Newberg to See Red Light Cameras in the Next Year

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has approved red light and speed cameras for the City of Newberg, marking a milestone in the city’s public safety improvement plan. Newberg City Manager Will Worthey said the cameras could be installed and operational as soon as late spring or early summer 2024.

“When I arrived in town around 2022, I was on the street corner by City Hall handing out candy during Halloween,” Worthey said. “I noticed the number of people ignoring our street lights and speed limits in the downtown area, even when children were present. After hearing from the public and the city council about the same issue, we got to work right away.”

Worthey mentioned that the City Council has given him a two-year deadline to complete the project, which is a quick turnaround for any city government initiative.

“Maintaining a safe community aligns with the council’s goals,” Worthey said. “It’s a top priority at the moment.”

The cameras have been approved for the following intersections:

• Speed and red light cameras: First Street and Main Street (eastbound near Nap’s Thriftway and the former See See Motor Coffee Co.)

• Red light cameras: Oregon Highway 99 and Villa Rd. (northbound left turn and westbound approach near Thai The Knot Asian Kitchen and Grocery Outlet).

According to crash report data provided by Kittelson & Associates, Inc., 13 crashes occurred at the intersection of Main and Oregon Highway 99W from 2016 to 2020. Among these, nine out of the 13 crashes involved at least one vehicle entering the intersection from the eastbound highway, and five of those were due to running red lights — all resulting in injuries.

The intersection at Oregon Highway 99W and Villa witnessed a total of 21 crashes during the same period, with four of them resulting from red light violations.

“I see this issue on Brutscher, on Springbrook, and throughout the town,” Worthey said. “It’s not just about these specific locations, although they have the highest crash counts. The idea is to have a broader impact around town.”

Due to the project’s significance, the city engaged staff members from multiple departments to ensure thoroughness and efficiency.

“It’s truly an interdepartmental effort,” Worthey said, acknowledging that the city manager would not usually be involved in such an endeavor. “We established a review panel consisting of individuals from the Newberg Police Department, the courts department, engineering, finance, and city hall. This highlights the importance of the project for our town.”

Newberg Police Department Sgt. Eric Ronning stated that these two locations will set the tone for drivers entering the town.

“At this juncture, the focus is truly on the safety of the downtown corridor,” Sgt. Ronning explained. “These few intersections will contribute to that. The objective is to slow down drivers and remind them that traffic lights exist here for community safety.”

Sgt. Ronning mentioned that the cameras will incorporate a degree of tolerance to prevent drivers from receiving fines for slightly exceeding the speed limit. However, the extent of this tolerance will be determined after a site review.

“We aim for content, law-abiding residents,” Worthey emphasized. “Our goal isn’t to generate revenue.”

Additionally, the city will initiate a public information campaign before activating the cameras to ensure that Newberg residents are informed about the cameras, their purpose, and the intended outcome.