The City of Carlsbad is installing streetlights, signs and other fixtures in the Village as part of its ongoing efforts to revitalize this historic downtown neighborhood.
The city is placing 110 new streetlight fixtures throughout the Village that will illuminate walkways for pedestrians and make the downtown more vibrant. The new fixtures are energy-efficient and low-maintenance, so they will beautify the Village, save on the city’s energy bill and promote a more sustainable community. The new streetlights are part of a makeover intended to give the Village a unique style and ambience.
“Street lighting plays a critical role in promoting nighttime activity in the Village,” said City of Carlsbad Traffic Engineer Doug Bilse, the project manager. “We feel this project is a great investment in setting an attractive and secure nighttime atmosphere for our community.”
For the official word from the City of Carlsbad, please follow the jump.Village Gets New Lights, Other Improvements
The City of Carlsbad is installing streetlights, signs and other fixtures in the Village as part of its ongoing efforts to revitalize this historic downtown neighborhood.
The city is placing 110 new streetlight fixtures throughout the Village that will illuminate walkways for pedestrians and make the downtown more vibrant. The new fixtures are energy-efficient and low-maintenance, so they will beautify the Village, save on the city’s energy bill and promote a more sustainable community. The new streetlights are part of a makeover intended to give the Village a unique style and ambience.
“Street lighting plays a critical role in promoting nighttime activity in the Village,” said City of Carlsbad Traffic Engineer Doug Bilse, the project manager. “We feel this project is a great investment in setting an attractive and secure nighttime atmosphere for our community.”
Four new light poles and fixtures have been installed on State Street between Carlsbad Village Drive and Oak Avenue, illuminating a main entryway to the Barrio. The city recently completed a study that developed lighting guidelines for the Barrio. Bilse, who was also the project manager for that lighting study, said, “The city is in the process of developing the Village and Barrio Master Plan that builds upon the recent community outreach that will result in a design style we can use to install new light fixtures in this historic neighborhood.”
Additional projects to enhance the Village experience include the installation of 25 informational signs to guide motorists to Village parking lots. The city also has placed 30 new benches around the Village, providing seats for visitors to relax, read a book or just watch people pass by. And to help keep the Village tidy the city has installed 75 new metal receptacles that have two compartments — one for recyclables and another for trash.
Material selection was important to ensure the Village fixtures were durable, attractive and made of high quality materials.
“These tiny details create a unique atmosphere in the Village resulting in a memorable experience,” Bilse said. The benches are made of recycled metal, and wood for the slats comes from trees certified for their environmental sustainability.
The benches and recycling receptacles feature a black metal design that matches the 200 bicycle racks and bike corrals recently installed that provide 360 places where riders can lock up their bikes while they enjoy the Village. “The bike racks take advantage of Carlsbad’s role as a popular bicycling destination, and make it easier for residents to do business in the Village without getting behind the wheel of a car,” Bilse said.
The new lights are energy-efficient, so they will reduce the city’s utility bill and environmental footprint. Equipped with LEDs (light-emitting diodes), which are cheaper to operate and maintain than traditional fixtures, the streetlight sensors can adjust output to the surroundings. “With the new LED lights we can direct the light to avoid residences in the Village and dim unnecessary lighting near brightly lit storefronts,” Bilse said.
“These new lighting fixtures support our vision of a more pedestrian-friendly Village while adding vitality to nighttime retail, dining and entertainment activities,” Bilse said. “We make sure these lights are at a height and scale that make people feel safe and comfortable.” The pedestrian streetlights complement rather than replace the existing overhead “cobra” streetlights that light roadways for vehicles.
The streetlight installation is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving. The cost is $210,000, and the vendor is Southwest Contracting of Vista. The project was approved as part of the City of Carlsbad’s Capital Improvement Program.
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