South Broadway neighborhood says speed camera is working but more are needed

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque’s newest speed camera is answering a call to slow drivers down through a downtown-area neighborhood. Neighbors said they’re already seeing a difference, but that the job’s not finished.

Now, watching drivers on South Broadway, the city’s latest speed camera near downtown, is already getting a positive response. Put up in June, the city installed the camera at Broadway and Iron after the neighborhood association pushed for it.

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The camera is the 20 ^th and final camera for Albuquerque until the city can sign a new contract to expand the program.

“An expansion to this program I think will continue that trend of positive changes in driver behavior because even reducing speeds by one mile per hour can result in a 17 percent reduction in fatal crashes,” said Valerie Hermanson, City of Albuquerque Public Works Strategic Program Manager.

President of the South Broadway Neighborhood Association Frances Armijo said while neighbors are appreciative of this one camera, they still think more are needed. “I really want that other camera here on Katherine and Broadway. Because as you’ve noticed, people are just speeding by here like it’s a highway,” said Armijo.

Armijo said most times of the day, plenty of drivers go well beyond the 35 miles per hour limit. “You’re a witness to how bad the traffic is here,” said Armijo.

The city hasn’t decided if a second camera will go on South Broadway, only saying crash data and other measures will determine where any future cameras go. “But it’s good to know that the community is supportive of this location and would be supportive of additional locations should we put one in this area in the future,” said Hermanson.

In the meantime, Armijo said she’ll keep fighting for drivers to slow down. “Stop it. Stop coming into our neighborhood and speeding by here like we don’t matter. We matter,” said Armijo.

More than 250,000 citations have come from the city’s cameras since they were turned on in 2022. The city does not yet have a timeline on when they hope to install another 20 speed cameras.

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