|
2001 Public/Private Partnership Awards MAYOR WILLIE L. BROWN, JR.,
CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD PRWT SERVICES, INC. AND
LOCKHEED MARTIN, IMS Reduced traffic congestion
and safer streets leading to a more economically vibrant downtown are the key
achievements of San Francisco’s parking management and red light photo
enforcement programs administered by PRWT Inc. and Lockheed Martin IMS. Through this innovative partnership, the San Francisco
Department of Parking & Traffic (DPT) has leveraged the technological
resources of these private-sector service providers to save lives and improve
the flow of traffic in both residential and commercial neighborhoods – all
while generating additional revenue to offset the cost of the programs to
taxpayers. Parking Management With 440,000 vehicles registered within the 45 square
miles that comprise the city and county, accommodating the demand for San
Francisco’s 28,063 regulated parking spaces requires highly effective
management, regulation and enforcement. The city’s partnership with PRWT and
Lockheed Martin IMS has produced a comprehensive and integrated solution to the
processing of parking citations and parking management requirements, which are
supported by a complete system of data processing hardware and software. Since the start of the parking management program in
November 1998, the city’s collection rate on parking citations has increased
from 66.6% to 73.1%. Average monthly revenues from parking fines have climbed
28% from $4.1 million to $5.2 million – an increase of more than $13.7 million
annually. The average yield per citation issued is now $28.35 compared to
$22.35 before the start of the program. All surplus revenue is funneled into
public transit programs, which help reduce motor vehicle traffic into the city.
An innovative
Parking Citation Processing System has contributed greatly to the improved
performance by automating and expediting the process of identifying vehicle
owners, issuing timely notices and collecting payments on the more than 2.2
million citations issued annually. The hand-held computers provided to the city’s nearly 300
parking control officers have greatly improved the speed, accuracy and
efficiency of the citation writing and scofflaw enforcement process. Another
feature of this automated reporting system is that it enables DPT to better
manage the deployment of parking control officers, which is critically
important during special events. For instance, the DPT is responsible for
traffic management and control at all games at Pac Bell Park, the new downtown
baseball stadium located near the Bay Bridge and Financial District, where
traffic congestion is an extremely sensitive issue. The information made
available through the Hand-Held Parking Citation Issuance and Reporting System
helps the DPT manage the deployment of more than 35 parking control officers at
each game. Their presence has greatly reduced congestion problems. Red Light Photo Enforcement Ensuring the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists on the
streets of San Francisco has been a major focus in a city where there were 23
deaths caused by motorists running red lights between 1992 and 1998, according
to the U.S. Department of Transportation. San Francisco was among the first
major U.S. cities to implement a red-light camera enforcement program in 1998. As part of its
partnership with PRWT and Lockheed Martin IMS, the DPT has 13 red-light cameras
that are alternated among 26 of the city’s most dangerous intersections. During
1999, the first year of the program in the city’s South of Market district,
collisions caused by red light runners dropped 46%. Citywide, the number of red light-running crashes was down 14%. Equally
impressive, the number of red light violations captured on camera has been cut
in half citywide, including an 80% drop at Fifth and Howard streets – the site
of the first camera installation. In response to the success of the technology
in deterring red light runners, six additional cameras will be installed over
the next two years, for a total of 25 cameras alternated among 32
intersections. Most of the
program costs are funded by a $271 fine imposed for each violation – the fine
amount is set by the state. As part of their contract, PRWT and Lockheed Martin
IMS are responsible for camera installation and construction, image and
citation processing, and adjudication support. |