Sep 25, 2008 9:16 pm US/Central
Are Traffic Control Aides Wasting Tax Dollars?
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Cameras caught Chicago traffic aides doing little to nothing to actually direct traffic.
CBS
You see them in busy intersections in Chicago, especially during rush hours. They're called traffic control aides. But, do they actually help ease congestion or are they just wasting your tax dollars?
CBS 2 Investigator Pam Zekman reports that Chicago police officers used to do traffic control in downtown Chicago. Four years ago, the Office of Emergency Management and Communication took over so the cops could be used to fight crime. But are the civilian traffic aides really just a case of traffic mismanagement?
"If the traffic lights are functioning, why do you need a traffic aide?" said Larry Rivkin, concerned taxpayer.
With that question Larry Rivkin contacted CBS 2 about a program that is costing taxpayers about $10 million a year.
"Under the budget we are in you have to wonder, is this really an appropriate use of city dollars?" said Jay Stewart, Better Government Association.
"It makes me angry that I'm being asked to do more and pay more for services that aren't needed," Rivkin said.
In response to complaints, the 2-investigators decided to watch the traffic aides in action.
They did find hard-working aides directing traffic.
But, they also saw traffic aides standing around - and other aides who didn't seem to have much to do.
"It's embarrassing. It makes me angry," said Jack Killackey, who oversees 1,000 traffic control aides.
The 2-investigators showed him highlights of the surveillance footage.
On Columbus and Monroe, cameras caught three traffic aides gathered on one corner and it looked like one's job was keeping the other one awake.
"We're going to look into that. It doesn't look good, you know, obviously it doesn't look good," Killackey said.
At Washington and Clark, one traffic aide found the least busy corner; all while pedestrians and turning cars were left to fend for themselves.
"She's obviously not performing as fully as she could be," Killackey said.
And at Michigan and Monroe - one of the deadliest corners in Chicago - the traffic aide stands on the median barely directing traffic - until she spots the camera - then she springs into action. When she thinks the cameras are gone, she returns to her perch.
"She's a very poor employee and she'll be dealt with," Killackey said.
At Dearborn and Madison, an SUV makes an illegal turn, just missing a pedestrian - all under the watchful eye of the traffic aide.
When asked why the aide did not get into the intersection with her whistle and say 'stop,' Killackey says, "Because you do not jump in front of cars, they're taught to not stand in front of cars to make cars stop."
The traffic aides are trained by the Chicago Police to use standardized signaling gestures, but some seem to have improvised their own signals - mystifying their boss.
"No, see that's no good," Killackey said. "That's not what they're supposed to be doing."
When asked what a traffic aide was doing motioning her arms in a circular motion, Killackey says, "I think it's illegal procedure in the NFL - and it has no place in the Chicago Traffic Management Authority."
"In the end, you know, we thank you for bringing this to our attention because it is going to make changes here and it is going to make us better," Killackey said. "But I can see why people would be angry about this."
Shortly after CBS 2 showed the video to the city, it ordered seven days of refresher training for all the traffic aides. In addition, eight traffic aides received what the city called "formal counseling for their deficiencies." The Traffic Management Authority says it would like to use our video for future training.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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