ITEM 5. 2
CITY MANAGER' SREPORT
JANUARY 12, 2026 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
ITEM: REVIEW AND CONSIDER RED- LIGHT SAFETY
CAMERAS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF RIVER
ISLANDS PARKWAY & MCKEE BOULEVARD, LATHROP
ROAD & 5TH STREET/ WOODFIELD DRIVE, AND
GOLDEN VALLEY PARKWAY & SPARTAN WAY
RECOMMENDATION: Council to Consider Red - Light Safety Cameras at the Intersections of River Islands Parkway & Mckee
Boulevard, Lathrop Road & 5th Street/ Woodfield
Drive, and Golden Valley Parkway & Spartan Way
SUMMARY:
During the October 13, 2025 Council Meeting, Council Member Dresser made a referral requesting that staff investigate red- light safety cameras at multiple intersections throughout the City. In addition, staff have received complaints from residents and reports from the Lathrop Police Department ( LPD) regarding frequent red -light - running at numerous intersections throughout the City.
Red -light -running remains a
leading cause of severe right- angle ("T- bone") crashes at signalized intersections nationally, resulting in hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries each year. Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety IIHS), Federal Highway Administration ( FHWA), and other safety organizations show that automated red- light enforcement can reduce red- light violations by roughly 40% and fatal red -light -running crashes in large U. S. cities by approximately 21-4%.
Staff recommends that Council consider the installation of red- light safety cameras at the intersections of River Islands Parkway & Mckee Boulevard, Lathrop Road & 5th Street/ Woodfield Drive, and Golden Valley Parkway & Spartan Way to reduce violations and increase safety.
BACKGROUND:
Staff identified Verra Mobility, a leading company in automated red- light enforcement technology, as the only available comprehensive solution for automated enforcement.
Verra Mobility assisted staff with identifying intersections where automated red- light enforcement may be most effective and the intersections of River Islands Parkway & Mckee Boulevard, Lathrop Road & 5th Street/ Woodfield Drive, and Golden Valley Parkway & Spartan Way were selected.
CITY MANAGER' S REPORT PAGE 2
JANUARY 12, 2026 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
REVIEW AND CONSIDER RED- LIGHT SAFETY CAMERAS AT THE
INTERSECTIONS OF RIVER ISLANDS PARKWAY & MCKEE BOULEVARD, LATHROP ROAD & 5T" STREET/ WOODFIELD DRIVE, AND GOLDEN VALLEY
PARKWAY & SPARTAN WAY
The primary purpose of automated red- light enforcement is to improve intersection safety, not to generate revenue. Key objectives include:
Reducing the frequency and severity of right- angle and other red -light -running crashes that tend to cause serious injuries and fatalities.
Improving driver compliance with traffic signals citywide through deterrence and predictable enforcement, including a spillover effect at non -camera intersections.
National and regional evaluations provide a strong evidence base for automated redlight enforcement:
An IIHS- cited study found that installation of red- light cameras reduced red- light violations by about 40% at treated intersections.
Large -city studies report about a 21-4% reduction in fatal red -Tight -running crashes after implementing red light camera programs.
FHWA research has documented roughly a 25% decrease in total right- angle crashes and a 16% reduction in injury right- angle crashes at intersections with red light cameras, though some locations see modest increases in rear -end crashes, which are generally less severe.
Automated red- light enforcement cameras are typically placed at the approach to the intersection and are connected to the traffic signal cabinet to determine when the traffic signal transitions from yellow to red. The traffic signal cabinet connection is on -way, meaning that the traffic signal operation and timing cannot be altered by the enforcement camera.
The State of California adopted Senate BiII 720 ( SB 720) on January 1, 2026, which regulates the use of automated red- light enforcement cameras. SB 720 creates an optional " Safer Streets Program" that lets cities and counties run red light camera systems under a new, less punitive framework: violations are treated as civil, not criminal, with tickets issued to the vehicle owner based on the license plate rather than to the identified driver, and fines are capped at about $ 100 including fees, instead of the previous system where tickets could exceed $ 500, add points to a driver' s record, and were processed through the court system. The bill requires strong privacy protections by focusing cameras on the rear plate and limiting use and retention of images, and it directs any revenue specifically to road safety and street improvement projects rather than general funds. In addition, the revenue for the contractor providing and maintaining the automated red- light enforcement camera system is limited to a flat rate of $5250 with the remaining revenue from violations going to the City.
CITY MANAGER' SREPORT PAGE 3
JANUARY 12, 2026 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
REVIEW AND CONSIDER RED- LIGHT SAFETY CAMERAS AT THE
INTERSECTIONS OF RIVER ISLANDS PARKWAY & MCKEE BOULEVARD, LATHROP ROAD & 5TH STREET/ WOODFIELD DRIVE, AND GOLDEN VALLEY
PARKWAY & SPARTAN WAY
The expected monthly revenue for each intersection is as follows:
River Islands Parkway & Mckee Boulevard: $10, 540
Lathrop Road & 5th Street/ Woodfield Drive: $7, 500
Golden Valley Parkway & Spartan Way: $7, 640
To participate in SB 720, the City must adopt an automated traffic enforcement system impact report at a public hearing before implementing the automated red- light enforcement cameras. The system impact report must be made available for public review at least 30 days before the public hearing and the City must announce the implementation 30 days in advance of operation, in addition to a 60 day no fine warning period.
Staff recommends that Council consider the installation of red- light safety cameras at the intersections of River Islands Parkway & Mckee Boulevard, Lathrop Road & 5th Street/ Woodfield Drive, and Golden Valley Parkway & Spartan Way to reduce violations and increase safety. If Council decides to proceed, staff will return with the automated traffic enforcement system impact report and detailed implementation information for final approval of a contract.
REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION:
Red -light -running remains a leading cause of severe right- angle ("T- bone") crashes at signalized intersections nationally, resulting in hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries each year. Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety IIHS), Federal Highway Administration ( FHWA), and other safety organizations show that automated red- light enforcement can reduce red- light violations by roughly 40% and fatal red -Tight -running crashes in large U. S. cities by approximately 21-4%.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impacts associated with this item. Future fiscal impacts will be addressed based on council direction.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Intersection Feasibility Report
CITY MANAGER' S REPORT PAGE 4
JANUARY 12, 2026 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
REVIEW AND CONSIDER RED- LIGHT SAFETY CAMERAS AT THE
INTERSECTIONS OF RIVER ISLANDS PARKWAY & MCKEE BOULEVARD, LATHROP ROAD & 5T" STREET/ WOODFIELD DRIVE, AND GOLDEN VALLEY
PARKWAY & SPARTAN WAY
APPROVALS:
Date
01- °'.- 6
o Fernandes Date
Information Systems Director
phen Sealy
Chief of Police
1/; 720
Date
Thomas Hedegard Date
Deputy City Manager
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Michael King Date
Assistant City Manager
Salvador Navarrete
City Attorney
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Date
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Stephen J. Salvatore Date
City Manager
Attachment A
Intersection
Average Daily
Traffic Rating
Expected Total
Revenue
Expected City Revenue
less $ 5250/ mo)
NB GOLDEN VALLEY PKWY @ SPARTAN WAY 9311 4. 17 9, 382. 50 4, 132. 50 WB SPARTAN WAY @ GOLDEN VALLEY PKWY 9311 3. 89 8, 752. 50 3, 502.0 EB RIVER ISLANDS PKWY @ MCKEE BLVD 13349 4. 53 10,92. 50 4, 942. 50 WB RIVER ISLANDS PKWY @ MCKEE BLVD 13349 4. 82 10, 845. 00 5,95. 00 EB W LATHROP @ 5TH ST / WOODFIELD DR 14938 3.5 7, 537.0 2,87. 50 WB W LATHROP @ 5TH ST / WOODFIELD DR 14938 4. 65 10, 462. 50 5, 212. 50 EB E LOUISE AVE @ S HARLEN RD 17400 2. 08 4, 680. 0 570. 00 WB E LOUISE AVE @ S HARLAN RD 17400 3. 15 7, 087. 50 1, 837. 50 EB W LATHROP RD @ S HARLAN RD 15596 3. 67 8, 257. 50 3, 007. 50 WB W LATHROP RD @ S HARLAN RD 15596 3. 63 8, 167. 50 2, 917. 50
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