The Quad

Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: News

The Public Works Department of the Borough of West Chester has responded to residents' requests for street lights over the years. Additionally through "Street Scape," the department continues to oversee the need for lighting and other additions throughout the residential areas and business areas of the Borough.

In addition to maintaining the number of street lights in the Borough, the PWD is responsible for the infrastrucure of the streets such as the sidewalks, recycling, water and sewer maintenance, snow control and other architectural items, according to the Borough website.

Director of Public Works Robert Wilpizeski said that there are currently 980 street lights in the Borough. The three typical kinds of lighting include incandescent, mercury vapor and high-pressured sodium, which the majority of the lighting has been converted to high pressure sodium. In 1995, the Borough bought the fixtures from PECO.

High-pressure sodium lighting uses less and better use of electricity Wilpizeski said.

The frequency of light fixtures is determined by the level of activity in the area. Gay, High and Market Streets have strong lighting because of the volume of activity and people.

Residential areas typically have one light midway of the neighborhood. Wilpizeski said that intersections are also illuminated.

The conversions were based upon observations from the Borough Police that indicated where lighting was ineffective and where areas were deemed unsafe.

High pressure sodium lighting fixtures were placed specifically where the was a high level of "drug activity."

Lighting fixtures in the Southeast end of the Borough have undergone conversions as well.

Although residential areas do not have as many lighting fixtures as commercial areas, South Walnut Street, according to Wilpizeski, is an exception. Prior to 2003, the residents requested more lighting. Due to the abundance of trees which have large canopies, lighting fixtures were proven ineffective in that the cast was not successful. Pedestal style lights were implemented below the tree canopies to emit light.

Wilpizeski said that these light fixtures are "state-of-the-art high-pressure sodium lights."

The lights on South Walnut street allow the area to be safer, brighter and produces a more "attractive appearance." This lighting, however, may attract unwanted people according to Wilpizeski.

"I think the light is good in most places," Wilpizeski said. "Lighting does change [and] luminosity does decrease."

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools