Speed cams coming soon, RAND Corporation reports on Santa Monica, and more

Mind your speedometers, motorists: you're being watched.

This week, the City of Los Angeles announced the start of installation for 125 speed cameras along corridors identified for a history of crashes and injuries. Each of the City's 15 Council Districts will see the installation of the cameras as part of a pilot program authorized by state law.

The new system will capture the rear license plate of any vehicle traveling 11 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit, with the data to be transmitted to LADOT to confirm the violation. If and when confirmed, a speeding citation will be registered to the registered vehicle owner.

Cameras will start becoming active on October 26, and all will be on line before the end of 2026. The initiation of each camera will kick off a 60-day warning period in which violators will receive written warnings if driving 11 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit. After the warning concludes, a first violation for traveling above the speed limit will incur a $50 fine for driving 11-15 miles per hour above the speed limit, or $100 for those traveling 16 miles per hour or more above the speed limit. The full schedule of fines can be seen at LAspeedsafety.org.

For more information, visit the project website.

Here's what we're reading this week:

Santa Monica’s Recent Economic and Social Trends "Researchers compared Santa Monica’s recent economic and social trends with peer cities near Los Angeles using data analysis and expert interviews. They found steeper declines in retail sales and tourism, with challenges concentrated downtown. Crime increased in some categories but largely tracks regional trends. The city has recently undertaken substantial reforms in housing, policing, and business development that may improve its outlook." (RAND)

Bergamot Station made Santa Monica an art mecca. Now, it could be replaced by affordable housing "A proposal calls for more than 700 affordable homes, including units for artists. Officials say galleries could return to new spaces, though details remain under negotiation." (LA Times)

Closing the gap between Heritage Square Museum and its Metro stop "A proposed new entrance along Pasadena Avenue, where the Heritage Square Station lets out, would make it more like a five-minute stroll to the collection of architecturally significant buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s." (Eastsider)

OC Transportation Authority funds Metrolink for another quarter as service hangs in the balance "The Orange County Transportation Authority approved $10.5 million for Metrolink services for the second quarter of the fiscal year as the rail service faces a dip in ridership and rising operational costs." (LAist)

Studio bets $450 million on stacked soundstages, sky bungalows to woo production back to Hollywood "But developer David Simon is betting that Hollywood can rebound due to expanded film incentives, and that his new studio will give filmmakers a reason to stay in L.A." (LA Times)

As California's post production tax credit is celebrated, a federal credit could be a game changer "If the bipartisan birth and early life of the bill isn’t enough to raise eyebrows, what it promises may be: a 20% federal, labor-based tax credit to U.S. TV and film productions where 75% of the days spent on principal photography happen in this country." (LAist)

L.A. City to Greenlight West Valley River Bike/Walk Path Construction "The $84 million Los Angeles Riverway West San Fernando Valley project will extend 2.9 miles from Vanalden Avenue to Balboa Boulevard - across the L.A. City neighborhood of Reseda" (Streetsblog LA)

European Coworking Firm Enters U.S. With 32K-SF Lease in Downtown L.A. "InfinitSpace plans to open 30 U.S. locations over the next two years" (Commercial Observer)

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