A proposed plan calls for the use of technology — not ticketing cameras — to help improve safety in city school zones.

The joint plan by the Redmond Police and Public Works Departments recommends installing 16 beacons with digitally programmed radar speed indicator signs in school zones throughout the city.

The beacon will alert drivers of the school zone speed limit and the sign underneath will flash real-time speeds of oncoming drivers. The signs, known as speed radar feedback signs, will flash a “slow down” message if drivers are going too fast.

“We like radar feedback signs because they provide that critical clarity of what is the speed limit right now and what is my speed right now,” said City of Redmond public works program administrator Jeff Palmer.

The speed radar feedback signs are part of an estimated $1 million comprehensive traffic safety plan, which was presented by Palmer and police leaders at Tuesday’s City Council public safety committee meeting.

Redmond Police Chief Ron Gibson said that the speed radar feedback signs have proven to be much more effective than the controversial traffic-enforcement speed cameras currently in place.

“The results we found working with traffic engineers and traffic operations is that the speed feedback signs actually have better reductions in speeds in school zones,” Gibson said. “We are going to recommend that we go that route.”

The city’s contract with camera vendor American Traffic Solutions (ATS) for its two school-zone ticketing cameras near Einstein Elementary School will end on or near June 22 — ending a year a half pilot program using the criticized traffic-enforcement cameras.

The city put an end to its red-light ticketing pilot program Jan. 31 after the data showed inconclusive results.

City Council voted to continue the speed camera near Einstein through the end of the school year and directed city staff to create an alternative traffic safety plan.

EINSTEIN GETS TOP PRIORITY

The goal is to install the first two of the proposed 16 speed radar feedback signs near Einstein by the start of next school year, Palmer said. The plan will also put speed radar feedback signs on Northeast 166th Avenue near Faith Lutheran School, a known speed-problem area in the city.

The operating hours of the speed radar feedback signs can be digitally programmed and all of the data of each passing vehicle is stored in digital database.

This information will help police determine the location of the high-speed areas.

“It will give us data — date, time and speed — so if we do see a problem area, we can put an officer out there,” Gibson said.

Besides targeted enforcement, the plan also calls for educating residents through a public outreach program on traffic safety, Shovlin said.

The city currently has 11 speed radar feedback signs throughout the city, including six in school zones, according to Palmer.

The new traffic safety plan also recommends looking into adding Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons (RRFB) at select school-zone cross walks.

“Those draw drivers’ attention to a pedestrian who has pushed the button and there is an eye-catching rapid flash strobe light,” Palmer said.

In addition, the plan calls for establishing pronounced school zones by installing uniform “Entering School Zone” and “End School Zone” signs.

“We need to be consistent with our signage,” said police commander Shari Shovlin. “People need to be very well aware of what it looks like when they are entering a school zone.”

Another feature of the plan is to make one comprehensive school zone on Education Hill where three schools — Horace Mann Elementary, Redmond Junior and Redmond High schools — neighbor each other.

Council president Pat Vache said creating one large school zone on Education Hill makes sense. That change would require the City Council to update the city’s speed ordinance, according to Palmer.

FUNDING PLAN

The plan recommends using funds from the traffic safety camera program to fund the proposed plan, which is estimated to cost $775,000 to $1 million.

But there won’t be a lot of money available once the city pays the King County for its court costs and ATS, according to city financial director Mike Bailey.

To date, the city’s traffic-enforcement camera program has generated around $1.35 million, but the county will retain about 80 percent of that money for court costs and approximately another $250,000 is due to ATS, leaving about $30,000 for the city, according to Bailey.

The city will reconcile with the county for its court costs at the end of June, which the exact amount retained by the city will be determined, Shovlin said.

More than likely, a cross-departmental budget request by police and public works will be submitted for the 2013-14 biennium budget to help fund the plan, Shovlin said.

The new traffic safety plan will be presented to the full City Council at a May study session, where more specific details will be discussed.

So far, council member David Carson, who is the public safety committee chair, said he likes what he sees.

“The concept is good,” Carson said. “We know that red-light cameras are not what we want to do.”

Council member John Stilin encouraged residents to provide feedback and ideas on how the city can improve traffic safety by emailing council@redmond.gov.