Let's give Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) the benefit of the doubt, and proceed under the assumption that each red light countdown signal would cost $4,000.
(Though Depaul University Prof. Joseph Schwieterman, a transportation and public policy expert, says that figure would cover only the labor.)
It would cost the city $528,000 to install the signals at the 132 intersections where red light cameras are already in place.
Half a million to ensure "public safety," as Ald. Beale calls it, doesn't sound like much.
But red light cameras are planned for 330 intersections by 2012, meaning that $1,320,000 would be needed to couple them with countdowns.
Total cost? Close to two million dollars.
But let's look at how much the city is taking in from the cameras.
Since 2003, the city has issued one million tickets using the cameras, at $100 a pop.
That meant 100 MILLION in revenue for the city.
Ald. Beale suggests the city should reinvest some of that into a plan drivers we spoke with seemed to favor.
By my count and using his calculations, it would cost two percent of everything it's made off the cameras so far.
Is it worth it? You tell me.
