CHICAGO — Red-light cameras will be removed from 18 intersections across the city after new data shows a reduction in crashes at those locations, the city announced Tuesday.
Those intersections have seen improvement based on Chicago Department of Transportation information released last week, according to a statement from the Mayor's Office.
The cameras will be removed by Jan. 31, said Bill McCaffrey, city spokesman. After they are removed, the city will have a total of 348 cameras at 172 intersections.
See the list of the city's highest-grossing red-light cameras in 2013.
The red-light camera program is about changing driver behavior, which those intersections showed, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. In 2012, the 18 intersections saw no right-angle crashes, the most dangerous type of crash. They also showed that less than 1 percent of cars traveling through the intersections were involved in a crash, according to CDOT data.
Critics say Chicago's program is meant to increase revenue for the city — not safety. A Chicago Inspector General's Office report released in May found no evidence of a revenue-boosting scheme, but was still highly critical of the management of the program.
It was announced last week that a lawsuit challenging the validity of red-light cameras dismissed by a lower court three years ago will be heard by the Illinois Supreme Court.
The red-light program began in 2003. Cameras being removed were installed between the years of 2007 and 2010, according to the city.
Here are the intersections where red-light cameras will be removed, by neighborhood:
Edison Park
West Touhy Avenue and North Osceola Avenue
Installed in 2008
West Ridge (West Rogers Park)
West Devon Avenue and North Kedzie Avenue
Installed in 2009
Norwood Park
North Harlem Avenue and West Higgins Avenue
Installed in 2008
Edgewater
North Sheridan Road and West Hollywood Avenue
Installed in 2007
Portage Park
West Belmont Avenue and North Austin Avenue
North Cicero Avenue and West Belmont Avenue
Installed in 2007
Boystown
West Belmont Avenue and North Halsted Street
Installed in 2008
West Town
North California Avenue and West North Avenue
Installed in 2009
Old Town
West North Avenue and North Wells Street
Installed in 2009
West Humboldt Park
West Division Street and North Kostner Avenue
Installed in 2010
South Loop
West Cermak Road and South Clark Street
Installed in 2008
Brighton Park
South California Avenue and West 35th Street
South California Avenue and West 47th Street
Installed in 2008
West Lawn
South Pulaski Road and West 71st Street
Installed in 2009
Englewood
South Wentworth Avenue and West 65th Street*
Auburn Gresham
South Racine Avenue and West 79th Street
Installed in 2009
Grand Crossing
South Cottage Grove Avenue and East 79th Street
Installed in 2007
Calumet Heights
South Stony Island Avenue and East 89th Street
Installed in 2009
*This intersection is not listed in a city database of red-light camera locations. City officials did not immediately respond to inquiries about the discrepancy.
