Province slows city's photo radar plan

The arrival of photo radar cameras near a dozen Ottawa schoolsis facing a delay after the provincedemanded the city first post warning signs for 90 days, the transportation committee heard Wednesday.

That means instead of rolling out the pilot project later this month, the city won't be able to install the cameras until the spring, Phil Landry, the city's director of traffic services, told the committee.

• Photo radar coming to roads near 12 Ottawa schools
• Ford government asking public to weigh in on proposed photo radar changes

The city plans to install the cameras at the following locations:

• Watters Road, near St. Francis of Assisi School.
• Longfields Drive, near cole lmentaire catholique Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau, St. Mother Teresa High School and Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School.
• Bayshore Drive, nearSt. Rose of Lima School.
• Meadowlands Drive W., nearSt. Gregory School.
• Ogilvie Road, near Gloucester High School.
• Smyth Road, nearVincent Massey Public School, Hillcrest High School and cole secondaire catholique Franco-Cit.
• Innes Road, nearcole secondaire catholique Batrice-Desloges.
• Katimavik Road, nearHoly Trinity Catholic High School.

According to city staff, the province has yet to even approve a design for the signs that will warn drivers photo radar is coming.

That also means a delay for any revenue generated by the camerasmoney the city plans to invest in road safetyas part of an action planapproved by the committee Wednesday.

'Out of the blue': Committee chair

Although the previous Liberal government passed legislation to allow municipalities to use photo radar in so-called community safety zones, cities couldn't move ahead until the province approved regulations.

The Progressive Conservative government gave them the green light just late last week, after conducting more consultations with the public, and is mandating large signs in English and French that mustread: "Municipal Speed Camera In Use."

Before those signs go in, the province has told the city it must erect different signsat its own expensethat warn drivers photo radar is on the way.

"It came out of the blue," committee chairCoun. Stephen Blaistold reporters after Wednesday's meeting.

"There are elements within the provincial government that are reconsidering whether not photo radar should be allowed," said Blais, when asked if he believed the demands were ideologically based.

"And this is perhaps one of the ways that they're going to use to try to justify that change in approach."

Blais fears the 90-day warning period may reduce the effectiveness of photo radar to limit speeding or to pay for itself.