LOWER MERION — After having rejected the idea over a decade ago, Lower Merion could soon have its first red light camera.
Last week, the Lower Merion Police Committee recommended that the commissioners approve advertising a township ordinance change that would allow automated red light enforcement.
Lower Merion Police Sgt. Matthew Colflesh told the committee members that the township still needs to obtain final approval from PennDOT. Once the approvals are complete, they expect to have the system installed by the fall.
The township plans to install its first camera at Remington Road and Lancaster Avenue in Wynnewood. They expect to expand it to other intersections later.
According to Colflesh, the township will also be required to post signs at any intersection with the cameras.
Commissioner Ray Courtney expressed his support for the program.
“I also wanted to express gratitude for bringing this forward,” Courtney said. “It’s great to have another tool, potentially, that we can use to promote traffic safety.”
In 2013, the commissioners rejected the idea of using red light cameras in the township. About a year ago, township officials agreed to reconsider the use of the cameras.
Todd Sinai, president of the Lower Merion commissioners, also expressed his support for the cameras.
“I’m going to add my voice to the chorus of people who are delighted that this is here,” Sinai said. “I remember having a conversation with a previous superintendent some years ago where I expressed the need for red light cameras, and the response we got was ‘well, you know it had come up to the board. I don’t know, maybe a decade and a half earlier, and the board hadn’t been in favor.’ Well, we have a different board now, and I’m hopeful that this board would be in favor of it. I think it’s something that our residents want and can enhance safety a lot and I’m delighted to see that this is here.”
According to the financial impact section of the issues briefing to the township commissioners, the “initial implementation of the Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) Program will focus on Lancaster Avenue and Remington Road, with an estimated operational cost of $9,600 per month and an annual cost of $115,200 for this single intersection. All associated expenses, including police officer reviews and hearing officer compensation — set at $200 per session with two sessions held monthly — will be fully covered by program revenue.
“In Phase 2, the program will expand to two additional intersections, increasing monthly operational costs by $19,200 and bringing the total annual cost for all three intersections to $345,600. This phased approach allows for a manageable rollout, ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation before broader implementation.”
Originally Published: June 8, 2025 at 7:15 AM EDT