Detroit Completes Installation of Historically-Styled Street Lights

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DETROIT — The Public Lighting Authority of Detroit joined Mayor Mike Duggan and residents of the Sherwood Forest neighborhood at dusk on Wednesday to mark the completion of installing historically-styled LED street lights in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood.

The 96 decorative lights were installed under an agreement in which the neighborhood association provided the funds to cover the additional cost of installing the historically styled poles, which were selected by the group. The agreement was reached under a city program that accommodates neighborhoods who want to choose an alternate pole and pay the difference in cost.

“This is a great example of how the PLA is working with individual neighborhoods to bring modern, reliable street lighting while respecting the unique character of the community,” Mayor Duggan said. “Even as they install nearly 1,000 new lights a week, the PLA has done a great job of listening and responding to the wishes of the community.”

As the PLA rebuilds the city’s street lighting system, it has a goal of completing all neighborhood and collector streets by the end of 2015. The installation, which began in January, already has passed the 30,000 mark and is significantly ahead of schedule. Work on thoroughfares, which use underground wiring, will be completed by the end of 2016. Approximately 65,000 new LED lights will be installed in the city during the next two years.
 
The LED lights being installed in neighborhoods are the lighting equivalent of 150 watt High Pressure Sodium lights, twice as bright as the 75 watt High Pressure Sodium lights that have been the standard in the past.

“This is a great example of the fact that while we’re moving with unprecedented speed to relight the city, we are still able to work individually with neighborhoods to assure that we are meeting their individual needs,” PLA Board Chair Lorna Thomas said. “The lights Sherwood Forest chose are a perfect fit for the neighborhood.”