Naperville testing LED bulbs for streetlight upgrades
Call it a light bulb fashion show.
Naperville is soon to embark on a five-year, $6.3 million project to install new LED lights in more than 11,000 streetlights. But first, city staff members want to make sure they choose the best bulb.
Varieties of LED bulbs from six vendors have been installed at eight locations so the public can comment until April 20 on their brightness, color, glare, light distribution and safety.
City spokeswoman Allison Albrecht said this visual testing period is the first pilot program of its kind in Naperville. For a project as substantial as the $6.3 million replacement of all streetlights, she said the city wants to consider public input to ensure staff members make the right choice.
The switch to LED, or light-emitting diode, bulbs instead of the current high-pressure sodium bulbs will help the city save on electricity and maintenance costs over time, according to the department of public works. Tests the city has been conducting since 2009 have determined LED lights use 54 percent less electricity than their sodium counterparts, and they are expected to last 15 years as opposed to the four-year life span of traditional bulbs.
Testing locations where LED lights are installed are marked with signs lettered A through H and numbers 1 to 6 identifying the variety of bulb.
Locations include: Site A, The west side of Springdale Circle from Dewhurst Street to Greenfield Court; Site B, Century Farm Lane from William Penn Drive to Commons Road; Site C, the east side of Fort Hill Drive from Quincy Avenue to Aurora Avenue; Site D, Jefferson Avenue from Ogden Avenue to Encina Drive; Site E, Diehl Road from Park Avenue to Washington Street; Site F, the west side of Naper Boulevard from Plank Road to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks; Site G, Raymond Drive from River Road to Ogden Avenue; and Site H, Rickert Drive from Sequoia Road to Sanctuary Lane.
An online survey at naperville.il.us/ledupgrade.aspx asks people which site they visited; which light they preferred and why; whether they viewed the lights as a driver, passenger or pedestrian; if the LED lights improved visibility or ability to see street signs; and if the LED bulbs provided the right amount of light, too much or too little. Respondents can add other comments, too, and can fill out the survey multiple times if they visit more than one test site.
Surveys will be accepted until the end of the day Sunday, April 20, and the city will be accepting comments by phone at (630) 420-6095.
The department of public works will analyze the performance of the new lights in scenarios ranging from residential streets to major arterial roads. Public feedback and staff analysis will be compiled to help select which vendor and which light to buy for the citywide upgrade.
The city plans to present a contract for the chosen variety of bulbs to the city council by this summer.
A $17.3 million loan the city council recently approved will provide the funding for the LED upgrade and other projects in the city's five-year capital improvements plan.