Boynton Beach to scope citywide lighting study after staff reports 5,746 city-paid lights and spot checks find dozens out
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Summary
Engineering staff told commissioners the city pays for 5,746 lights, with a recent public-works spot-check finding at least 97 malfunctioning lights on major corridors; the commission directed staff to scope a citywide feasibility study and explore grants for phased upgrades.
Boynton Beach officials on Dec. 2 directed staff to develop a citywide lighting feasibility study after an engineering presentation outlined the scale, condition and costs of the city’s street-lighting system.
William Whitey, division director of engineering, said the city pays for 5,746 lights and that public-works spot checks of nine roadways found at least 97 malfunctioning fixtures. Whitey told the commission last year’s electric costs for the city-paid poles totaled about $934,000 and noted an ongoing LED conversion but still a handful of high-pressure sodium lights remain.
Staff recommended a phased approach: phase 1 to address downtown and major corridors (already tied to several developer and FDOT projects), phase 2 to study and engage neighborhoods, and phase 3 to evaluate smart and accent lighting in public spaces. Whitey said funding is not dedicated and that costs per new pole vary (the city often sees $1,000–$2,000 per pole, with higher figures in special cases and FDOT costs up to $10,000). He identified potential funding sources including FHWA contributions tied to roadway projects, the Safe Streets for All grant and Community Development Block Grant funding.
Commissioners asked staff to include neighborhood areas in the study scope and to coordinate with county and state agencies for roads under their jurisdiction. Commissioner Turkin said downtown improvements should be balanced with system-wide equity: “I do think it’s important to make it citywide because I think that as much as we need it in the downtown…those improvements are going to start helping with some of the things that we get public comment on about crime,” he said.
Staff said they will return with a scope and cost estimate for a master plan and feasibility work, and flagged short-term work already underway: some developer-led downtown projects include required lighting, FDOT will add lighting on Boynton Beach Boulevard in a future phase, and the city has a West Ocean project installing 50 new lights.
Ending: Staff will prepare a scope and cost estimate for a phased citywide lighting feasibility study and return to the commission with budget and grant options.
