Albany Residents Await Promised School Zone Lights

Six months after city council vote, flashing lights still not installed on North Albany Road

Mar. 20, 2026 at 7:22am

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The Albany City Council voted 6-0 six months ago to install flashing lights in a school speed zone on North Albany Road, but local residents are still waiting for the promised safety improvements to be implemented.

Why it matters

School zones are intended to improve pedestrian safety, especially for children, by slowing down traffic. The delay in installing the flashing lights raises concerns about the city's ability to follow through on public safety initiatives and the impact on residents' trust in local government.

The details

The Albany City Council approved the installation of flashing lights in the school speed zone on North Albany Road back in September 2025. However, as of March 2026, the lights have still not been installed, leaving drivers unsure of the speed limit and creating potential safety risks for students walking to and from school.

  • The Albany City Council voted 6-0 to install the flashing lights in September 2025.
  • As of March 2026, the flashing lights have still not been installed.

The players

Albany City Council

The governing body of the city of Albany, Oregon that voted to install the flashing lights in the school zone.

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What’s next

The city has not provided a timeline for when the flashing lights will be installed, leaving residents uncertain about when the promised safety improvements will be implemented.

The takeaway

This delay in installing the flashing lights highlights the challenges cities can face in following through on public safety initiatives, which can erode trust between residents and local government if projects are not completed in a timely manner.