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Phoenix street lights to shine brighter

Posted at 7:00 AM, Mar 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-02 09:00:24-05

Phoenix streets are now shining a bit brighter. The city is swapping out old outdated street lamps, with new energy saving led ones.

At first, they'll have to fork out more money, and Deputy Street & Transportation Director Charlene Reynolds says that was definitely a concern.

“The city has had financial challenges over the years…and so cost is always a consideration,” Reynolds says.

However, after the up-front cost, the long-term savings are huge. “We are saving about $100,000 just from the 1,400 installed, and we are anticipating we could save anywhere up to $2.6 million,” Reynolds says.

Critics of the conversion say the new lights feel harsh, kind of like a hospital. So, the city is testing warmer toned LED lights and looking for more feedback.

They expect all street lamps to be converted to LED within about two years.