Minnesota Traffic Safety Camera (TSC) Pilot

Challenge

Excessive speeding increases the risk of fatal and serious injury crashes, and cities across Minnesota are seeing it firsthand. In 2025, there were almost 400 speed-related serious injuries and more than 100 speed-related fatalities. Rising community concern over speeding and dangerous intersections led state and local leaders to look towards emerging technology to address excessive speeding on their roadways.

Speed safety cameras fit the bill, providing targeted safety benefits for high-injury corridors. In 2021, the technology was adopted by the Federal Highway Administration as a proven safety countermeasure, showing a track record of successful safety benefits. Traffic safety cameras (TSC), which include both speed safety cameras and red-light cameras, are in use in roughly half the states in the US and have been used abroad for decades.

So why weren’t TSCs being used in Minnesota?

For starters, the technology was untested in our region and lacked authorization under state law. And with any new technology and program, there is information to learn and processes to develop. To be successful, the technology needed legislative authorization, clear guidance, proven standards, and practical tools to implement programs effectively and confidently.

Solution

Through various efforts, SEH supported the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the City of Minneapolis in gaining research-based insights and practical guidance to inform decisions on traffic safety camera effectiveness and implementation best practices.  

SEH developed multiple research syntheses to provide decision makers with a clear, evidence-based understanding of how these strategies could improve roadway safety. Research proved that speed safety cameras can reduce speeds, improve driver compliance, and lower both the severity and frequency of crashes. At the same time, the research examined potential challenges, including spillover effects and implementation challenges, giving agencies a full picture of how programs could operate in real-world conditions. 

The research findings were compiled into publicly available Transportation Research Synthesis (TRS) documents, providing policymakers, transportation professionals, and communities across the state with practical, evidence-based resources to guide decision-making and support safer streets. 

With strong advocacy from the City of Minneapolis and other transportation leaders, a TSC pilot was authorized by the legislature in May of 2024, paving the way for the City of Minneapolis, Mendota Heights, and MnDOT to test speed safety cameras and red-light cameras on Minnesota roadways.  

How Research Became a Statewide Traffic Safety Camera Pilot

But research alone doesn’t make streets safer. SEH helped MnDOT and the City of Minneapolis translate research findings into a pilot program by developing vendor Requests for Proposals (RFPs), creating statewide system standards, and designing before-and-after evaluations to track outcomes. SEH’s role ensured that program requirements were clear, actionable, and aligned with the program objectives. 

What Results Did Minnesota's Traffic Safety Cameras Achieve?

Early pilot data show these strategies are working and working fast. Over just a few months, the City of Minneapolis saw meaningful changes in driver behavior at high-risk intersections: 

• Speeds 10+ mph over the limit dropped 51%. 

• Speeds 20+ mph over the limit dropped 58%. 

• Every monitored intersection saw meaningful reductions.  

While still early in the four-year pilot, preliminary evaluation shows that TSCs can influence driver behavior quickly and effectively. More importantly, they demonstrate measurable progress toward the goal of protecting vulnerable roadway users and creating safer streets for all residents. 

What Guidance and Tools Were Developed for Agencies?

Beyond the pilot, decision-makers gained a suite of tools to support program management: research summaries, system standards, procurement guidance, and concise materials for legislators and the public. These resources helped the cities and MnDOT communicate clearly, make informed decisions, and evaluate strategies that improve roadway safety. 

How MnDOT and Minneapolis Turned Research into Safer Streets

By partnering with SEH, MnDOT and the City of Minneapolis were able to turn research into action, transforming policy and technical guidance into measurable outcomes. The collaboration provided the agencies with the knowledge, tools, and evidence needed to reduce speeding and red-light running, while also achieving tangible progress toward safer streets.