$13 Million in Speed Camera Fines to Fund Overhaul of Lincoln Drive and Dozens of Philly Roads
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced a $13 million investment to combat dangerous driving on some of Philadelphia’s most notorious roadways, including the winding and perilous Lincoln Drive. The funding, derived entirely from fines collected through the city’s Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program, will finance a series of traffic-calming projects across the city, aiming to replicate the safety success seen on Roosevelt Boulevard.
Deep Search Analysis
The $13 million allocation is not drawn from general tax revenue but is a direct reinvestment of penalties paid by speeding drivers. The most significant portion of the grant targets “high-injury network” corridors—roads with a documented history of severe crashes.
Lincoln Drive & School Zones ($2 Million): A combined allocation will fund the installation of “speed slots” and speed humps along the frenetic stretch of Lincoln Drive between Kelly Drive and Wayne Avenue. This funding also covers traffic-calming measures at approximately 100 school locations citywide.
Major Corridor Overhauls ($5 Million): The largest single slice of the funding is dedicated to multimodal improvements on four critical arteries: Frankford Avenue, 52nd Street, Hunting Park Avenue, and Germantown Avenue. Planned upgrades include curb extensions, concrete medians, and pedestrian refuge islands.
Intersection Safety ($2 Million): Specific intersection modifications are slated for Torresdale Avenue (Robbins to Cottman) and Rising Sun Avenue (Chew to St. Vincent), focusing on shortening pedestrian crossing distances.
Expansion & Planning ($2 Million): $500,000 is set aside to expand the speed camera network itself, while $1.5 million will fund pre-development planning for future safety projects.
Objections and Concerns
While city officials celebrate the funding as a “life-saving” measure, the expansion of the automated enforcement program has drawn sharp criticism from motorist advocacy groups and some residents.
“Policing for Profit”: Critics argue that the reliance on fine revenue creates a perverse incentive for the city to maintain “speed traps” rather than fix fundamental engineering flaws. The concern is that the system prioritizes revenue generation over genuine safety.
Equity Issues: Opponents have raised alarms that automated enforcement disproportionately impacts low-income neighborhoods where infrastructure is already crumbling, effectively acting as a regressive tax on residents who cannot avoid driving on these arterial roads.
Privacy and Oversight: Skeptics remain wary of the increasing surveillance grid, questioning the long-term data retention policies associated with the expanding network of cameras.
Background Information
Lincoln Drive has long been considered one of Philadelphia’s most dangerous roads, earning a reputation as a “gauntlet” due to its tight hairpin turns, narrow lanes, and history of aggressive driving.
The Roosevelt Model: The push for this funding package is largely driven by data from the Roosevelt Boulevard pilot program. Since speed cameras were installed there in 2020, officials report a 95% reduction in speeding violations and a 50% drop in pedestrian-involved crashes.
Legislative Shift: The funding was made possible after Governor Josh Shapiro signed legislation in late 2023 that not only made the Roosevelt Boulevard pilot permanent but also authorized the expansion of speed cameras to five additional corridors and numerous school zones across Philadelphia.
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