WATERLOO REGION — The Region of Waterloo doesn't plan to install additional red light cameras any time soon but it will replace the existing 16 for at least five years.

Politicians voted Wednesday on a new contract with supplier Traffipax to replace the existing cameras, operate and maintain them for five years, with an option for an additional five-year renewal.

The contract will cost about $2.1 million.

"They are targeted intersections where we think, or staff feel, they will be helpful so they are strategically located," Coun. Tom Galloway said. "This is not just intended to be a money grab or anything, it is intended to be helpful at the intersections."

The region first installed red light cameras in 2000, saying it would increase safety at problem intersections by dissuading drivers from running red lights. One camera was rotated at four different intersections.

In 2005 the number of cameras was increased to 16.

The cameras are triggered to photograph a vehicle's licence plate when the driver has run the red light. Staff say the cameras won't go off on a yellow or when a yellow turns red when a vehicle is crossing the intersection.

Bob Henderson, manager of transportation engineering, said to meet the criteria for a red light camera intersections must show eight collisions over a five-year period on a particular approach that are specifically caused by running a red.

"Currently there's no locations that meet that warrant so we are not considering any immediate installations at this time," he said.

Though regional traffic statistics show the cameras are working at problem intersections, Henderson said they won't be removed.

"They are staying there because we haven't necessarily seen any reason to take them out," Henderson said. "We want to maintain safety at that intersection."

The region had some difficulty with its cameras last year after eight were damaged and inoperative due to severe weather or removed for construction projects.

That put the region in the red to the tune of about $600,000 when anticipated ticket revenues didn't materialize. The region has tied ticket revenue into its operating budget and estimates a certain amount of revenue each year.

Traffipax is the same company that had the previous contract.

Galloway said the hope is that the region won't run into the same problem again.

"There's been some maintenance issues," he said. "Of course we're hoping it'll be different."

In past years, the region has netted as much as $2 million from red light camera tickets.

The region is part of a collective of municipalities that issued a request for proposals to supply red light cameras.

Only two companies bid on the project and Traffipax was deemed the most fit.

Camera locations:

Cambridge

•Franklin Boulevard southbound at Saginaw Parkway

•Hespeler Road northbound at Lang's Drive/Sheldon Drive

•Park Hill Road eastbound at Water Street

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Kitchener

•Duke Street northbound at Frederick Street

•Homer Watson Boulevard southbound at Pioneer Drive

•Ottawa Street eastbound at Homer Watson Boulevard

•Ottawa Street eastbound at 1400 Ottawa Street (Sunrise Shopping Centre access)

Waterloo

•Bridgeport Road westbound at Albert Street

•Bridgeport Road westbound at Regina Street

•Erb Street eastbound at Regina Street

•King Street northbound at Bridgeport Road

•University Avenue eastbound at Dale Crescent/Lincoln Road

•Weber Street southbound at Bridgeport Road

•Weber Street southbound at Erb Street

•Weber Street northbound at Lincoln Road/Bridgeport Plaza

•Weber Street northbound at Union Street