Detroit — A project aimed at brightening some of Detroit’s long-darkened neighborhoods came online Wednesday on the city’s east side.
The first of 3,000 streetlights that will be installed as part of Mayor Mary Sheffield’s Brighten Up the Block program was illuminated during a press conference celebrating the milestone.
The city is aiming to get “the lion’s share” of the 3,000 new lights installed before Halloween arrives and Daylight Saving Time ends, said Beau Taylor, director of the Public Lighting Authority of Detroit, which runs the city’s streetlight program.
He’s optimistic about the potential for a quick turnaround since the program was only formally announced in March.
“We got this done in four months with complete engagement of the community,” he said. “We were able to get it done in breakneck speed (and plan to) get these lights up, hopefully before it gets dark, in November.”
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said better lighting makes neighborhoods safer for first responders as well as residents.
“When we have dark areas, when we have blocks that are not well lit, it just creates an element of feeling unsafe,” the chief said.
Wednesday’s press conference took place in front of Cynthia Loggins’ home on Rossini Drive in east Detroit, the same spot where Sheffield announced the program in March. Loggins, a longtime Detroiter, said she had long desired better lighting on her block.
“This wonderful,” she said just before the new streetlight in front of her home was turned on. “I’m very thankful. Thank you, Madam Mayor, Public Lighting Authority. No more darkness.”
Once notorious for having long stretches of dark roads at night, Detroit has made notable progress replacing unreliable streetlights with energy-efficient LEDs, especially across major corridors. However, the city still faces challenges maintaining aging infrastructure and completing upgrades in some areas.
Sheffield said neighborhood street lighting has been a key concern for her throughout her career in public service.
“While most of our residents certainly care about big issues like property taxes and housing and jobs for our residents, it’s often the everyday things that have the greatest impact on their quality of life,” the mayor said. “And I’ve heard many neighbors ask for something that many of us take for granted, and that is a block that feels safe, welcoming and well lit.”
The project is paid for through a $1 million city budget allocation shepherded by Sheffield. The money covers capital expenses, power and maintenance.
Taylor said the first 3,000 light account for just the first phase of a three-phase project.
“When we go out for Phase 2 and 3, we’re going to re-engage the community, have the same discussions again, and go through another approval process,” he explained.
At Wednesday’s press conference, the new light cut through smoke more than darkness. Smoke from uncontrolled wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota cast the street and parts of Metro Detroit in a haze that prompted an air quality alert due to fine particulate matter. City officials kept Wednesday’s program short due to the air conditions.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit turns on the first of 3,000 new neighborhood streetlights
Reporting by Max Reinhart, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Max Reinhart, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
