All revenue generated from the proposed rate increase will be used exclusively to increase the level of lighting maintenance SacDOT provides. The revenue cannot be used for anything else and cannot be diverted by the State or any other County department. Increased revenue will allow SacDOT to:
- Reduce bulb replacement and repair times to 5 days from the current 25-30 days
- Install emerging energy-efficient technology
- Restore regularly scheduled maintenance
- Reinstate the intersection safety lighting program to install new lighting where traffic flows indicate they are needed
Without additional revenue, SacDOT will continue to repair only reported outages, within 30 days, but cannot return to regularly scheduled maintenance, and cannot invest in new energy-efficient technologies.
Bright intersections are safer. Intersection safety lights allow drivers to more easily spot pedestrians, oncoming vehicles and traffic signs. Emergency response teams also rely on intersection lights to identify street signs and provide fast, effective service. With increased revenue, the County could also provide more intersection safety lights in areas that need them.
Prompt repairs save you money. Not promptly replacing a $10 lamp eventually damages the entire light fixture—which then costs $160 to replace.
Energy efficient technologies can save on future costs. Installing energy-efficient lighting can only be done with upfront investment. Current technologies would allow for the replacement of existing higher wattage mercury vapor lights with lower wattage high-pressure sodium lights, providing the same level of illumination at a significantly lower energy cost. Electricity costs constitute fully half of safety light expenses.
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Bright streets are safer streets. Emergency response teams, police officers and neighborhood watch programs rely on well-lit streets to identify properties and to monitor nighttime street activity. The Sacramento Safe Street Lighting Program will provide SacDOT with the needed resources to return street light maintenance to target levels.
Bright streets open communities. Properly maintained street lights illuminate neighborhood streets making them safer for children and pedestrians especially during the winter. Street lights also help direct neighborhood guests to their destinations.
Bright streets are good for business. By encouraging pedestrian traffic, bright streets make commercial areas friendly and inviting. During the winter, when the sun sets before 5pm, well-lit streets become essential to afternoon and evening commerce. Bright streets also illuminate businesses for identification by motorists and pedestrians.
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Decorative lights make your neighborhood distinctive. By adding charm and individuality to streets and walkways, decorative lights enhance your property value. Poorly maintained decorative lights, on the other hand, give the impression of a dilapidated neighborhood and can have a negative impact on property values and community safety.
Decorative lights create a unique retail environment. Shoppers identify decorative lighting with sophisticated businesses. By attracting more consumers with decorative lighting, commercial areas become busy environments, ultimately benefiting both businesses and community safety.
Program makes decorative light maintenance a priority. The Sacramento Safe Street Lighting Program creates a new category that allows property owners with decorative lights to directly contribute to decorative light maintenance. The revenue goes directly to your lights, ensuring regularly scheduled painting and cleaning of decorative lights in your area.
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