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Carlsbad staff outline $1.3 million village lighting project; downtown stakeholders voice support
Summary
Staff presented the village lighting project to add about 60 pedestrian‑scale LED lights and replace worn tree lighting in the village core. The estimated construction cost is approximately $1,300,000 and construction is anticipated to begin in late 2026; the Downtown Village Association voiced full support.
City staff presented design and implementation plans for a village lighting upgrade to the Traffic Safety Mobility Commission, and downtown business representatives voiced support for the project.
Senior Engineer Nestor Mangohig said the current phase will add approximately 60 pedestrian‑scale decorative LED fixtures intended to improve nighttime visibility, safety and the pedestrian environment in the village core along State, Madison, Roosevelt and Washington streets. The fixtures are full‑cutoff, dark‑sky compliant and match the existing pedestrian lighting character. Staff estimated construction costs at roughly $1,300,000 and said design is progressing from 60% to 90% before the project goes to bid with construction expected to begin in late 2026.
"This project will install about 60 new pedestrian‑scale lights throughout the village core," Mangohig said, emphasizing that the fixtures are supplemental to existing street lights and are LED and dark‑sky compliant. He noted that no new electrical service is required because of earlier system upgrades.
Christine Davis, executive director of the Downtown Carlsbad Village Association, thanked staff and said the association strongly supports the project, citing safety and economic benefits for downtown businesses. Commissioners asked about fixture appearances, color temperature and energy use; staff said pedestrian fixtures will be approximately 3,000 Kelvin and more energy‑efficient than older high‑pressure sodium lights, and that worn tree lighting would be replaced with comparable warmer products.
Staff said outreach has included Village Association meetings, e‑blasts and a project web page. Next steps include final design completion, bidding this summer, and returning for construction contract award with construction anticipated to begin in late 2026.
No formal action was required at the meeting; staff will return with contract and construction details at the appropriate time.
