By Mike Sandula
The Michigan Citizen
DETROIT — Once the Public Lighting Authority is up and running, it plans to repair or replace most of the city’s streetlights. That time should be soon, according to the members of the PLA Board, which gave a presentation at City Council’s formal session April 2.
“We’re just now getting to the point where we’re ramping up,” said PLA Chair Maureen Stapleton. Stapleton was joined by fellow PLA board members Marvin Beatty, John Davis and Michael Einheuser.
Stapleton says they are still looking for an executive director but are still on target.
“We have a very narrow scope and a very narrow focus, which is to replace and to restore lights,” Stapleton said.
The city has approximately 88,000 streetlights, according to Stapleton. She says the PLA expects to repair or replace between 46,000 and 60,000 of them.
The Authority plans to go through every neighborhood over the next 45-60 days as part of a “community education piece.” The aim is to let residents know where new streetlights will be going and also that fewer may be needed overall due to new technology. Stapleton says new streetlights can be twice as bright and powerful as old ones.
The board says it aims to hire as many Detroit residents as possible.
The PLA’s next meeting is April 10 at 5 p.m. on the 11th floor of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Building in Council’s chambers.