Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bellevue board asks engineer to scope streetlight repairs amid safety and dark-sky concerns
Summary
The agency asked Great West Engineering to scope costs and options for repairing and replacing streetlights that are broken, out of dark-sky compliance and causing safety concerns; staff noted fewer than half of fixtures are currently working and raised options including retrofit shields and solar crosswalk lights.
Board members spent a substantial portion of the meeting on Nov. 4 discussing a long-running streetlight problem in Bellevue’s downtown and Old Town areas. Staff said many fixtures have been damaged by winter storms, some wiring is exposed, and several lights do not meet the city’s dark-sky ordinance. The agency has engaged Great West Engineering to prepare a task order to inventory damage, estimate repair costs and recommend design options.
“Our current lights, they are not safe at all. I personally have almost hit someone in the crosswalk when it's dark because the light is just…glaring and it doesn't cast it down,” Chair Diane said, describing near-misses at pedestrian crossings. Brian Park said staff has an inventory of which fixtures work and which do not and expects the consultant to identify what repair work (including sidewalk excavation to reach wiring) would be required.
Consultant Christina Gillespie Jakes, on behalf of Great West, said she would collect the board’s technical questions and have colleagues follow up with specific responses and examples of fixture designs. She told the board she was stepping in on short notice and would route answers through staff: “I can certainly write these down, and Addie and Andrew…can certainly get the responses back to you.”
Members discussed retrofit and replacement options, including shielding existing posts to meet dark-sky requirements, retrofitting fixtures where possible, or exploring solar-powered crosswalk lights for specific locations. Park noted the board had set aside funds in the $100,000 design budget that might be used for preliminary engineering and repairs, and members asked staff to gather cut sheets and cost estimates for the Dec. 18 packet so the board could compare options.
The board also discussed reaching out to the Idaho Transportation Department because several affected fixtures sit in state right-of-way; members suggested ITD participation could reduce the city’s replacement cost and help prevent repeated damage.
