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Street Light Agreement with DDOT |
A compromise agreement was reached on Thursday, January 16, 2003 between
ANC3D and the District Department Transportation on the
new lights to be installed on the
streets of Spring Valley.
Under the compromise, the number of cast iron
light poles with a globe on top will be cut in about half from the
number originally proposed by DDOT, reducing the intensity of lighting
that drew objections from some Spring Valley residents. But still the
new lights with sodium bulbs will cast about 40 percent more light than
the existing lights with incandescent bulbs.
In explaining the compromise, Muhammed Khalid,
DDOT Project Manager for Ward 3, said "we tried to reduce the lighting
as close as possible to existing lighting and still meet the general
requirements for street lighting." The new lighting, he said, will just
meet the minimum standards for street lighting set by the federal
government.
Under the new plan, the light poles will be
staggered on each side of the street and be spaced about 150 feet
apart. The lights will have 150 watt high pressure sodium lights that
are more efficient than the incandescent lights they will replace and
last more than five times longer. As part of the new lighting, the
wiring will be replaced in parallel circuitry so that if one bulb blows
out, not all the lamps on the circuit will shut down. The wiring will be
installed by boring so that the street surface will not have to be
ripped up.
Work on the new lighting was placed on hold by
Mr. Khalid after ANC3D raised questions about the intensity of the
proposed new street lighting. The compromise was worked out with Mr.
Khalid by ANC3D commissioners Tanya Hamilton and Sarah Shapley, who
represents ANC districts in Spring Valley.
Mr. Khalid estimated that work on the new
lighting would resume in about two weeks. The $1.5 million contract
calls for installation of new street lighting on 12 streets in Spring
Valley. For those who object that the new lights are shining into their
bedrooms, DDOT, upon request, will install shields on the house side of
the lights.
For additional info. contact:
Muhammed Khalid
Tel. No. 202-671-2248, Fax No. 202-671-0655
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