Glendale is the latest Valley city to make the switch to LED streetlights.
"We have 20,000 streetlights in Glendale and we're going to convert about 18,500 of them,” city engineer David Beard told ABC15.
City council approved spending up to $5.2 million on the upgrade that’s expected to begin next month. Beard says crews will work north to south to meet a June 2018 deadline.
“You’ll see improved traffic safety due to the change out of the lights,” Beard said.
The city estimates it will save $500,000 a year in energy costs and $200,000 a year in maintenance costs once the switch is completed, in addition to an APS rebate. Still, it will take between 7 and 10 years to break even on the project.
Beard said the city started looking at converting the lights two years ago. Hillcrest Boulevard served as a test site for 48 LED lights. He said all the feedback received during that time was positive.
The city will host a community meeting to discuss the change August 16th at the Foothills Recreation Center.
