Fairborn Daily Herald
FAIRBORN — In the next three months the City of Fairborn streets will be brighter.
The city’s street lights will be converted from high pressure sodium and mercury vapor light bulbs to state of the art LED fixtures.
Last week Miami Valley Lighting began the conversion process. The goal is to have 75 percent of the city changed over by the end of October.
Fairborn and 24 other municipalities negotiated a contract with Miami Valley Lighting that will help each community to save money on their street lighting by converting to new LED fixtures.
Assistant City Manager Pete Bales said that the new fixtures will cast a bright, crisp light onto the streets which will greatly assist with motorist visibility as well as law enforcement issues.
“The City is taking the initiative to make Fairborn a safer place for motorists and pedestrians, and giving first responders better night time visibility,” said Bales. “This change also helps us to be more green as LED lights are energy efficient. The savings in the contract amount stretches our taxpayer dollars further, while making visibility safer. It is a win-win for everyone.”
The high-pressure sodium bulbs put off a yellow tint distorting natural colors and visibility.
Fairborn Police Chief Terry Barlow said that the LED lights are brighter and therefore what gets captured on a video surveillance camera, a cruiser cam, or still photos will be more accurate and clear.
Neighborhoods and local streets will be the focus of the fixture changes. The remaining 25 percent of light fixtures, which includes main thoroughfares such as Kauffman Avenue, Col. Glenn Highway, and Commerce Center Boulevard, will be changed after 2023 due to the terms of the contract.
Street lighting is paid for by the Fairborn General Fund through income tax dollars.