If an accident ever happens at an intersection in Richmond next year, it is likely to be recorded on camera.
The City of Richmond is planning to install closed circuit television (CCTV) at all the 175 signalized intersections in 2018.
The staff report was passed at the city council’s general purposes committee this week, pending final approval at the council meeting next Monday.
Once approved, the city will invest approximately $2.2 million to upgrade all existing traffic cameras to allow for live video feed recording, and to add additional video recording cameras at all signalized intersections.
“The main purpose of installing CCTV cameras is to enhance public safety in the City of Richmond,” said in the staff report.
“Threats of violence and terrorism remain an existential threat not only in international locations… but also domestically in cities in Canada.
“Richmond is an international gateway into Canada with major facilities including the airport and Metro Vancouver Port…It is prudent to address potential threats to the city’s community safety needs.”
The cameras will provide evidence for investigations on serious collisions at intersections, as well as facilitate the RCMP’s ability to identify and locate criminals, and investigate threats of violence or terrorism.
Cameras will also help monitor big events, such as the Steveston Salmon Festival and Richmond World Festival, to ensure public safety, noted the report.
The Richmond RCMP and the city’s transportation department hopes the technology will “deter crime, reduce traffic accidents and provide an additional tool in crime and accident investigations.”
If the funding is approved next week, staff will seek funding opportunities from senior levels of government to leverage the city’s financing for the project.
Currently, there are 60 intersections in Richmond equipped with non-recording traffic detection cameras, which function to detect vehicles, manage traffic flow and respond to real-time traffic incidents.
Based on statistics from ICBC, 88 per cent of accidents in Richmond occurred at intersections.
