PLA Continues Work Ahead of Schedule as it Completes Relighting Three ZIP Codes

July 31, 2014

Public Lighting Authority of Detroit Continues Work Ahead of Schedule as it Completes Relighting Three ZIP Codes

Pilot areas are also finished

DETROIT – The Public Lighting Authority of Detroit (PLA) has completed installation of the new LED street lights across all residential blocks in ZIP codes 48205 on the city’s northeast side and 48219 and 48223 on the city’s northwest side.

With the installation completed in the three ZIP codes, the PLA also has, for the first time, taken over responsibility for maintaining the lights it has installed with a goal of fixing any broken light within five days of it being reported. If residents need to report any damages or outages of the lights installed by the PLA, they should call (800)477-4747 or visit pladetroit.org.

“We’re pleased to report that the PLA is well ahead of our installation schedule, with more than 14,000 lights installed,” said PLA CEO Odis Jones. “That is more than 3,000 lights ahead of our original installation schedule for the end of July.”

Additionally, the PLA has met the July 31 deadline it set for finishing installation of street lights in the two pilot areas on major thoroughfares, collector streets and remaining residential streets, all of which use underground wiring.

“The team at the Public Lighting Authority is doing an incredible job relighting our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “I run into people everyday who stop me to thank me for the new street light in front of their house. It is the most visible sign of how the city is improving for our residents.”

As the PLA rebuilds the city’s street lighting system, it has a goal of completing all neighborhoods by the end of 2015. Work on major thoroughfares will be completed by the end of 2016. Approximately 65,000 new LED lights will be installed in the city during the next two years.

About the Public Lighting Authority of Detroit

The PLA was authorized by the Michigan Legislature in December 2012 and approved by Detroit City Council in 2013 to design and implement a plan to improve Detroit’s public lighting system. The PLA is governed by a five-member board, all Detroit residents, appointed by the Mayor and the City Council.

Discover our Mission

The Public Lighting Authority (PLA) is a state-created authority whose mission is to improve, modernize and maintain all street lights in the City of Detroit with brighter, more reliable, more energy efficient lights. The new lights in neighborhoods are 150-watt equivalent LED lights, twice as bright as the 75-watt equivalent High Pressure Sodium Lights that were the standard under the old system. The LED lights are also much more energy efficient than the High Pressure Sodium lights.