NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration announced today that the city will be doubling the number of traffic cameras next year.
According to a news release from City Hall, the city will add 55 new traffic cameras in 2017 and 10 new mobile traffic camera units for NOPD to use.
That’s in addition to the 66 red light and speed cameras already in place at 42 locations across the city.
The city maintains that the traffic cameras are an effective way to change driver behavior and reduce speeds in neighborhoods and school zones. Nola.com reports that the city will take in $16 million from traffic camera tickets in 2016 – and $24 million in 2017. That’s up from $15.1 million last year.
Other plans for next year’s budget include $3 million for pothole repairs and catch-basin cleaning, plus another $3 million for streetlight repairs. The $3 million is in addition to the $2 billion settlement with FEMA for road repairs and infrastructure improvements.
The city plans to spend $8 million more for NOPD than it did last year and $30 million more for the police department than in 2010. The city plans to add 11 non-officer positions, including crime analysts, crime scene technicians and recruitment staff.
Landrieu also proposes giving NOPD $4.5 million for overtime and funding 150 new police officers
The Orleans Parish Prison will get $53 million next year if the City Council approves Landrieu’s budget. Landrieu’s office said that’s nearly double what was spent on OPP in 2010.
The proposed 2017 operating budget is $614 million and also includes $17 million for affordable housing programs, such as developing more affordable units, providing housing loans and grants, and rental assistance.
Read the full budget proposal here.
