One of the flashing lights will replace this southbound school zone speed limit sign on North Albany Road. (The photo was taken Sept. 12, 2025.)
In line with direction from the Albany City Council, the city staff has invited contractors to bid for the job of installing flashing lights in the school zone on North Albany Road.
Bids are due by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
The job calls for the installation of “two solar-powered school zone speed limit flashing light assemblies and related appurtenances.” The city estimates the cost of the project at $70,000.
The signs under the flashing lights will say: “School speed limit 20 when flashing.”
Once the new lights are operating, the existing school zone signs are to be removed. Those signs now lower the regular 40 mph speed limit to 20 mph from 7 to 5 on “school days.”
The city council voted on Sept. 10 to have the flashing lights installed. This was after hundreds of people got speeding tickets in the North Albany Road school zone. An undetermined number got cited after being misled by “no school” signs at one or the other of the two schools in the zone.
Chris Bailey, the Albany public works director at the time, told me after the council vote that the lights are intended to flash for 15-30 minutes before and after school release times.
That means that most of the time during weekdays, the speed limit in the zone will revert to 40 mph. (hh)
Wahoo! Finally! Let’s get those lights up!
Make note that at least on this issue the “City” made adjustments to the citizens wishes as opposed to the citizens making adjustments to the City’s wishes.
Have to disagree Jeff –
The system works. It’s not “pretty” and never happens quickly. But there it is. The “citizens” will never get a line-item veto on any issue. That said, elections do have consequences…
No Quarter, right RAY!
ANOTHER $ 70 LARGE & THEY’LL KEEP MAILING THE SPEEDING TICKETS…THEN WHAT’S NEXT…..OH YEA,,THAT FLOCK CAMERA…ALBANY HAS YOU COMING & GOING….OH MY..
Good that is happening on North Albany Road; now we need the same thing on Springhill.
It seems to me the cameras should be turned off until the flashing lights are installed. But, maybe the city can not afford to lose this easy money source.
Bright yellow sign…check. Time sign…check. Bright orange flags…check. Now you want flashing lights? Pretty sure there are flashing lights on the train bridge on 1st street too.
So what is next…you need someone to hold your hand to tell you NOT to speed arounds schools?