School zone lights not on for first day

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Monday was the first day of school, but some of the school zone flashing lights apparently didn't get the message.

According to the city of Austin Transportation Department, the flashing lights at more than three dozen schools never turned on Monday morning. The city maintains flashing lights at about 300 schools.

• View a map of where the lights malfunctioned.

Transportation technicians are working to fix the problem, according to Leah Fillion, city spokeswoman. She said they hoped to have the lights fixed before schools let out for the day.

Assistant Transportation Director Gary Schatz said crews checked all of the lights before school started.

The city is the in the process of switching the manual system over to a wireless system that will allow them to program the lights with a computer and be able to immediately know when lights are not working property.

By 7 p.m., Fillion said the city was aware of 42 lights that needed repair, and nearly all of them had been fixed.

The only way for the city to know a light is not working is through police or the public bringing it to their attention.

"3-1-1 is an important tool for us and people should feel free to call," said Fillion.

In the meantime, transportation officials are in contact with the manufacturer of the school zone light system to determine what went wrong.

View Malfunctioning School Lights in a larger map