In 1980, the city of Indianapolis placed a moratorium on new streetlights because of budget restraints. Since then, U.S. Census Bureau data show the city has grown by about 42,000 people, with no new streetlights to accommodate that surge. Mayor Joe Hogsett ended that moratorium in 2016, and now the city is in the middle of a push — Operation Night Light — to install up to 4,000 new streetlights.
This is the second phase of the operation. After Indianapolis Power and Lighting (IPL) — which has a contract with the city — installed 101 new streetlights in 2016, there was a pause while the two sides negotiated a new contract. The installations picked up again in fall 2018, this time with more energy-efficient LED lights.
The first installation of these new streetlights came in the area of 75th Street and Shadeland Avenue. George Wright, board president of Binford Redevelopment and Growth, said the community wasn’t “standing on the table pounding our fists,” but lighting for pedestrians was a concern since many walk from their homes and apartments to nearby stores.
“That was kind of a busy street,” Wright said of the area.” [It was] kind of dangerous to have it as dark as it was.”
Mackenzie Higgins, policy advisor to the mayor, said a sense of improved safety is one the things she hopes citizens get out of Operation Night Light.
“When we say public safety, factors that go into that are violent crime, property crimes, but also pedestrian safety,” Higgins said. “… We’re trying to identify the areas where there’s high frequency of pedestrians that are going out walking, potentially in the street, so we’re doing our best to make sound decisions.”
Data shared by the city show it approved 26 streetlights for installation in the area of 75th Street and Shadeland Avenue, more than any other section of the city so far. The city had approved 359 new streetlights during this second phase as of March 15. The goal is to approve about 100 each month, although that doesn’t mean IPL can install the streetlights at that rate, since weather sometimes limits what it can do. The installation process could continue into 2025, when the city’s contract with IPL expires.
When a resident submits a request for new streetlights, the city reviews the request for feasibility and evaluates the site. If the city approves the request, it passes it along to IPL, which eventually installs the new streetlights.
Amy Harwell, who’s on the board of One Voice Martindale Brightwood, said she hopes more streetlights lead to improved safety in the community. The Martindale-Brightwood area got new streetlights — on 25th Street between Sherman Drive and Keystone Avenue, for example — though Harwell said she hopes to see more streetlights on side streets.
“[Streetlights are] important for any area because it’s safety,” she said. “A lot of people walk and take the bus. I mean, come on now. Nobody’s gonna try to do nothin’ when it’s a bright street.”
To create room in its budget to pay for the 4,000 streetlights it wants, the city is paying to convert existing cobra-headed streetlights to more energy-efficient LED lights. That conversion process, which began in 2018 and will go through spring 2021, is happening in three phases: The first phase was in the three northern townships, the second and current phase is in the three central townships, and the final phase will be in the three southern townships.
Higgins noted that the conversation only applies to streetlights the city pays for — about 27,000 — and not streetlights residents have requested to light their private property or an alley. Citizens who want their lights updated should contact IPL.
The city’s goal is to have about 750 streetlights retrofitted each month. Ashley Miller, Operation Night Light project manager, said IPL retrofitted about 6,500 streetlights as of March 14, but noted that number is constantly changing.
Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
Request new streetlights
Residents can request new streetlights by going to streetlights.indy.gov, download the RequestIndy mobile app or call the Mayor’s Action Center at 317-327-4622. Once residents receive a service request number, they can track the progress through RequestIndy or by calling the Mayor’s Action Center.
A streetlight on North Glen Arm Road on the city’s west side. Indianapolis plans to pay for up to 4,000 new streetlights to be installed through 2025 and will help pay for that by converting existing streetlights to more energy-efficient LED lights. (Photo/Tyler Fenwick)
Tyler Fenwick
