City of Greater Sudbury to turn off its 6 speed cameras on Nov. 14

The City of Greater Sudbury is turning off its six speed cameras on Nov. 14, the same day an Ontario ban on the traffic-calming measures comes into effect.

The city started using the mobile cameras, which change locations every few months, in March 2024. 

That year, they generated $750,000 in revenues that the city puts toward other traffic-calming measures and road improvements, such as speed bumps.

Joe Rocca, the city’s director of linear infrastructure services, said the cameras are projected to generate $2.4 million in revenue for 2025, by the time they are turned off in mid-November.

Rocca said that while the cameras were controversial — they were often knocked over — they were effective at slowing drivers in the areas where they were installed.

"What this program put in the face of a lot of people is you are speeding on all these roads,” Rocca said.

“It does have an impact and there can be a consequence to you speeding. That wasn't well received by everybody and that's OK. There's nothing wrong with that."

Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria told reporters at Queen’s Park the province would “continue to work with municipalities on future funding throughout the next couple of weeks on additional measures that they can take to improve traffic calming."

Rocca said Greater Sudbury hasn’t yet heard from the province about those additional traffic-calming measures. 

"We're anxious to see what supports are going to be put in place by the province,” he said.

“We'll be ready to take part in whatever program is established. And take those steps on those roadways where traffic calming measures are appropriate."

Rocca said speed cameras are effective on streets where speed bumps or other traffic calming measures aren’t an option due to higher speed limits.

He added the city is currently in conversations with its speed camera company about cancelling the contract.

The provincial legislation has measures in place to protect municipalities from any financial loss caused by the provincial speed camera ban.