Sponsor
Alderman Weidner
Title
Placement of Street Lights by WE Energies
Resolved, that the placement of street lights by WE Energies is approved per the following policy:
WE Energies Street Light Management Proposal:
Purpose of Street Lights:
Street lights are intended to:
• Illuminate roadway features such as edge of pavement, intersections, sharp curves, dead ends
• Light obstructions such as median strips and bridge piers
• Provide pedestrian safety at street crossings.
Streetlights, however, are not the only means by which the presence of features and obstructions can be made known.
Streetlights are not intended to Illuminate private property nor provide home security.
Proposed street light location / spacing guidelines:
Applicability: These guidelines will not be applied for streetlight and alley light removals in areas of the city that are designated as "recovering neighborhoods" by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police will reevaluate "recovering neighborhood' designations every three years. If and when a designation is rescinded, these guidelines will be used to identify lights for removal in the appropriate areas.
Arterial and collector streets
• Retain existing street light spacing
Street Lights, Local Streets
• Geometric Criteria:
- Street light at each intersection, cul-de-sac or dead end
- Street light at a curve in the roadway
- Street light at change in street geometry or road hazard
• Spacing Criteria for Sodium Vapor Lights (150 watt):
- No mid-block street lights on the "short side" of a block less than 400 feet long
- One mid-block street lights for "long side" blocks from 400350 feet to +Q99 feet long
- Two mid-block street lights for blocks from 800700 feet to 4,4991,049 feet long, and so on
- Spacing for lights other than 150 watt fixtures, evaluated on a case-by-case basis
WE Energies Street Light Management Proposal:
Alley Lights
• Typically 50 watt sodium vapor fixtures
• Street or alley light at each alley entrance
• Lights at alley intersections or dead ends
• One mid-block light for alleys from 300 feet to 549 feet long, two mid-block lights for alleys from 550 feet to 799 feet long, and so on
Further resolved, that the recommended policy for the placement of street lights by the City of Racine is denied.
Fiscal Note: Implementation of the WE Energies street light placement policy will result in approximately $90,000 annual savings for the City of Racine.