First Streetlights Installed in Innovative Regional Program in Southern California

The City of Murrieta, CA, last month became the first of 11 cities in Riverside County to see new retrofit LED roadway fixtures installed under an innovative regional program. The Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) is facilitating the purchase of 55,000 streetlights from Southern California Edison for member jurisdictions.

The streetlights, provided by Current by GE, are an effort to minimize light pollution, enhance public safety and save approximately $60 million in reduced energy and maintenance costs over a 20-year period.

WRCOG solicited public input in selecting which LED lights were best-suited for the region by creating a demonstration area in the City of Hemet. Guided tours with elected officials, public safety personnel and local residents featured demonstration light poles with about 12 potential vendor solutions. Current by GE’s Evolve lights, which feature reflective technology that minimizes glare, were selected for the project.

Astronomers and scientists from the Palomar Observatory nearby participated in the Hemet demonstration area and were also consulted on artificial night sky brightness. The observatory collects and analyzes data for scientists globally and is home to the Hale 200-inch telescope, one of the largest in the world.

“The community involvement and rigor of this project is really a model for cities and towns nationwide,” said RJ Darling, general manager of Roadway Solutions for Current by GE. “WRCOG showcases the strength of communities working together to benefit both the short and long-term interests of citizens.”

In addition to Murrieta, the Cities of Lake Elsinore, Eastvale, Hemet, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Perris, San Jacinto, Temecula, and Wildomar, and the Jurupa Community Services District are participating in the program. All installations are expected to be completed by the end of 2020.