Chapter F13 Traffic systems and road safety

F13.3 Closed-circuit television

Introduction

The NZTA supports the supply and installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) where the impact of incidents can be minimised by:

• a rapid response to incidents by dispatching emergency vehicles
• adjustment of settings of the traffic control system.

Eligibility

For the supply, installation and maintenance of CCTV equipment to be eligible for funding assistance, the following requirements must be met:

• There must be 25 or more traffic signal installations under SCATS control in a central business district (CBD) network. Linear arterial systems with intersections spaced at more than 500 metres are not eligible.
• There must be intersections on coordinated routes where the critical approaches have saturation factors that regularly exceed 0.8 for at least one hour of a peak period, per week day, where:

saturation factor = (∑ actual lane flows on the approach) / (∑ saturation lane flows x phase split)

Programming

Programming is as follows:

• Maintenance of CCTV equipment is programmed under work category 123: operational traffic management.
• Renewal of CCTV equipment is programmed under work category 222: traffic services renewals.
• Extension of CCTV systems or upgrading these to the current standard, up to a limit of $10,000, can be programmed under work category 231: associated improvements.
• Supply and installation of new cameras, control room monitor(s) and the communication system is programmed under work category 321: new traffic management facilities.

Staff time for the operation of CCTV systems is not eligible for funding assistance.

Conditions of approval for new installations

Approval for new installations is subject to the following conditions:

• The cameras must be installed so they provide surveillance of the controlling intersections.
• A competent operator must be in attendance during all periods of peak traffic flow (such as commuter peaks) and at other times when traffic flows may be a problem (eg for sporting events, concerts, parades and weekend shopping).
• Close liaison must be maintained with enforcement agencies, emergency services and media so that effective responses to problems can be initiated. These responses may include, for example, removing vehicles from clearways or publicising messages relating to road closures or detours.

Application details

Applications for funding assistance must include:

• a description of the SCATS system and traffic management strategy, especially in terms of the coordinated routes
• a description of the proposed surveillance system, including a street map showing the SCATS-controlled intersections and CCTV camera sites and coverage
• justification for proposed cameras at intersections on coordinated routes where the critical approaches have saturation factors (this justification shall include a tabulation of the critical intersections and their approaches, giving the saturation factors)
• details of operating procedures for the surveillance system, setting out how the peak traffic flows are monitored and how liaison is maintained - the details submitted must include:
  • documentation on the hours the control room is to be staffed, by whom, and their SCATS experience level
  • documentation of agreements with the external agencies detailing how the communications are to occur, by whom, and what sort of responses may be appropriate.