Drivers in West Philadelphia will soon see more automated speed cameras as the city expands its speed camera program. The city and the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) are adding speed cameras along Route 13 in West Philadelphia. Officials said the cameras have already been installed and are expected to begin a 60-day warning period sometime in mid-August. The expansion is part of the city’s effort to reduce speeding and improve safety on some of Philadelphia’s most dangerous roadways. Automated speed cameras are already operating on Roosevelt Boulevard, Broad Street and Frankford Avenue. The newest cameras are part of Route 13, which runs from Northeast Philadelphia through University City and onto Baltimore Avenue. The city began issuing $100 fines nearly a year ago for drivers caught speeding by cameras on Broad Street. Some drivers say the cameras have changed driving habits. “I’ve noticed how Broad Street is extra slow now, so I guess nobody has to worry about their kids running around in the street or somebody getting hit going up on the curb or whatever. It’s a little safer,” Karina Davis of South Philadelphia said. “I think it has helped a little bit. I think me personally I have slowed down because we got a couple warnings at the beginning,” Jesse Veiselatt of South Philly shared. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miguel Martinez-Valle (@miguelmvalle) At the end of June, the city also began issuing fines to drivers caught speeding by cameras along Frankford Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia. Those cameras stretch from Morrell Avenue to Levick Street and marked the first phase of the larger Route 13 safety project. The next phase adds cameras along Route 13 in West Philadelphia from Ridge Avenue to Baltimore Avenue. Once activated, drivers caught speeding will receive warnings during the 60-day grace period before citations begin. Not everyone supports the expansion. “Lots of things to spend their money on besides this,” Miss T of West Philadelphia said. According to city data from 2019 through 2023, there were 123 fatal and serious injury crashes, 160 speeding-related crashes and 258 pedestrian crashes along Route 13. The city hopes the cameras will help reduce those numbers. “I don’t see why not. You hit them with that speeding ticket. Maybe they’ll slow down,” Alicia Rhoten, a crossing guard in West Philadelphia, said. The city released the following statement on the new cameras: “The City is committed to making our streets safer for everyone, and speeding is the most common cause of traffic fatalities: speeding kills. The Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program is targeted and data-driven. Speed cameras are not placed arbitrarily and are not meant to punish people: they are meant to enforce the rules of the road and decrease injuries and deaths. Route 13, which includes Baltimore Avenue, is on the City’s High Injury Network, meaning it is among the most dangerous corridors in Philadelphia. New enforcement will make it safer and get us closer to our Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities in the City of Philadelphia.” Part of this story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication. Facebook announcing ...read more read less