Lighting

Purpose

Increase visibility for all road users during conditions when lighting levels are low, especially at crossings.

Description

Overhead lighting improves visibility for all road users by illuminating crossings, signs, and street markings. Pedestrian-scale lighting is generally lower than roadway-scale lighting.

Safety Objectives and Benefits

Improves visibility for all users.
Increases safety on streets, at crossings, and along trails.
May reduce crashes and injuries for all road users.
May increase yielding and compliance when used in conjunction with traffic control devices

Street Types and Context

Applicable Street Types

All street types.

Other Location Guidance

Controlled and uncontrolled intersections.
On crossing approaches.
Along sidewalks.
Beneficial at intersections in areas with high volumes of pedestrians, such as commercial or retail areas.
Near schools, parks, and recreation centers.
On both sides of arterial streets.

Primary User Groups

Key Implementation Considerations

Any lighting improvement needed will be done following Streetlight Management Plan for equipment, ownership, standards, and procedures.
Lighting should be provided on crosswalk approaches. If a crossing has a crossing island, additional lighting may be provided as warranted in photometric calculations.
Consider energy usage and environmental impacts.
Improvements to existing street lighting may include adjustments in brightness or bulb type. Adding new streetlights or lighting structures generally involve higher levels of analysis, more resources, and longer timelines.

Expected Crash Reduction

23% for injury crashes (Harkey et al. 2008).

Cost

Varies based on type of fixtures, poles, and underground connection.

Timeline

Typically, less than one to three or more years, depending on the type of lighting improvement, existing lighting conditions, and ownership. Large-scale lighting improvements will have longer timeframes.

References