Residents press Orange board to move on red‑light cameras as petition and crash data pile up

More than 100 residents have asked the Town of Orange to install automated red‑light cameras at selected intersections, and several public commenters urged the Board of Selectmen on Thursday to act quickly to reduce crashes.

Keith (gave his street and said he represented petition signers) told the board he handed in a petition signed by more than 100 Orange residents asking the First Selectman and the board to “act swiftly to install automated traffic safety cameras as soon as possible.” He emphasized the devices would be limited to red‑light violations: “The cameras are for red light violations, not speeding,” Keith said.

Dan Fitz Morris, who said he reviewed Connecticut Crash Data Repository figures, told the board automated enforcement is justified by local crash statistics. “Excluding highways, there have been more than 2,000 car crashes here on Orange roads over the last three years — roughly one crash every day and a half. That includes 500 that caused injuries and four that tragically took lives,” Dan said, and he urged the board to move beyond internal exchanges between the police and the First Selectman to a public decision.

Board members and staff confirmed they have received a vendor study (completed in January) that evaluated several major corridors, including Route 34 and parts of Orange Center Road, but not the Post Road. The First Selectman said the town will propose an ordinance at the November meeting and expect to consider action in December, and that the police department and the vendor have discussed potential locations and safeguards. The board discussed procurement options — whether to waive bidding, contract with the vendor that did the initial study, or consider alternate vendors and state bid lists.

Town staff cautioned that any program will need Connecticut Department of Transportation approvals for locations on state routes and that vendor proposals often include revenue‑sharing models. At least one board member said the town should solicit competing bids rather than immediately waive the procurement process.

The board did not take a final vote Thursday; members directed staff to continue gathering details on peer towns’ experiences, vendor costs and the legal and procurement steps necessary to bring a final ordinance and contract back for public hearings and formal action.

The proposal is expected to be the subject of a public hearing when the ordinance is introduced at the November board meeting.