STREET LIGHTING STEADILY UPDATED

SINCE 1954 PHILADELPHIA'S POWER AND MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR STREET LIGHTING HAVE REMAINED CONSTANT, WHILE THE EFFECTIVE LIGHT HAS RISEN BY A FACTOR OF 5.5. THIS HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY MODERNIZING THE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY BY REPLACING GAS AND INCANDESCENT LIGHTS WITH MERCURY VAPOR AND ADDING ABOUT 30,000 OF THE LATTER TO THE STREET INVENTORY; BY TAKING OVER OWNERSHIP OF THE SYSTEM FROM THE LOCAL ELECTRIC COMPANY; AND BY STREAMLINING MAINTENANCE SERVICES. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION IS TAKEN FOR THE LIGHTING OF HISTORIC DISTRICTS, ALLEYS, SECONDARY STREETS, AND ARTERIALS. INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR PROCEDURES ARE DESCRIBED. THE CITY ALSO HAS AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAM USING EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS FOR GIVEN APPLICATIONS, AND IT MAINTAINS A NUMBER OF RESEARCH PROJECTS. A MAJOR PROBLEM IS VANDALISM, WHICH COSTS THE CITY $160,000 JUST TO REPLACE LAMPS AND GLASSWARE. EXPERIMENTAL USE OF POLYCARBONATE PLASTIC IN AREAS OF HIGH DAMAGE HAS GIVEN EXCELLENT RESULTS.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 9, No 9, PP 38-40, 47-48, 65, 6 PHOT
• Authors:
  • Oerkvitz, C
• Publication Date: 1971-9

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Rural and Urban Roads

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Incandescent lamps; Lighting; Maintenance management; Mercury vapor lamps; Streets
• Uncontrolled Terms: Maintenance costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Mercury lamps
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00221471
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 20 1971 12:00AM