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05/05/09

Reduction in street lighting follows adoption of municipal budget, new street-lighting policy

Nearly one in four street lights will be removed following adoption of the municipal budget for 2009-10, and a new street lighting policy adopted by the Town Council April 30, 2009.

Police Chief Neil Williams has identified 123 street lights to be removed at town request by Central Maine Power Company.  In addition, the wattage of 13 lights will be reduced by 50 watts each.  Cape Elizabeth currently has 485 street lights which have an annual budget cost of $70,368.  The lights to be removed will save $11,465 in fixture rental costs and about $5,000 in electricity supply charges, said Town Manager Michael McGovern.

The Town Council adopted the new street lighting policy, which states that “municipal street lighting is provided in areas where the provision of light makes a demonstrable improvement to public safety.

"Publicly provided lighting must serve a public purpose and be provided through available fixtures that are energy efficient,” the policy states.

The policy also states that reflective signs are a viable alternative to street lighting in many areas, and is the preferred alternative at dead-ends and on rural roads.

Specific provisions of the policy include:

• Street lighting will be provided at the intersection of major public roads unless there are multiple lights in the immediate area.
• Street lighting will be provided in pedestrian areas in the Town Center and Business A zones.
• Street lighting will be provided in areas deemed by the Chief of Police to be areas of high nighttime pedestrian use.
• Street lighting will be provided in areas deemed by the Chief of Police as high accident locations.
• The Chief of Police may authorize lighting is such other locations where the provision of light makes a demonstrable improvement to public safety.
• Public lighting is not provided in areas with underground utilities except in the Town Center zone. 
• The underground pedestrian lighting in the Town Center zone is for pedestrian safety purposes and shall be on timing devices to reduce costs.
• The Town may purchase through the street lighting account lighting to protect or enhance municipal property. Any expense for such lighting shall be charged to the property and not to the street lighting budget.  Any such lighting shall also be energy efficient and shall include timing devices whenever possible.

At the April 30 Town Council meeting, McGovern said the new policy will save funds, save energy, reduce carbon footprint and enhance vision of the night sky by reducing light pollution.

McGovern had originally proposed the budget cut as part of the $270,836 net reduction needed in the municipal budget to provide for no tax increase in municipal services.

Here is a list of street lights that are slated for elimination: