GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids City Commission approved a decision to replace all of the city's streetlights with LED streetlights during a meeting on Tuesday, according to the City of Grand Rapids.
We’re told the LED lights will provide safety, economic and environmental benefits and that a $6.2 million contract has been granted to Strain Electric to replace all streetlights with LEDs. The City says they expect to save about $350,000 in energy costs when all 18,000 streetlights are replaced.
“Our primary goal in arriving at this decision was the safety of our residents and neighborhoods, which is a critical objective in the City’s strategic plan,” says Managing Director of Public Services James Hurt. “We know that most accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists happen at night, and many of those are the result of poor visibility. Additionally, better lighting will make residents feel safer in their own neighborhoods.”
The City tells us the project is expected to take a year and a half to complete.
