Newport weighs camera sensors vs. ground loops as signal repairs climb in cost

City Administrator James Stinch briefed the Newport City Council on June 9 about recurring vehicle-detection loop failures at local traffic signals, rising repair costs and the trade-offs of replacing loops versus installing camera-based sensors.

Stinch said the older ‘‘loops’’ embedded in pavement that detect approaching vehicles break routinely, particularly where heavy truck traffic passes. "At that light alone at Love's, there are 11 loops broken," Stinch said. He told the council that a loop replacement that once cost about $1,100 now runs roughly $2,500, and that the total needed at that intersection would be on the order of "almost $30,000" to fix all loops there.

Staff are examining whether to replace loops or to install above-ground camera sensors on signals downtown, Stinch said. "A lot of people see that thing and they think it's a video camera… but those are just sensor cameras that allow the computer to know when a vehicle approaches," he said. He added that the city is still gathering cost estimates and may phase installs or seek grant funding: "We have not gotten a number on what the cameras cost versus what the loops cost yet."

Stinch also told council there are only a small number of qualified vendors in the region that service modern computerized signal cabinets; that limits options and can delay repairs. He said staff are considering going out to bid and contracting with one vendor to provide more reliable service and reduce recurring emergency calls.

Why it matters: Detection failures can cause unsafe delays and queueing at intersections and repeated repairs can strain the city budget. Council asked staff to pursue firm cost estimates and potential grant opportunities before committing to a full replacement strategy.

Next steps: Staff will continue to gather vendor cost comparisons, prepare specifications for a potential bid, and report back to council with financial estimates and possible phased approaches. No formal vote was taken on procurement at the June 9 meeting.