Trying to give the red light to red-light cameras

Just a few weeks after HPD recommended a vendor for Houston's proposed red-light camera system, a competing company is asking the city to reconsider its decision, claiming the police department's evaluation of competing cameras systems was unfair.

In early February, HPD recommended American Traffic Solutions for the project based on evaluation of four competing companies. But Nestor Traffic Systems is saying the selection process was unfair and that it's generally a better choice than ATS. The police department hasn't released the results of its evaluation, and it won't until after the City Council approves a contract, but Executive Assistant Police Chief Martha Montalvo said everything was fair. As for Nestor being a better company, well, that's just good PR. Speaking of which, making Nestor's case to the City Council today is none other than former councilman Bert Keller, who is now Nestor's vice president of sales.

Among Nestor's advantages, Keller said, are that the company would open a Houston office and that Nestor's camera system includes a feature that stops cross traffic when it senses someone's about to run a red light, thereby avoiding collisions. Montalvo said all the companies vying for the camera contract offered to open offices here and noted that the city didn't want the collision-avoidance technology because it would screw with synchronized traffic lights. (Note to the city: The synchronized traffic lights don't work that well anyway, so we don't think you should worry much about that.)

HPD is still working on a contract for the camera system, which it hopes to present to City Council soon. If all goes well, the system could be up and running by the beginning of May.