This is getting old (yeah, right) – another month, another record – for the month of November, 2009 The B-Town Blog received nearly 50,000 Unique Visitors, and like we did in October (and September and August and July…), we’d like to shout out a huge THANK YOU to all our beloved Readers and Advertisers for the following statistics:
- 49,281 Unique Visitors – an average of 1,643 per day!
- 84,020 Page Views – an average of 2,800 per day!
That translates to an overall traffic increase of +24% growth for Unique Visitors and +23% growth for Page Views over October!
Here are the most recent stats from Sitemeter, a widely-used, independent website that tracks internet traffic:
As you can see, one thing that sets The B-Town Blog apart from most others is our open policy of being totally transparent with our website traffic statistics – something you will NOT see on any other competing “local” websites (we use quotation marks because ones produced in downtown Seattle aren’t truly “local” now, are they?).
“Transparent” of course means that, at any time, YOU can click on one of at least three statistics links in the footer of the website (at the bottom of any page), and see what kind of traffic we’re getting right then and there from external, independent sources.
That’s right – we have no intention of hiding any information from you, our Readers, nor from our Advertisers or potential Advertisers.
And we challenge all other media outlets to do the same.
We’d also like to remind any potential Advertisers out there to shop around and ask for proof of traffic numbers from other sites before buying, because our philosophy, though simple, is very effective:
LOTS OF LOCAL EYEBALLS + GOOD ADS + BLOGVERTORIAL STORIES = CUSTOMERS
Click on a logo below to see our stats (keep in mind that statistics vary with each independent measuring company, something that’s not in our control):
And remember, we are here to serve our community, since we all live, work, shop, eat and drink here.
We are active members of Discover Burien as well as the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce, and you’ll see us at various events, Farmers Markets, festivals, city council meetings and much more.
If you’d like more information on our Advertising solutions, please don’t hesitate to email us!
| Nov ’09 |
| 30 |
The cityfolk tell us that construction on the westbound lanes of SW 148th Street between 1st Ave South and 2nd Ave SW will begin Monday, Nov. 30th, and will require three days of “dry weather” to complete.
Work is scheduled to take place between the hours of 8am and 5pm, so you might want to consider taking alternate routes.
According to a news release:
The City will be grinding and paving westbound lanes of SW 148th Street from 1st Avenue South to 2nd Ave Southwest beginning the week of Nov. 30.
This work should take three days of dry weather and it will affect several travel lanes.
Work will take place 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Motorists are advised to take different routes during construction time to avoid delays.
For information on this project, please contact Sam Basmeh at 206-439-3163.
[Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/teo/ / CC BY-SA 2.0]
$536,000 in Federal Stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) are funding new construction on 4th Avenue SW between SW 156th and 153rd Streets in Burien, and should be completed by mid-December, according to Project Manager Brian Victor.
The construction is rebuilding the northbound lane of 4th Ave SW between SW 156th and 153rd Streets, adding new curbs, gutters, sidewalks, bike lanes and even street lights similar to the ones in Town Square.
There will be local access for area businesses and residences, but motorists are advised to avoid the construction area if possible.
Here’s the latest update on construction:
Construction is requiring intermittent closure of 4th Ave SW at various times of the day for heavy equipment.
Access to 4th Ave SW between said intersections will be limited to one lane during business hours; limited 2-way access will be provided after 5pm.
At SW 155th Street and 4th Ave SW, access will be restricted for eastbound and westbound; there will be NO WESTBOUND access from SW 155th Street to 4th Avenue SW for the next three to four weeks.
At SW 154th Street and 4th Avenue SW, access will be limited for eastbound and westbound traffic. Westbound access at this intersection will be closed intermittently during the day; limited access will be available in the evenings.
This phase of the project will continue for the next three to four weeks, with a projected completion time of mid-December.
October 2009 was another record-setting traffic month for The B-Town Blog, and like we did in September (and August and July), we’d like to shout out a huge THANK YOU to all our beloved Readers and Advertisers for the following statistics:
- 39,702 Unique Visitors – an average of 1,281 per day!
- 68.369 Page Views – an average of 2,205 per day!
That translates to an overall current average of nearly 1,600 Unique Visitors and nearly 2,700 Page Views per day for the lifespan of this website (launched in Dec. 2007), along with a current average visit length of over two minutes.
Here are the most recent stats from Sitemeter, a widely-used, independent website that tracks internet traffic:
As you can see, one thing that sets The B-Town Blog apart from others is our open policy of being totally transparent with our website traffic statistics – something you will NOT see on any other competing “local” websites (we use quotation marks because ones produced in downtown Seattle aren’t truly “local” now, are they?).
“Transparent” means that, at any time, you can click on one of at least three statistics links in the footer of the website (at the bottom of any page), and see what kind of traffic we’re getting right then and there from external, independent sources.
That’s right – we have no intention of hiding any information from you, our Readers, nor from our Advertisers or potential Advertisers.
And we challenge our local all media competitors to do the same.
Click on a logo below to see our stats (keep in mind that statistics vary with each independent measuring company, something that’s not in our control):
And remember, we are here to serve our community, since we all live, work, shop, eat and drink here.
We are active members of Discover Burien as well as the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce, and you’ll see us at various events, Farmers Markets, festivals, city council meetings and much more.
If you’d like more information on our Advertising solutions, please don’t hesitate to email us!
by Burien long has wanted an interchange connecting State Route 518 with Des Moines Memorial Drive to improve access to businesses that, city officials hope, will move into the Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA).
Now an interchange from SR 509 to NERA, located under flight paths from Sea-Tac International Airport north to S. 138th St., is also under consideration.
Burien City Manager Mike Martin said recently that any interchange on SR 509 would provide access to the Northeast Redevelopment Area.
“No one has agreed to a 509 interchange,” Martin stressed. “This is just a concept. There are only draft plans (at the city) now.” And it’s not on any to-do list at the Washington State Department of Transportation or the Puget Sound Regional Council.
Both the Port of Seattle, which owns much of the property in the area, and the city anticipate business and commercial development here within a few years. Business parks, technology and light industry, and auto sales – perhaps an auto mall, to which dealers now on 1st Ave. S. would relocate, all could play a role in the economic development of the NERA.
“This property has been blighted by the second runway and now the third runway,” Martin said. “What we are doing (by planning for a new interchange) is trying to make NERA more accessible so we can put this property back into use.”
He added that the area “is large enough to accommodate small box stores and retailers of construction materials.” But the market will determine what kind of businesses locate here. In the meantime, “we need to prepare the area to be ready for certain types of activities.”
The cost of a new interchange, including planning, design and construction, has yet to be determined, Martin said. Most of the financing probably would come from federal and state funds.
So far, he’s talked with local state legislators, “who have received the idea very warmly.”
by Burien’s four red light cameras have been up and running for about four months, and according to the city’s Oct. 22nd e-newsletter, they are averaging “around 540 infractions per month.”
This puts the program on track to gross over $654,000 in its first year of operation.
As we’ve previously reported, the city initially projected that the first year would bring in around $200,000, with $250,000 for the second year and subsequent totals dropping after 2011 as drivers became more aware of them.
So we did some simple math, and discovered some rather surprising totals:
- Each red light ticket = $101 fine
- 540 tickets per month x 101 = $54,540 per month
- 12 x $54,540 = $654,480 annual gross revenue
- The monthly fee to camera provider RedFlex Systems appears to cap out at $6,870 ($82,440 annually)
- If the 540 per month average continues, the city will take in over $572,000 in revenue during the first year of this program ($654,480 – $82,440 = $572,040)
- That total is nearly three times the initial projected first-year total of $200,000
The camera earning the most money currently is the westbound one at SW 148th Street and First Ave South (Go 148th!), which is generating about 35% of the total infractions, or 189 per month (just over 6 per day), which equals a monthly sum of $19,089 – or more than $229,000 annually, which on its own surpasses the original $200k projection.
These four revenue-generating red-light cameras are located at three intersections, so next time you pass one, listen for the familiar “ka-ching” cash register sound:
- SW 148th & First Ave South – westbound and eastbound
- SW 152nd & First Ave South – westbound
- SW 160th & First Ave South – eastbound
September 2009 was another record-setting traffic month for The B-Town Blog, and like we did in August (as well as July), we’d like to send out a huge THANK YOU to all our beloved B-Town Blog Readers and Advertisers for the following statistics:
- 35,203 Unique Visitors – an average of 1,173 per day!
- 58,541 Page Views – an average of 1,951 per day!
That translates to an overall current average of nearly 1,500 Unique Visitors and nearly 2,400 Page Views per day for the lifespan of this website (launched in Dec. 2007), along with a current average visit length of 2:33.
Here are the most recent stats from Sitemeter, a widely-used, independent website that tracks internet traffic:
We’d also like to remind both our Readers and potential Advertisers about our unique, totally transparent website traffic statistics – something you will NOT see on any other competing “local” websites (we use quotation marks because some aren’t truly “local” now, are they?).
“Transparent” means that, at any time, you can click on one of at least three statistics links in the footer of the website (at the bottom of any page), and see what kind of traffic we’re getting right then and there.
That’s right – we have no intention of hiding any information from you, our Readers, nor from our Advertisers or potential Advertisers. And we challenge our local media competitors to do the same.
Click on a logo below to see our stats (keep in mind that statistics vary with each independent measuring company, something that’s not in our control):
And remember, we are here to serve our community, since we all live, work, shop, eat and drink here. We are active members of Discover Burien as well as the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce, and you’ll see us at various events, Farmers Markets, festivals, city council meetings and much more (be sure to look for us at the Boo in Burien on Halloween!).
If you’d like more information on our Advertising solutions, please don’t hesitate to email us!
August 2009 was another record traffic month for The B-Town Blog, and like we did in July, we’d like to shout out a huge THANK YOU all our beloved B-Town Blog Readers and Advertisers for another record-setting month of traffic:
- 31,298 Unique Visitors – a +25% increase over July!
- 51,596 Page Views – a +5.5% increase over July!
That translates to an overall average of nearly 1,000 Unique Visitors and over 1,600 Page Views per day for the lifespan of this website (launched in Dec. 2007), along with a current average visit length of 2:12.
Here are the most recent stats from Sitemeter, a widely-used, independent website that tracks internet traffic:
We’d also like to remind both our Readers and potential Advertisers about our unique, totally transparent website traffic statistics.
“Transparent” means that, at any time, you can click on one of at least three statistics links in the footer of the website (at the bottom of any page), and see what kind of traffic we’re getting.
That’s right – we have no intention of hiding any information from you, our Readers, nor from our Advertisers or potential Advertisers.
Sure, it’s a risky move, but we think in this modern internet news era, it’s worth it, and quite frankly, something that not many others will dare do.
And we challenge our local media competitors to do the same, especially those who claim they get “…more readers than any local website.”
Click on a logo below to see our stats (keep in mind that statistics vary with each independent measuring company, something that’s not in our control):
If you’d like more information on our Advertising solutions, please don’t hesitate to email us!
Last month we thanked all our beloved B-Town Blog Readers for a record month of traffic for June, and now we’re here again to THANK YOU ALL again for a new record for July:
- 25,069 Unique Visitors – a +26% increase over June!
- 49,244 Page Views – a +21% increase over June!
That translates to an overall average of nearly 1,000 Unique Visitors and over 1,700 Page Views per day for the lifespan of this website, along with an average visit length of 2:37.
Here are the stats from Sitemeter, a widely-used, independent website that tracks internet traffic:
We’d also like to remind both our Readers and potential Advertisers about our unusual, totally transparent website traffic statistics.
This means that, at any time, you can click on one of at least three statistics links in the footer of the website (at the bottom of any page), and see what kind of traffic we’re getting.
That’s right – we have no intention of hiding any information from you, our Readers, nor from our Advertisers or potential Advertisers.
Sure, it’s a risky move, but we think in this modern internet news era, it’s worth it, and quite frankly, something that not many others will dare do.
And we challenge our local media competitors to do the same, especially those who claim they get “…more readers than any local website.”
Click on a logo below to see our stats (keep in mind that statistics vary with each independent measuring company, something that’s not in our control):
If you’d like more information on our Advertising solutions, please don’t hesitate to email us!
We’d like to take a moment to thank all our wonderful B-Town Blog Readers for making June, 2009 our best month ever!:
- 19,951 Unique Visitors – a +26.1% increase over May!
- 40,575 Page Views – a +37% increase over May!
That translates to an overall average of over 850 Unique Visitors and nearly 1,800 Page Views per day for the lifespan of this website, along with an average visit length of 2:54.
Here are the stats from Sitemeter, a widely-used, independent website that tracks internet traffic:
We’d also like to take this opportunity to announce, that along with our new website design, effective immediately we will be totally transparent about all our website traffic statistics.
This means that, at any time, you can click on one of at least three statistics links in the footer of the website (at the bottom of any page), and see what kind of traffic we’re getting.
That’s right – we have no intention of hiding any information from you, our Readers, nor from our Advertisers or potential Advertisers.
Sure, it’s a risky move, but we think in this modern internet news era, it’s worth it, and quite frankly, something that not many others will dare do.
And we challenge our local media competitors to do the same, especially those who claim they get “…more readers than any local website.”
Click on a logo below to see our stats (keep in mind that statistics vary with each independent measuring company, something that’s not in our control):
And while we’re at it, an additional, huge shout-out goes out to our Photographer, and now-Wordpress guru Michael Brunk, who did an amazing job of re-designing our website, which has resulted in some additional magic mojo that’s driving more traffic.
If you have any thoughts on our recent re-design, or want more information on our Advertising solutions, please don’t hesitate to email us!
On Tuesday (June 23rd) a class action lawsuit was filed in King County Superior Court that alleges that 19 Washington cities, including Burien, are overcharging drivers who get tickets via red light cameras.
Attorneys for the eight plaintiffs are seeking class-action status over a 2005 law that says traffic-camera fines “shall not exceed the amount of the fine issued for other parking infractions within the jurisdiction,” according to the complaint.
“The intent of the Legislature was primarily safety, not raising of revenue,” said the complaint.
The suit was filed by attorneys representing four Seattle residents, inclduing two from Lynnwood, one from Lakewood and one from Puyallup. Their fines ranged from $64 to $124 per violation. According to court documents, one man, Seattle’s Mark Contratto, was fined $124 over two consecutive days for failing to come to a complete stop before turning right at a red stoplight.
The plaintiffs will ask a King County Judge to order a refund of the difference between $124 and the cost of an ordinary parking ticket.
As we’ve previously reported, Burien currently sends out a $101 fine for red light infractions, with five cameras operating at these three intersections:
- 1st Avenue South at SW 148th Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 152nd Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 160th Street
The cameras operate 24 hours a day and capture still photos and video of every vehicle that runs a red light at the intersection. After being processed by manufacturer RedFlex, the videos are accessed by Burien police through a website, where they are analyzed by an officer who decides whether or not to send out a ticket.
As for expected revenue, the city is expecting at least $200,000 in revenue for 2009 and $250,000 in 2010; these estimates were based on what the revenue generated in other cities by similar red light enforcement programs.
The lawsuit has not yet been served on Burien, nor the other 18 cities named. Once these cities are served, each jurisdiction will have 20 days to respond.
Those wishing to join the suit can contact attorney Rob Williamson at roblin@williamslaw.com or 206-780-4447.
In addition to the City of Burien, defendants include the cities of:
- Auburn
- Bonney Lake
- Bremerton
- Federal Way
- Fife
- Issaquah
- Lacey
- Lake Forest Park
- Lakewood
- Lynnwood
- Monroe
- Moses Lake
- Puyallup
- Renton
- SeaTac
- Seattle
- Spokane
- Tacoma
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Burien’s Red Light Camera Citations Are “In The Mail”
- City Official Addresses Red Light Camera Concerns
- Red Light Cams Go Live Sun.;To Bring In $200k In 1st Year?
- Burien Speeders Beware: Red Light Cameras Start Mar. 1st
SOURCES:
| Jun ’09 | Jun |
| 15 | 26 |
North-South thoroughfare Ambaum Blvd. SW will be closing at SW 120th Street beginning at 7am Monday, June 15th, through 5pm Friday, June 26th, as crews replace a drainage pipe underneath the road.
Motorists can detour via 12th Ave SW to SW 116th Street, then return back to Ambaum.
This is a joint project between the City of Burien and King County.
Despite starting off with a somewhat-controversial April Fool’s issue where every story was fake (re-live the silliness here), April 2009 was by far the best month ever for The B-Town Blog, and for that we’d like to say:
THANK YOU READERS!
As you can see in the statistics chart below, our April traffic continued to grow to record numbers, at a steady clip of +24% for Unique Visitors (19,108) and +18% for Pageviews (over 33,000!):
Since January of this year, the number of Unique Visitors for The B-Town Blog is up by nearly +49% and +55% for Pageviews.
And since launching, our daily traffic growth has been an almost-unfathomable +7,249%!
We credit our recent traffic surge to a few things:
- Our ridiculous Aprils Fool’s issue became a viral hit, tripling our traffic over two full days.
- After doing an online survey, we decided to re-focus on frequently-updated Local News and Event Listings, something we strongly believe our local media competition isn’t doing well.
- Our continued, focused online paid Advertising efforts using Google AdWords.
- Our ongoing focus on being involved in the community, from being an active member of Discover Burien and the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce to holding various fundraisers.
- Viral marketing efforts using Facebook and Twitter (we have some secrets too that we’re now offering on a Social Media Consultation Service, where we’ll help your business utilize these amazing tools).
- Our recent :30-second TV spot that aired locally on CNN via Comcast Spotlight.
- Sponsorship of the Highline Vintage Jazz Festival, which gave us eight radio mentions on KPLU.
- The hiring of freelance journalists who bring more unique, credible coverage exclusive to The B-Town Blog (you can help us continue this cause by donating to our “Freelance Fund” which goes directly to them).
Like last year, we have a booth at the Burien Farmer’s Market, where we will serve as the one and only “official blog.” Come on by every Thursday between 11am and 3pm – we’ll be on 10th Ave SW between SW 151st and SW 152nd (and at the new location when it moves to Burien Town Square), so come over and say hi!
We’d also like to extend a special shout-out to all our Advertisers, as they are the ones who have taken a chance on our product, and hopefully are seeing rewards.
If you’re a business considering Advertising, email us for our brand new Media Kit, which includes some amazing testimonials from happy Advertisers like the Highline Athletic Club and others.
Again, thanks for being a Reader of The B-Town Blog – keep in mind we’re still in our infancy and there are a lot of great new elements coming soon!
By Jack Mayne
Any day now, cameras mounted high over three First Avenue intersections will record motorists running red lights and after local review of each photo, citations will be mailed to the owners of the offending vehicles.
The violation fine set by the Burien City Council is $101 now, but state law allows it to go up to a maximum of $124.
There are two cameras at First and SW 148th, focusing both east and west on 148th. The camera at First and SW 152nd tracks westbound vehicles and the one at SW 160th tracks eastbound traffic.
“Those intersections have a lot of accidents and this is really about safety to us,” said Mike Martin, Burien city manager. “It is not about the revenue. What we expect to see is a lot of tickets the first few months and then we expect it to decline. We thought about doing similar things in schools zones, we thought about doing it on Ambaum Boulevard it terms of speeding.”
But not now.
He says the city has access to a limited number of officers and “they are very focused on property crimes, gangs and all those sorts of things, so we don’t have a lot of cops here who can sit around and write tickets, (which are) a lower priority than other things.”
Letting the King County Sheriff’s deputies, who act under contract as Burien police officers, do other things to keep the city safer is more important than sitting at an intersection, Martin said.
The cameras were turned on March 1st for what was to be a 30-day grace period that has now been extended but may end any day. Courtesy warning notices were sent, but $101 citations can be expected any day after a motorist is doing a rolling stop or running a red light, Martin said.
The extension was because of “some technical details with Redflex,” the Culver City, Calif.-based company that own and maintains the cameras, said K. Scott Kimerer, Burien’s police chief.
Martin says the city has made every effort to warn motorists of the cameras and that tickets will be issue at some point. He said there have been notices in the city bulletin; there are signs at the camera intersections.
“We don’t want people to get tickets,” the city manager said. “We are hoping that if a person gets a warning ticket he will tell others about the cameras.”
He was not certain there would be another warning when the city ceased sending warning tickets and began sending actual tickets to motorists.
“We are very close to actually issuing citations,” Martin said.
All photographs of motorists’ cars are reviewed in Burien.
“An officer reviews all of the photos because it has to be a legal violation,” Martin said, and not near-misses like someone entering the intersection on a yellow light.
“The camera does not make the decision, a human being does,” Martin said.
Now, each intersection is yielding about 60 tickets a week, which would bring in $6,060 per week. That adds up to more than $315,000 per year at the current rate.
“It is absolutely not for revenue, I can state that unequivocally. We are worried about people getting hurt in those intersection and if there weren’t a problem, we would not have the cameras there.”
The lone “no” vote on the cameras came from second term councilmember Gordon Shaw, who is not convinced that safety was the reason.
“It is my view that this red light camera issue is not about safety, although that is what it is being sold as,” Shaw said. “I am not opposed to the revenue aspect of it but just believe if that is the reason for the city doing it … the public should be aware of it.”
He said a lot about the red light camera issue “goes against my grain” and could be a bit of an invasion of privacy.”
Despite Martin’s view that police are limited in number, Shaw says if there is a real red light problem, “we ought to have a police officer out there” to use human judgment as to “conditions and circumstances” before deciding to issue a citation.
Shaw said he understood that the camera vendor, Redflex, would collect the fines.
But that is not the case, said Lori Fleming, a managing analyst in the Burien Finance Department.
The photos are all collected online, then reviewed by a Burien officer, who chooses the motorists who will get citations. Those “approved” photos are digitally sent to Redflex and citations are mailed from California.
Inside the citation are three “coupons,” said Fleming. One says ‘I am guilty, here is my money.’ Another says the ‘I did not have control of the car that it was a rented car, loaned, stolen or sold’ and the owner must send in justifying and supporting information. A third “coupon” says ‘I want a court hearing.’
All money is sent to King County District Court and eventually goes to the City of Burien. The court collects all fines, including the red light fines, and, once a year, audits the fund and, in effect, deducts the court costs and pays the city the rest.
The three-year agreement with Redflex, which can be extended for two years twice, will cost the city up to $6,800 a month, depending upon the volume of violations approved by city officers. The contract may be cancelled by the city with a 30-day notice.
City Manager Martin said other high traffic sites were considered but then dropped for now.
“We may consider cameras on Ambaum, but first we are going to see if these work; we are going to see how the community responds to them and if they do what we intend them to do,” Martin said. “What we are considering (putting) on Ambaum (and in school zones) is these solar-powered radar speed signs…which are very effective on slowing down traffic.”
It may not be a very wise idea to simply toss a citation of a red light violation until you are sure it is just a warning and not the real thing. Failing to pay a court fine is punishable by a larger fine or even some eventual lodging in a place most of us would rather avoid.
So what to you think of Burien’s Red Light Cameras? Please take our poll below:
Loading ...PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- City Official Addresses Red Light Camera Concerns
- Red Light Cams Go Live Sun.;To Bring In $200k In 1st Year?
- Burien Speeders Beware: Red Light Cameras Start Mar. 1st
Jack Mayne is a freelance writer who may be contacted at jgmayne@gmail.com
On March 1st, the City of Burien activated three “Red Light Cameras” on First Avenue South at SW 148th, SW 152nd and SW 160th, intersections that the city says have a higher incidence of red light violations and accidents.
The cameras, manufactured by a company called RedFlex:
- Will record photos and videos of cars running red lights and/or not stopping fully on a red light right turn.
- Each violation will result in the same $101 fine no matter which offense.
- Each violator’s photo and video are also apparently first reviewed by the manufacturer, RedFlex, prior to being seen by a local police officer.
- And each payment is controlled by RedFlex via their own website (https://www.photonotice.com), or by mail, before monies are paid to the Contractor (in this case, the City of Burien).
The City of Burien is expecting annual revenues from these cameras to be around $200,000 in 2009 to around $250,000 in 2010.
Since posting information about these new cameras, we’ve received numerous comments and emails; we also did our own research and discovered some controversy regarding the manufacturer, RedFlex.
Here are some recent news stories about RedFlex:
- RedFlex under investigation for mail fraud
- Arizona Sheriff ends contract with RedFlex
- RedFlex faces lawsuit for unapproved radar devices
- House panel votes to end photo radar
- Knoxville dumps RedFlex red light cameras
And here’s a taste of some of the previous comments we got:
If these are supposed to improve safety, I wonder if they did any research outside of what the vendor told them? Most good independent research shows that these cameras INCREASE accdident! Just read www.motorists.org/PictureOfFraud.pdf
And doesn’t it concern anyone that they created a contract that increases payout based on number of citations? Does it concern anyone that this company (Redflex) has been found guilty of falsifying court documents, among other things? http://PhotoRadarScam.com/trust.php
“The City pays Redflex a flat monthly amount. The fixed fee ranges from $4,870 to $6,870 per month depending on the number of violations.”
… what definition of “flat monthly amount” and “fixed fee” are they using, exactly?
How to make sure the cameras don’t end up being just about money:
Make the fine for rolling right turns, or left turns, much lower than for a straight thru violation. $20 is enuf to drive home the point about these relatively much-less-dangerous turning offenses. If, instead, the fine for turning is the same (substantial) amount as for a straight thru violation, then it’s about money.
Have a grace period, that is, no ticket unless you’re more than 1/2 sec. late. If no grace, it’s about money.
Set the yellow lights for left turns at 4.0 sec. If they’re left at 3.0, like in California, that triples the # of violations & it’s about money.
The contract with the vendor running the cameras must be changed to a genuine flat-rate. If the vendor is paid so-much-a-ticket, or a % of the fine revenue, or more money is there’s more tickets (as in the present contract), it’s about money.
Set a solid cap on the max. fine, including all surcharges. Otherwise, as soon as the govt. needs more money, it will rise to $400+, like in California, & it’s about money.
It may be too late to change the contract. It’s been signed. Although there may be an escape clause the city can use. But it is not too late to reduce the amount of the fines for turns, or institute a grace period, or lengthen the yellow on lefts.
these cameras tape 24/7 every car that passes, and can pull up exactly where you were and when by simply putting your plate # into their computer. Why?
Yes they will move the yellow time down to the lowest allowed by law. The speed cameras will come a short distance after the speed sign to decrease, not even giving you time to slow down,The company has already proved they will forge documents to get the results they want. Kiss your freedoms to privacy good bye folks they will have so many cameras you can’t count them.
From Arizona, invaded by and taken over bye redflex, triple A declares the state of Arizona a speed trap because of redflex. Come to sunny Arizona, I can assure you that it will cost you a whole lot more than you planned while driving here.
We then forwarded these on to Steve Botkin, Public Information Officer for the city, who helped us out by getting the following replies from Tabitha Miller, Finance Director:
Q: The City appears to have created a contract with RedFlex that increases payout based on the number of citations given. Yet in your previous email you said it was a “flat fee based on the number of violations” – isn’t this in reality a commission structure? Where, if Burien sends out more tickets, the city pays more to RedFlex? How is that a “flat fee”?
A: The contract with Redflex obligates the City to pay a fixed fee of $4,850 per month for each Designated Intersection Approach. However, there is a “Cost Neutrality” clause, where the City is not required to pay more than the actual cash received from violations.
The confusion here may be related to a second optional “Mobile Speed Unit” that the City has not implemented and there is no current plan to implement, where the fee structure is in part based on the volume of potential violations.
(If you are interested, we can send you a copy of the executed contract.)
Q: Is the fine for “rolling right turns” the same as for running a red light?
A: Yes – $101.
Q: What is the exact time duration of the yellow lights at these intersections?
A: The City contracts with King County for maintenance of our traffic signals. The exact duration/timing of the amber light depends on the intersection, speed and the direction of travel. For these intersections the interval ranges from 4.0 to 4.3 seconds.
Q: Is there any kind of “grace period” for yellow lights? Or do the cameras take the pic the second it turns red?
A: The cameras take both video and still pictures. An officer will review the video to determine if a violation has occurred. As a standard, if a vehicle enters the intersection when the light is red a violation has occurred.
Q: Is there a maximum cap to the cost of a red light ticket?
A: The base monetary penalty set by Burien Municipal Code is $101. BMC 10.05.070.
Q: Is there an escape clause for the city to get out of the contract with RedFlex?
A: The City has a standard contract term which provides for termination of the contract upon thirty days written notice. The City’s contract with Redflex includes the same standard language.
So, with all that said, we wonder what everyone thinks of these cameras, as well as the city’s contract with RedFlex?
Have you seen the cameras flash yet (meaning they took a photo)?
Do you have an opinion?
Please Comment below…
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Red Light Cams Go Live Sun.;To Bring In $200k In 1st Year?
- Burien Speeders Beware: Red Light Cameras Start Mar. 1st
The photos above were taken Thursday afternoon at the intersection of First Avenue South and SW 160th, the home of one of three new Red Light Cameras installed by the City of Burien that will go live on Sunday, March 1st.
The intersections are:
- 1st Avenue South at SW 148th Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 152nd Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 160th Street
The cameras will operate 24 hours a day and capture still photos and video of every vehicle that runs a red light at the intersection.
After a 30-day warning period, the registered owner of a vehicle that runs a red light will receive a notice of infraction in the mail, which carries a $101 penalty.
According to the city:
The primary goal of the traffic safety cameras is to reduce red light violations. The Photo Enforcement Program has been very successful in communities throughout Washington and the rest of the United States in changing the driving behavior of motorists. It has been shown that the cameras make drivers slow down and stop for red lights, preventing collisions. The cameras also contribute to the safety of pedestrians.
We sent the city several questions about these new “Gotcha Cams” and here’s what we got back from Public Information Officer Steve Botkin:
Q: Was the goal of installing the cameras to generate more revenue?
A: The goal was improving public safety by reducing accidents at those locations.
Q: How much revenue does the city expect to generate from these cameras?
A: As for expected revenue, the City budgeted $200,000 in 2009 and $250,000 in 2010; these estimates were based on what the revenue generated in other cities by similar red light enforcement programs. The City anticipates that in 2011 the revenues will start to decrease. This trend is consistent with other jurisdictions.
Q: Is there a plan to install additional red light cameras in the future? If so, where and why?
A: No plans to install more at this time.
Q: Were the three intersections chosen because there was an abundance of red light running?
A: They were chosen based on accident report data and being some of our busiest intersections.
Q: Will the camera enforcement be strictly for red light running, or will it also apply to “rolling right turn” violations (not stopping fully on a red light right turn)?
A: The camera will catch those who do not slow down and blatantly do a rolling right turn on a red light.
Q: Will the city be changing the duration of the yellow light times on any of these 3 stoplights?
A: The duration of the yellow light times is set by national standards and will comply with those.
Q: Does RedFlex (the cam mfg.) get a cut of each ticket fine? If so, how much?
A: The City pays Redflex a flat monthly amount. The fixed fee ranges from $4,870 to $6,870 per month depending on the number of violations.
Q: Iis there any clause in the contract with them that prohibits any engineering changes being made to the intersections where the cameras are placed?
A: The contract does not prohibit engineering changes being made to the intersections.
There’s some controversy about red light cameras out there (ie: do they help stop accidents or are they just revenue generators?), but we’d like to know what YOU think – please leave your Comment below…
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
As of 6:02am Thursday Feb. 26th it’s snowing in the Burien area, and here are the latest weather-related updates:
- HIGHLINE SCHOOL DISTRICT: 2 HOURS LATE
Updated: 5:42 a.m. February 26, 2009
Highline Public Schools will operate two hours late today. Emergency bus transportation is in effect.
*There will be no breakfast, no morning classes for preschool, kindergarten, ECEAP, or PSSC. Afternoon classes for these programs will be on time.
*Schools will dismiss at regular times.
Snow and power failures can cause disruptions for schools and families. During these difficult times, HIghline Public Schools will do all it can to communicate vital information to parents and students.
Our top priority is student safety!
- SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2 HOURS LATE:
2 Hours Late.
Buses Operate on Snow Routes.
No Door-to-Door Service.
No A.M. or P.M. Head Start.
No A.M. or P.M. Kindergarten.
Here’s the latest from the National Weather Service:
Statement as of 4:35 AM PST on February 26, 2009
… Additional snowfall of an inch or two and freezing temperatures will warrant caution this morning…
Hazardous driving conditions will be the rule across western Washington this morning due to snow that has already fallen… possible accumulations of another inch or two… and freezing temperatures.
Scattered snow showers will continue this morning as the upper level low pressure system over the area moves eastward. Local
additional accumulations of an inch or two are possible. In addition temperatures have fallen below freezing across most of western Washington this morning… so roads and sidewalks will be icy even if they are free of snow.These conditions will be relatively short lived. Temperatures will climb above freezing by noon today with highs around 40… and most of the area will have partly sunny skies.
If you’re going to be out driving, here are live webcam views – to get the latest view, be sure to refresh the page:
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The Burien Transit Center is taking shape, and is reportedly on target to begin operations on Saturday, May 30th.
The center, located on SW 148th, across from the Safeway complex where Rooty’s Sports Bar used to be, will be the main transit hub for the Burien area.
Here’s a direct quote from Elizabeth Morgan, Project Manager for King County:
The Burien Transit Center construction is going very well.
We are on target to open the new transit center with our June Transit Service Change process and coaches will start using the center on Saturday, May 30, 2009 with the first regular weekday of service out of the new center on Monday, June 1, 2009.
The transit center moves to the off street location off of SW 148th Street. There is one main platform that will serve the majority of service and a smaller platform that will serve ACCESS and some less frequent routes. Customers will now be able to transfer without crossing the street and will utilize our improved waiting environment.
Additionally many coaches will “layover” on site. This will increase schedule reliability and save money.
The new center has improved passenger amenities and security elements.
It also has some etched glass awnings and panels, which you can see in the photo below:
Anyone still remember when this place used to be home to Rooty’s?
This town has come a long way since the only busing done on this land was for dirty dishes.
A taxi driver was killed early Wednesday morning around 4:15am in a 6-car crash blamed on ice on SR-509 near SW 128th Street in Burien.
According to authorities, the driver lost control and spun out while traveling northbound on 509. He apparently then got out of his vehicle and was struck by two other drivers. He died on the scene, and his identity has not yet been released.
Police closed down the northbound lanes and diverted traffic off to the SW 128th exit while they investigated the scene.
Another person was trapped in one of the crashed cars and was critically injured.
Police advise drivers to proceed with extreme caution this morning, as freezing overnight temps have created icy driving conditions, especially on overpasses.
| Mar ’09 |
| 1 |
The City of Burien is joining the ranks of municipalities everywhere – they’re installing “Red Light” cameras at three busy intersections along First Avenue South in an attempt to discourage red light running as well as possibly sweeten the city’s coffers.
The cameras will start clicking March 1st, and here’s how the system will work:
- Red light running vehicle trips the camera, which takes both a photo and video.
- After a 30-day warning period, the registered owner of a vehicle that runs a red light will receive a notice of infraction in the mail, which carries a $101 penalty.
- The cameras will be placed at intersections along 1st Avenue S with the greatest traffic flow.
- Photo enforcement warning signs, alerting drivers to the red light cameras, are being installed at the intersections.
Those intersections are:
- 1st Avenue South at SW 148th Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 152nd Street
- 1st Avenue South at SW 160th Street
The cameras will operate 24 hours a day and capture still photos and video of every vehicle that runs a red light at the intersection. Photos are not taken until the law is broken, and the cameras only capture pictures of the rear of the offending vehicle and license plate.
Police officers review each photo to determine whether there was an infraction. If a violation occurs a notice of infraction will be sent to the vehicle’s owner. Recipients of a red light citation can view their violation video online at https://www.photonotice.com. The site requires the citation number, license plate number and the city code that is printed on the citation.
Our research indicates that this website (photonotice.com) is affiliated with a Phoenix, AZ traffic camera manufacturer called Redflex Traffic Systems. According to their 2008 Annual Report, the number of Redflex cameras operating within the US rose by 44% in 2008 from 877 to 1,267. Burien is one of ten Washington cities that has a contract with Redflex.
According to a City of Burien press release:
The primary goal of the traffic safety cameras is to reduce red light violations. The Photo Enforcement Program has been very successful in communities throughout Washington and the rest of the United States in changing the driving behavior of motorists. It has been shown that the cameras make drivers slow down and stop for red lights, preventing collisions. The cameras also contribute to the safety of pedestrians.
So consider yourself warned, B-Town Speed Racers!
Here are a few videos about red light cameras, including one on ways to possibly beat the cameras (we’re seriously considering selling the “red light camera beating” products in Burien):
Some angry Ranters are venting on Craigslist about the lack of snowplows in Burien today – check out this conversation:
Where the F*** are the plows in Burien??? (B-Town)
Reply to: pers-963279636@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-18, 4:36PM PSTThey didn’t plow or sand last storm until it was melting and I haven’t seen them today.
I thought we paid taxes for those services.
Oh wait we have a budget deficit thanks to Ron (I can’t count) Sims.
The cars with bad tires and no four wheel drive do us all a favor and stay off the friggin road.
Re: Snowplows in burienReply to: pers-963309771@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-18, 5:02PM PSTYou think they sleep at the county maintenance shop?
Probably!
Did anyone call and wake them up?
Re: Where the F*** are the plows in Burien??? (seahurst)Reply to: pers-963333409@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-18, 5:27PM PSTThe very question many residents have been asking all week.
Doesn’t anyone in the Public Works Department know anything about plowing and sanding? They plowed my street Sunday and didn’t put any sand down- instant skating rink!
After days of phone calls from my neighbors and I they came by Wednesday afternoon and sanded. Great timing as it’s all under 5 inches of snow now!
I saw a sand truck on First Avenue this afternoon but not any on 148th or 152nd.
The best part was sitting in the 909 having coffee and watching a guy put chains on his rear tires. Hops in the car and whooops- front wheel drive.
He must work for the city!
So…what do YOU think about Burien’s response to the bad weather conditions? Email us or Comment below:
| Dec ’08 |
| 2 |
| 6:00 pm |
The Municipal League of King County will hold a forum this Tuesday, Dec. 2nd, to review the options for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the process that led to the current choices.
Panelists will include:
- Grace Crunican, Seattle Department of Transportation
- Patrick Gordon, Chair, Downtown Seattle Association
- Cary Moon, People’s Waterfront Coalition
- Dave Freiboth, King County Labor Council
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 6-8 pm
WHERE: Seattle City Hall, 1F, Bertha Landes Room
Gov. Christine Gregoire, Mayor Greg Nickels and County Executive Ron Sims have set a goal of Dec. 31st to decide on a final plan. Meanwhile the official stakeholders’ group is settling on guidelines designed to narrow down the choices.
The Municipal League Foundation is the research and education arm of the Municipal League of King County. The Foundation’s mission is to conduct research and educate the public on matters of community interest and to encourage the development of civic participation and leadership in King County.
More information available at their website: http://www.munileague.org
According to several news sources, a man was found shot to death in his car near SeaTac Airport early Monday morning.
The man, in his 30s, was found slumped over the wheel in a car near the intersection of International Blvd (aka Highway 99) and State Route 518 just after midnight.
The shooter remains at large.
Apaprently, SR-518 was closed down for a while as police dogs and a helicopter searched the area, causing backups for drivers headed to or from the area.
The name of the man who was killed has not been released.
Video of the story available here.
SOURCES:
| Sep ’08 |
| 24 |
| Sep ’08 |
| 25 |
According to the Port of Seattle website, a road construction project, needed to bring Link light rail to Sea-Tac Airport in 2009, will cause significant detours and closures beginning Wed. morning, Sept. 24th and continuing through 7am Thurs. Sept. 25.
So…if you’re planning on going to SeaTac Airport between then, expect traffic delays, detours, lots of signs and of course, potential road rage.
All of the following will be affected:
- Lower Airport Drive (Baggage Claim/Arrivals level). Access to the Lower Drive will be reduced to one rerouted lane. The detour route will be clearly marked.
- North Entrance to the Airport Parking Garage. The north entrance to the garage will be closed and parkers rerouted to the south garage entrance. Drivers coming to Sea-Tac from the north will be detoured from SR 518 to south I-99 and the south garage entrance. Traffic leaving the garage will not be affected and will exit to the north as always at S. 182 Street.
- Cell Phone Lot. Traffic heading from the Cell Phone Waiting Lot to the terminal will follow a detour route at S. 182 Street.
- Public Transportation. All public transportation buses (Metro Transit, Sound Transit, Pierce Transit) will both pick up and drop off passengers on I- 99. Public transit buses will not have access to the Lower Drive during this period.
The exit and entrance to the Rental Car area will not be affected by these changes. It is expected that all traffic at the Airport, even on unchanged routes, will be slowed by these detours and closures. Please allow extra time, drive slowly and cautiously, and pay close attention to highway message signage.
As it is with most construction projects, weather may play a factor, so if it rains, there’s a chance the work will be delayed.
Both the Seattle P-I and KING-TV are reporting about a Saturday-afternoon police pursuit that ended with a car crashing into Sushi Saki, a Des Moines Japanese restaurant.
The incident apparently started when King County Sheriff’s deputies stopped a car in Burien, and an officer spotted what appeared to be a weapon.
The car sped off, and police say it led them on a chase to Des Moines, where it side-swiped two vehicles on Marine View Drive before crashing.
At least five law enforcement officers, including King County sheriff’s deputies, had to handcuff the suspect, who apparently was finally Tasered twice.
According to one witness, at least 19 patrol cars from the Des Moines and Burien police departments and the King County Sheriff’s Office were on the scene.
One arrest was made, but no one was hurt, and Marine View Drive was temporarily closed.
SOURCE:
The traffic webcam view above is of the scene where, around 7:10am this morning, a fatal crash and fire blocked all southbound lanes of I-405 in Tukwila near Southcenter causing a major four-mile traffic jam.
The DOT reports that all lanes have been re-opened, but we suggest that you refresh this page to see the latest webcam view.
After a three-day “rain delay,” the City of Burien has announced that the major re-paving of First Avenue South will begin tonight starting at 7pm.
The construction apparently will start at 148th SW and will move southward on First Ave South towards 160th; however, there are conflicting notes (read release below) that it will start at the south end, so we recommend just avoiding the entire area at all costs.
Here’s the release from the city:
The final paving phase has begun, starting with a pre-level of the roadway at the north end of the project.
There are areas where manhole and vault covers are above grade due to preparation for the final overlay – please use extreme caution and drive slowly.
Final paving will occur over the next two to three weeks, weather dependent, and will be done in segments and will occur at night between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Expect rolling closures of 1st Avenue South starting at the SOUTH end of the project moving north.
Paving will start on the east side of the roadway and move to the west side.
Use extreme caution as lane markings will follow after the pavement.
Please pay close attention to signage and detour directions during this time period.
If you have further questions, please contact Bruce McPherson, Resident Engineer, at 425/531‑0728 during business hours.
Again, drive slowly and carefully during this phase of the project for your safety and that of the workers. Thank you.
Map of the mess (click on the placeholder icons for more info):
View Larger Map
The City of Burien announced today that the previously-scheduled paving work that was to begin this morning at First Ave South and SW 160th has been postponed.
We’re not 100% certain, but our best guess is that it’s a weather-related decision (paving + rain = bad mix?).
Here’s their language:
The overlay on First Ave. has been cancelled for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights.
On Wednesday day, the determination will be made as to, GO or NO GO for the Thursday night paving.
The determination on Friday night paving, may or may not be made at this time depending on the weather outlook for Friday.
Doncha just love politicspeak?
“May or may not be made at this time…”!
So…ignore our previous post with subsequent dire warning interactive map, and drive all you want south on First Ave between 148th and 160th.
Personally, we’re going to go do a reckless circular pattern around that area, so look for the speeding green Mini Cooper with the BTB stickers on the doors!
On Monday (Aug. 18th) final paving is scheduled to begin on First Ave South, starting at SW 148th and moving southward, so be prepared for LOTS of construction work, delays and frustrated driving for up to four weeks depending on the weather.
Once paving begins, expect “significant impact on traffic patterns” from 7pm-7am because portions of First Ave South will be completely closed as the contractors move North to South.
Complete closures of First Ave South are being considered in order to expedite this phase of construction.
Trans-Tech work installing traffic signals and loops has taken longer than originally expected due to unforeseen repairs to existing loops for traffic signaling, however, this work is expected to be complete in the next 2-3 weeks.
Concrete work to install curbs, gutters and sidewalks to SW 146th is 95% complete. The remainder of the concrete will be completed after the overhead lines & poles are removed. Pedestrians should use extreme caution in this work area.
Seattle City Light will be on site in the coming weeks to pull wire & install equipment in the vaults between SW 160th & 154th.
Qwest will be onsite pulling & splicing wires, and their activity will continue for the next several months as well.
Theft of materials and illegal dumping in construction holding areas has been reported. These types of crimes only hinder the progress of this project. If you see any suspicious activity, please call 911.
It is important to remember that the contractor is required to maintain access to all businesses and inform businesses when their driveway will be closed or impacted by construction. If your driveway is blocked during business hours, please contact Discover Burien or Bruce McPherson at 206.439.2330 and we will contact the contractor.
If you sustain damage from rocks or material from trucks traveling on SR509, SR518 or roads other than 1st Avenue, please note the date, time, and license # of the truck and contact the trucking company. All liability rests on the trucking companies responsible for damage.
Questions? Please call Discover Burien: 206.433.2882
Map of the mess (click on the placeholder icons for more info):
View Larger Map
UPDATE: It appears that the traffic mess has cleared, so you can come home now!
Just learned of the apparent aftermath of a major accident jamming up traffic on Northbound I-5 near Southcenter, so you might want to avoid that area if you’re reading this and thinking of commuting home towards Burien anytime soon.
The Seattle P-I reports: A messy collision on Interstate 5 near Westfield Southcenter Mall, involving 13 cars, a jackknifed semi-truck and injured people, is jamming traffic near the Interstate 405 exit.
The accident — actually a series of three collisions — was reported just after 3 p.m. in the northbound lanes of the freeway, the Washington State Patrol reported.
The HOV lane and two others are opened, and crews are working to open the other lanes, said patrol spokesman Curt Boyle.
Boyle said some people were taken to hospitals and one transported to Harborview Medical Center. Most appeared to have minor injuries, he said.
According to WA DOT:
* CLEARED 4:20 PM: I-5 NORTHBOUND AT SOUTHCENTER ACCIDENT BLOCKING RIGHT LANE VERIFIED WITH CAMERA 2:50 PM – TOW , FIRE DEPT , AID , AND INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM ON SCENE
Updated WA DOT webcams:
| Mar ’08 |
| 2 |
| 3:00 am |
We here at the B-Town Blog are as sick and tired of these ding-dang traffic construction nightmares as you are, so we’re passing along this critical, headache-avoidance advisory:
Avoid driving I-5 Southbound near Southcenter this weekend!
Crews will conduct a rolling slowdown on southbound I-5 near S. 178th Street at 3 a.m. this Sunday morning, March 2nd to install the replacement bridge girder.
S. 178th Street over I-5 has been narrowed back to one lane of alternating traffic using a smart signal that detects traffic back-ups and automatically adjusts signal timing to ease congestion.
S. 178th Street over I-5 will also be completely closed Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. the following morning.
On Dec. 13, 2006 a truck struck the S. 178th street overpass. The impact damaged a girder underneath the structure. Bridge inspectors found the bridge safe for drivers but decided to restrict traffic to prevent more damage to the girder.
Crews must replace the girder to return traffic to normal on this highly traveled overpass between Tukwila and SeaTac.
Crews will replace the damaged girder under the S. 178th street overpass. The bridge deck will also be repaired.
Completing repairs will return the overpass to normal capacity for drivers traveling between SeaTac and Tukwila.
Replacing the girder will ensure that the overpass remains safe for drivers on S. 178th and on I-5 in the future.
SOURCE:
