University Park declines jurisdiction for 11 PEPCO streetlights on East-West Highway

The University Park Mayor and Common Council on June 1 directed town staff to notify PEPCO and the State Highway Administration that the town will not accept jurisdiction of 11 streetlights on East-West Highway between Route 1 and Adelphi Road.

Director of Public Works Michael Beall and Town Attorney Suellen Ferguson briefed the Council on the inventory and jurisdiction negotiations. They told the Council that the State Highway Administration has refused to accept jurisdiction of the lights because the mast arms are short and the fixtures were characterized as pedestrian lights, and that PEPCO has indicated it may de-energize the lights if neither the Town nor the State accepts responsibility. Director Beall and Attorney Ferguson also advised that the Town has not historically paid for those lights and had no role in their installation; they argued that responsibility for lighting a major state highway, particularly a section with a recent fatal accident, should remain with the State Highway Administration, which has signaled plans to redesign that part of the road.

Councilmember David McGaughey moved that the Town will not accept jurisdiction of the 11 streetlights; Councilmember Mary Gathercole seconded the motion, and the Council approved it unanimously. The Council directed staff to send formal notice to PEPCO and State Highway. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote assigning individual yes/no positions.