COLUMBIA — The city of Columbia plans to install red-light cameras at two intersections by early next month.
A traffic study, conducted by Allstate Consultants at Providence Road and Broadway and also at Stadium Boulevard and Worley Street, led to the decision to put cameras in these two intersections, according to a city staff memo.
Tony St. Romaine, assistant city manager, said the cameras are necessary to lower the number of red-light violations in the two areas.
“There are a significant number of violations at those two intersections on a daily basis, and there is a need to have these cameras installed,” St. Romaine said.
Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Jessica Haden identified safety as a primary concern.
"Our hope is that, knowing red-light cameras are coming into existence, people will take that to heart and slow down," she said.
St. Romaine said the cameras will be in place the week of July 6.
The city is also considering an advertising campaign to make residents aware of the new cameras.
St. Romaine said there are plans to conduct studies on several other intersections. The results from the studies will determine which intersections receive cameras in the future.
“I would say that (the studies) would be completed within the next 60 days,” he said.