Municipal Smart City Street Light Conversion & Evolving Technology

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A guide for Capital Region municipalities considering converting to LED street lights & Smart City technologies 

The Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) commissioned the development of the Municipal Smart City Street Light Conversion & Evolving Technology Guidebook as part of their Smart Communities Program. CDTC began working with the City of Saratoga Springs in 2019 to identify appropriate “smart” street light infrastructure and technology. CDTC launched the Smart Communities program in 2018 to explore strategies for becoming a “Smart Region,” that is, a region that uses data, applications, and technology to help people and goods move more efficiently. The Guidebook was developed with a consultant team led by Planning4Places with the International Nightime Design Initiative.

As cities and towns across the region grapple with the choice of converting their street lights to energy-saving LED bulbs, there are numerous factors to consider and balance, like lighting quality, safety, digital infrastructure, and finances. With a thriving downtown night-life and historical importance, the City of Saratoga Springs presents an excellent test-case for how to create safe and sustainable nighttime environments through a lighting strategy. As the City implements its Smart City Roadmap, this is a critical piece and can open opportunities for the inclusion of other technologies like electric vehicle charging, public WiFi, and data collection capabilities to aid public safety and other service operations.

Link on the following link to download the Guidebook:

Municipal Smart City Street Light Conversion & Evolving Technology Guidebook