The Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshan, confirmed that over the summer, Transportation and Economic Corridors engaged with municipalities and law enforcement to eliminate photo radar ‘fishing hole’ locations (defined by the province as areas where photo radar is focused on revenue generation rather than traffic safety).
This news comes nearly one year after the government announced that it would work with municipalities and law enforcement to remove all fishing hole locations across the province.
"The province wants to ensure photo radar is used for traffic safety rather than revenue generation. The province is looking to finalize approved locations for photo radar by the end of the year with a primary focus on sensitive areas such as schools, playgrounds, and construction zones," Minister Dreeshan wrote in an email to DiscoverAirdrie.
In November 2023, it was announced that 'the cap on any new photo radar equipment, programs or new photo radar locations will be extended until the one-year consultation with municipalities is complete on Dec. 1, 2024.'
Last year, the City of Airdrie's 2024-2026 traffic plan enumerated the cap, stating that, 'as a result, the City of Airdrie cannot pursue the use of red-light cameras as part of Airdrie’s overall traffic management strategies towards safer roads and collision reduction at this time. If the freeze is lifted, Airdrie will research the feasibility of implementing this technology based on the new provincial guidelines.'
Instead, to address high-collision locations, Airdrie's Traffic Advisory Committee agreed to put temporary signage up at known high-risk locations.
"Moving forward, staff will continue to use this strategy to educate and bring awareness to high-collision intersections. Municipal Enforcement targets enforcement activities at the intersections identified as high-collision locations."
It was also announced that in December 2023, all photo radar sites on ring roads in Calgary and Edmonton would be banned.
"Edmonton and Calgary will have the option to redeploy the photo radar units previously used on the ring roads to areas in their cities where they have a safety impact – in school, playground and construction zones," the province previously stated.
According to the province, Alberta’s first photo radar units were introduced in 1987. In 2023, the province said there were about 2,387 photo radar sites.
"Calgary’s ring road has eight photo radar sites, and Edmonton’s ring road has 22. These ring road photo radar sites can be relocated to sensitive areas. This means that Calgary can select eight high-risk areas, and Edmonton can select 22 high-risk areas to redeploy these sites."
In 2022-23, photo radar generated $171 million. Traffic fine revenue is split between the province and municipalities, with the province receiving 40 per cent and municipalities receiving 60 per cent.
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