Federal Help Fuels San Diego’s Effort to Repair 6,000 Streetlights

July 15, 2024

As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune in their article “San Diego launches campaign to repair 6,000 broken streetlights — with some federal help,” San Diego initiated a campaign on Monday to fix nearly 6,000 broken streetlights that have been making many neighborhoods more vulnerable to crime and less safe for pedestrians and cyclists. This effort includes utilizing a new $3.5 million federal grant to replace some of the aging circuit infrastructure, thereby improving reliability and reducing maintenance costs.

Mayor Todd Gloria, during a Monday morning news conference in Pacific Beach, emphasized the city’s commitment to restoring streetlight functionality. To address the shortage of city electricians, contracts have been signed with independent outside electricians who have begun assisting with the repairs. “We’re doing everything we can to get the streetlights back on,” said Gloria.

Many of San Diego’s streetlights, particularly those in older neighborhoods, were installed in the 1950s and 1960s. This has led to outdated infrastructure and a lack of detailed operational records. At present, over 5,900 of the city’s approximately 57,000 streetlights — more than 10 percent — are non-functional, with the average repair time exceeding 250 days.

“A lot of the streetlights in our older neighborhoods are like old-fashioned Christmas tree lights, where if one goes out, the entire string goes out — and the process to fix it is complex and time-consuming,” explained Gloria. The federal funds, secured with the help of Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego), will finance the replacement wiring for roughly 200 lights across Logan Heights, Pacific Beach, and Point Loma.

“Maintaining these streetlights is a matter of public safety, particularly for our young people who use our parks for sports and recreation,” Peters added. Other issues affecting the streetlights include damaged wiring, blown-out bulbs, outdated conductors, rodent infestations, and vandalism.

Councilmember Joe LaCava acknowledged the challenges, stating, “It’s no secret that streetlights are failing faster than we can replace them.” The city’s efforts have been hampered by vacant electrician positions, leaving only a skeleton crew to manage repairs.

In response, Mayor Gloria announced an agreement with city labor unions to contract with independent electricians, expediting the repair process. “Fact is, we simply don’t have enough electricians working for the city to keep up with the often-complex repairs — which is almost always much more than a burnt-out bulb,” Gloria stated. “So while we work to hire more city electricians, hiring contractors will help us fix streetlights much faster.”

Proud support is provided for San Diego’s streetlight restoration initiative. By delivering high-quality, durable lighting solutions, the contribution enhances public safety and reduces maintenance challenges in the city’s neighborhoods.

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Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of sandiegouniontribune.com