Minutes - Public Works Committee - 08/19/2002

Home

of street lights associated with the City's priority street lighting system. This system includes street lights on the higher speed arterial and collector roadway at intersections with other public roadways. This program was begun in the early 1990's and the City has been steadily working toward its completion by adding I0 to 15 lights each year. At the present time the system is comprised of lights at 146 locations with an additional 29 locations remaining to be served. Recently, the Public Works Committee observed that some of the lights at tee intersections are located on the wrong side of the intersection (the opposite side from that of the side street). Staff has surveyed the system and found that there are 14 such locations throughout the system. A listing of these locations is as follows: CR 83/158th Lane CSAH 5/Green Valley Road CSAI-I 5/165th Lane CR 56/162nd Lane CR 56/Jasper Street CR 56/143rd Avenue CSAH 5/150th Lane CR 57/144th Avenue CR 57/142',d Lane TH 47/CR 63 TH 47/170th Lane TH 47/167th Lane CR 63/Wolverine CR 63/Unicorn Having a limited budget coupled with the need for a long term program for the completion of the priority street lighting system, priority lights were installed in the most economical manner available. The use of existing poles and locations nearer to transformers were less costly to install. Individual lights could be relocated from the "wrong" side of the street, but at a cost that would approach the installation of a light at an unlit intersection, approximately $1800 per light. At this time, the Committee needs to decide whether to spend the 2002 budget to install new lights, relocate existing lights, or a communication of both these options. The Committee may also wish to review the street lighting policy, which has not been updated sine 1 992. I t was staffs opinion that there would be more benefit to lighting unlit intersections, than to spend a roughly equivalent amount to better illuminate the side street pavement at an intersection, which is presently lit. The relocation of street lights located on the wrong side of the street could be made a secondary priority. Councitmember Anderson stated t hat a t t he intersection 1 ocated n ear h er house, t he 1 ight was more effective on the wrong side of the road than the fight side of the road on T.H. #47. Now that the light has been moved it sits back in the trees. She suggested that maybe the best location for the lights is determined by what the function of the light is. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired if there was something in the policy that identifies what the function of the Street light is. Public Works Committee/August 19, 2002 Page 2 of 11