Honorable Harold V. Dutton Jr., Chair, House Committee on Urban Affairs
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1365 by Callegari (Relating to requiring flashing lights to be posted before an intersection at which a photographic system is used to enforce compliance with traffic-control signals.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time because it is not known if any localities will discontinue the use of photographic traffic signal enforcement systems (systems) as a result of the bill. If any systems are discontinued a revenue loss to the state would occur.
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to require a municipality to post signs from at least 100 feet, but not more than 750 feet, with a flashing yellow circular beacon that comply with the design and size requirements of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) along roadways that lead to an intersection that has an operational photographic traffic monitoring system.
TxDOT indicated there would be no fiscal impact on the department, but some minor operational impacts may be necessary.
The bill also would require a municipality or a local authority to ensure that signs installed before the effective date of the bill comply with the provisions of the bill by September 1, 2012.
The bill would be effective September 1, 2011.
The State receives 50 percent of the proceeds from civil penalties relating to the operation of photographic traffic signal enforcement systems (systems) for deposit in the Regional Trauma Account 5137 and any impact on local revenue would also have an impact on State revenue. The amount of revenue loss would vary depending upon the number of citations issued by localities that discontinue a system.
Local Government Impact
There would be a negative fiscal impact to a municipality for the required signage, but the amounts would vary depending on whether a municipality currently has signs posted, needs to modify existing signs, or post new signs that would comply with the provisions of the bill before September 1, 2012.
The City of Austin reported the total costs for fiscal year (FY) 2012 would be $220,000 which would include costs for 11 additional flashing beacons. This analysis is based on installation of a sign with a flashing beacon which costs an estimated $5,000 per approach; and an intersection with a Red Light Camera with a sign with a flashing beacon would result in an average cost of $20,000 for a normal intersection with four directions. Intersections with a Red Light Camera installed at 11 intersections would cost $220,000. The city’s affected department current FY budget is $15.8 million.
The City of Fort Worth reported the total costs for FY 2012 would be estimated at $2.5 million which would include costs for 154 additional flashing beacons ($2.3 million); annual electricity ($64,680); annual maintenance ($38,500); and a 10 percent knockdown rate ($38,500). The city also noted there would be costs in subsequent fiscal years ranging from $778,480 to $888,880 for additional cameras and required flashing beacons. The city reported there would be a total revenue loss of $451,680. The city’s Department Traffic Safety Fund budget is $2.0 million.
The City of Plano reported the total costs for FY 2012 would be $121,600 which would include costs for the flashing beacons at intersections with Red Light Camera systems. The cost of a flashing light unit is approximately $1,900 each, and if a flashing beacon is required at each traffic approach of the 16 intersections in Plano with Red Light Cameras, the city would need a total of 64 flashing beacons. The city also noted there would be costs in subsequent years for repairs and maintenance of the flashing beacons. The City of Plano's revenue and operating expenses for the Photographic Traffic Signal Enforcement Program are contained in the Traffic Safety Fund which is a separate account from the City of Plano’s General Fund; the current FY budget for the Traffic Safety Fund is an estimated $2.5 million.
Source Agencies:
601 Department of Transportation, 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts