Detroit prepares for complete shift to LED street lighting

DETROIT, MI — The Public Lighting Authority is looking for LED (light-emitting diode) suppliers for its upcoming $160 million project to outfit the city’s entire streetlight system with the brighter, more efficient lights.

Katie Bailey | MLive.com Broken street lamps on Grand River Avenue leave swaths of Detroit dark on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014.

Detroit’s severely dysfunctional lighting system is being reconfigured, with work beginning in two pilot neighborhoods this month, followed by a complete overhaul to last through 2015 on residential blocks and through 2016 along major roads.

Mayor Mike Duggan this week said the city decided to turn to LED lighting to boost efficiency from the current high-pressure sodium lights without taking on the risk of solar lighting.

“Overwhelmingly, the cutting-edge cities are going from sodium to LED,” Duggan said. “We couldn’t find a significant city going to solar… We made the decision to follow what is, I believe, the most advanced national trend right now, which is LED. Ten years from now, might it become solar? Yes. But I really don’t want Detroit to be the first to try it out.”

More and more cities public lighting are going to LEDs

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New LED lighting along Michigan Street in downtown Duluth, Minn. has brightened and whitened up the area considerably compared to the days of high-pressure sodium lighting. Credit: Bob King

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(Related: Detroit’s massive lighting problem convinced mayor’s wife to let him run)

Public Lighting Authority Executive Director Odis Jones said using LED lights will save the city $2.5 million a year.

The authority on Friday issued a request for proposals seeking manufacturers to supply the upgrade.

Jones said in a press release he is committed to utilizing Detroit and Michigan-based businesses where possible.

“The manufacturer will be expected to pursue local sourcing of work and utilize Detroit-based businesses in support of this effort wherever practical,” he said.

Potential bidders for the project can click here by Feb. 14, 2014 to request access to the bid documents.

Bidders can also access the RFP here, or by emailing support@poweradvocate.com, requesting access to Event # 40424.

Bids will be received until Feb. 21, 2014.

The overhaul will strategically place 42,200 neighborhood streetlights on blocks that have multiple occupied homes while forgoing lighting for abandoned areas.

“Blocks that have no houses, we’re not putting up lights, period,” Duggan said. “… But if we’ve got two or three families left, we’re still going to put a light on that block. We think they deserve that, too.”

Detroit prepares for complete shift to LED street lighting