Public Lighting Authority of Detroit begins survey work for demonstration lighting plan

Will issue RFP for contractors in near future

DETROIT – The Public Lighting Authority (PLA) of Detroit said today that it will begin a block-by-block review of street lights in two Detroit neighborhoods next week as it launches two pilot projects that will begin its work to provide reliable street lights in the city.

PLA Executive Director Odis Jones said the review will map each street light in the two areas being surveyed, determine whether the light is working and if it is not working identify the exact cause of the malfunction.  That information will be used to design new street lighting for both areas.

“The survey work that is being conducted will allow us to collect new and accurate information about the lighting in both project areas, and then to design the best lighting plan for both pilot areas,” said Jones.  “We will use the information we gather to design a specific plan to relight both of these areas as a prelude to moving out into the rest of the city to completely restore street lighting over the next three years.”

Jones said workers conducting the surveys will be wearing yellow vests with the PLA logo and will be driving vehicles with PLA signs on the side of the vehicle.

Jones said the east side demonstration project will be in an area roughly with boundaries of Eight Mile, Kelly Rd., Hoover and Houston Whittier.  The west side demonstration project will have boundaries of McNichols on the north, Southfield Rd. on the east, Fenkell on the south and Telegraph on the west, with a small extension in the Five Points area of the city south of McNichols and west of Telegraph.

In addition, Jones said the PLA will be issuing two Requests for Proposals seeking qualified contractors to work on the lighting project.

The first RFP will be for a firm to serve as the Owner Engineer (O/E) for the Street Light Project.  This RFP will seek to identify an experienced engineering firm to design street light circuits for the city streets. The winning firm shall use industry best practices to design a system that produces low cost energy; requires minimum maintenance; demonstrates high reliability and safety.  The firm will be required to be knowledgeable in the design and construction of street lights on a large scale, including an understanding of multigenerational concepts of street light circuits and lighting. Knowledge of local, state, and federal codes/regulations is also a criterion for success of the project.

The second RFP will be for a variety of services needed in the reconstruction City of Detroit street lights, including but not limited to:

• Luminaire Replacement, including replacement of luminaire, and installation of a new lamp, fixture wire, and / or photocell and or PC adaptor.
• Replace existing street light fixture wire as necessary to restore equipment to normal operation.
• Trench, excavated and backfill as needed for installation of underground streetlight cable/conduit/pipe.
• Removal & disposal of existing post, breakdown old foundation and remove exposed rods 30″ below grade, hauling & install new post, transfer or install new luminaire, new fixture wire, terminations in post

PLA Chair Maureen Stapleton said the PLA is committed to utilizing Detroit-based businesses where possible and that the contractor will be expected to pursue local sourcing of work and utilize Detroit-based businesses in support of this effort wherever practical.

Jones said the PLA will be holding a vendor fair in early October to help vendors identify opportunities for work for the authority and authority contractors.  Details of the vendor fair will be announced once they are finalized.

“The PLA board is committed to assuring that Detroit-based firms and Detroit workers are fully involved in this project as we begin to relight the City of Detroit,” said PLA Board vice chair Marvin Beatty.

About the Public Lighting Authority of Detroit

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