Ahead of Schedule: Detroit Wrapping Up Installation of 40,000 LED Streetlights

In perhaps the brightest sign yet of recovery, the Detroit Public Lighting Authority has made incredible progress on a project to install 40,000 LED streetlights around the city's residential neighborhoods.

1 minute read

June 16, 2015, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Detroit’s Public Lighting Authority is about six months ahead of its ambitious timetable to relight all neighborhoods by the end of the year," reports Christine Ferretti. "Officials say the installation of nearly 40,000 LED streetlights will be complete by the end of July."

The good news has benefits for the city beyond the new safety and comfort these lights bring to the city's neighborhoods. "The quick progress has enabled the authority to advance its schedule for beginning work on Detroit’s major thoroughfares — a task that had been slated for next year," according to the article.

"By the end of the year, the authority is aiming to have the city’s collector streets, which represent areas that funnel into its major roadways, done as well as some of the thoroughfares."

The article includes more details about the energy efficiency benefits of the LED lights as well as some data about the city's crime rates—some of which are currently down by a wide margin from this time last year.

Monday, June 15, 2015 in The Detroit News

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

Nilu Jenks wears a long gray coat and speaks with one man and two women outside.

Housing is the top priority of Seattle’s sole new councilmember

Jenks campaigned on building 1,000 new units of affordable housing.

November 8 - Reason

People sit on wooden benches on a bus in Miami

New tax cuts may slash $1.5 billion in funding for Miami transit, public parks

Amendment 3 will save Miami-Dade homeowners $2,700 in 2028.

November 8 - Miami New Times

Two men install solar panels on the roof of a house.

Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania hope to finally advance climate goals post-midterms

The three states have spent years under Republican or divided control.

November 8 - Grist

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.