Avenue and Dutton Mill Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday.
Also, U.S. Route 1 North, PECO Energy utility installation between Red Roof Road and Pennell Road (Route 452) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 18. Work began Dec. 22.
Newtown - Bryn Mawr Avenue, patching between Malin and Darby-Paoli roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Upper Providence - Ridley Creek Road, inlet repairs between Kirk Lane and Rosemary Circle 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Also, Beatty Road, bridge deck repairs between Crum Creek Road and Beatty View Lane 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Marple - Media Line Road, Aqua utility installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May. Work begins Monday.
"Road Watch" appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.