Politics & Government
Red Light Cameras to be Removed Near North Center, Emanuel Says
Chicago plans to remove red light cameras from 18 intersections because they had a crash rate of less than one percent, including one near North Center.

Drivers can say “Goodbye” to more than a dozen red light cameras around Chicago, including one on the border of North Center, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Tuesday.
The controversial cameras will be pulled from 18 intersections after findings showed there were either zero or just one “T-bone” crashes, and a total crash rate of less than 1 percent, the Chicago Tribune reports.
More than 35 cameras in total will be removed, including the one on North California Avenue near Gordon Tech High School on the border of North Center. One other nearby camera being removed is located at Belmont and Halsted in Boystown.
Find out what's happening in North Center-Roscoe Villagefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The announcement comes on the heels of Chicago’s plan to start issuing $100 tickets for drivers caught by the city’s new speed cameras.
North Center's's only speed camera is set for Lane Tech High School at 2501 W. Addison St. Other North Side communities, like Lincoln Square and Budlong Woods, should be seeing several by the end of the year. Horner Park at 2741 W. Montrose Ave., Welles Park at 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave. and Peterson Park 3100 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. are currently the closest cameras. Installation is predicted before the end of the year.
Find out what's happening in North Center-Roscoe Villagefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The 30-day warning period ended last week for Chicago’s first speed cameras. As for the removal of the defunct red light cameras, the Tribune reports they’ll be pulled by Jan. 31, 2014.
According to WGN, the 18 intersections where red-light cameras will be removed are:
- Osceola and Touhy Avenues
- Kedzie and Devon Avenues
- Harlem and Higgins Avenues
- Sheridan Road and Hollywood Avenue
- Austin and Belmont Avenues
- Cicero and Belmont Avenues
- Halsted and Belmont Avenues
- California and North Avenues
- Wells and North Avenues
- Kostner Avenue and Division Street
- Clark Street and Cermak Road
- California Avenue and 35th Street
- California Avenue and 47th Street
- Pulaski Road and 71st Street
- Wentworth Avenue and 65th Street
- Racine Avenue and 79th Street
- 79th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue
- Stony Island Avenue and 89th Street
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