By Monday afternoon, the northern of the two lights had been installed. Its counterpart on the south end of the school zone was still being worked on.
Starting today, forgetful drivers are getting a break in the school zone on North Albany Road. The City of Albany announced that the long-awaited installation of flashing lights was taking place.
The announcement said the installation should be finished and the lights activated by this afternoon. When that’s done, the 20 mph speed limit in the school zone will be in effect only when the lights are flashing, and not for 10 hours a day as before.
The city council directed last September that the lights be installed. People had been getting speeding tickets on some days when signs said there was no school even though classes were in session at one of the two schools on North Albany Road.
The lights will eliminate that school zone ambiguity.
The city awarded a contract for the lights in December. North Star Electrical Construction, of Sherwood, was the low bidder at $42,900. The installation itself was delayed, first while city engineers checked technical details, then when the contractor waited for parts.
The lights will flash when children can be expected to arrive at school and again when the school day ends.
On school day mornings, the lights will flash from 7:20 to 9:25 a.m.
In the afternoon, the lights are set to flash from 2:30 to 4:15 p.m. except on Wednesdays, when they are activated from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m. (Wednesday is an early-release day in Albany schools.)
Traffic cameras in the school zone have generated about 300 speeding tickets a month. That number should drop sharply now that the time period of enforcement is drastically reduced. (hh)
Somehow I doubt these lights will stop all the whining from commenters on your blog about this topic. “It’s not yellow enough!” “It flashes all weird!”
“Somehow I doubt these lights will stop all the whining from commenters on your blog about this topic”
Well, you’re the first.
I’m still stuck on how the old signs were lying to us all these years!!!
Who knew til now! Still no trust!!!!
Albany shame on parade.
Sometimes when an issue is pointed out with logic, other examples and the need for common sense, the words fall on ears that hear.
Thank you!
The new light system seems like a good logical progression. As the city grows and traffic increases having good efficient traffic flow is improtant. The current signage system is outdated for todays and tomorrows streets. Anything that helps with school zone safety should be applauded. If this light system works than maybe it could be applied to other areas as well. West/Memorial on Queen and South on Waverly. I would propose that the city piblic works and Council work with GAPS to Identify areas that are most in need and apply a portion of red light camera revenues to additional lights. But please do not hire a consulting firm for this just work as a team and do it.! “Lets give the lights a chance”
Perhaps now the City could work on the speed and noise along North Albany Road during all the other hours of the day and night. A focus on “car farts” would really be helpful.
Early Tuesday afternoon, the day after installation of the warning lights, the traffic cam was flashing wildly even though the new warning lights were off (around 2pm). I first saw the cam flash coming down N.Albany Rd and immediately dropped my speed to 21mph near Quarry. It continued to flash even as cars sat for a red light. Something was definitely wrong and needs to be adjusted. If I see a ticket, I’m fighting it!
The City is still letting Verra Mobility take advantage of it’s citizens by operating these speed traps!
THANK YOU Hasso for keeping us informed!!!
If you don’t speed, they aren’t traps. Obey the law and you have no problem.
Given the advance of camera technology (drive in a Tesla and watch the display show details of cars, trucks and pedestrains) and AI, it would seem a logical progression to align the camera operation with the intent of the law and give tickets when children are present within a certain distance, regardless of the time.