Philadelphia will launch a pilot program using Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) in select school zones along the city’s High Injury Network, following City Council’s approval of the new legislation. The legislation is part of a broader effort between City Council and Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Administration to eliminate traffic fatalities in Philadelphia and follows Councilmember Thomas’ recent hearing investigating progress toward achieving the city’s Vision Zero goals.
The Safe Streets for Students Act, which authorizes the installation and use of automated speed enforcement cameras in 7 dangerous school zones around Philadelphia, PASSED out of the City Council last Thursday.
“As an educator and coach myself, the safety of our city’s young people is paramount to me, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas said Thursday. “I am proud to get this important, lifesaving piece of legislation across the finish line. I am grateful to my colleagues who engaged my office and the administration in proactive dialogue about how this will impact communities across the city, and especially grateful to Mayor Parker and her team for their hard work and leadership on this issue.”
This is a five-year pilot program authorized by Pennsylvania House Bill 1284 and will need to be renewed or made permanent in 2028 if it is to be continued. As required by HB 1284, engineering and traffic studies must be completed and an opportunity for public comment will be made available.
Locations were determined by transportation experts at the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) using crash data and geographic spread across the city to maximize impact. Thomas’ ordinance authorizes automated enforcement in 7 locations, though state law limits the use of ASE cameras to 5 designated school zones at a given time.
The 7 authorized school zones are:
- William L. Sayre High School (3rd district)
- High School of the Future (4th district)
- Visitation B.V.M School (5th district)
- KIPP North Philadelphia Charter School (5th district)
- John B. Stetson Middle School (7th district)
- Widener Memorial School (8th district)
- Northeast High School (10th district)
Cameras would be active during school hours when school zone flashers are active.
