BAKERSFIELD, CA -- The future could be getting brighter for downtown Bakersfield. The City Council is looking to switch the current street lights to LED lights to increase lighting and safety in the downtown area.
A couple of business owners said the darkness downtown keeps customers out of there shops and restaurants. The switch from high-pressure sodium to LED lights has already happened here on H Street but the hope is to expand the project at a reasonable cost.
H Street from 21st to Truxtun Avenue in downtown Bakersfield is looking a little brighter. That's because many of the high pressure sodium lights like this were replaced with these LED lights.
"All the feedback we've gotten so far has been positive it's a brighter light, it's a whiter light."
Stuart Patteson says the conversion was a pilot project. But now city councilmember Terry Maxwell is hoping to expand the project throughout all of downtown.
"I don't think it's a question of whether it's a good idea or not it's an idea that we've got to move forward on," Maxwell said.
Maxwell says the lack of lighting keeps people away from downtown and it's hurting businesses.
"I've had to buy flood lights to light up the streets and things like that so I can have people come around and look at our stuff," said Larry Smith, owner of Dog-Gone Nice Stuff.
The life of a high pressure sodium lamp is about four years while an LED light can last for up to 15 years and uses half the energy. Patteson says it's an improvement all across the board and will save the city money in the long run.
"We win both ways both in the energy cost being less as well as the maintenance cost going down," Patteson said.
And councilman Maxwell hopes his colleagues will help back his bright idea.
"Quite frankly I think this is something that's so important that we need to find in the budget how to pay for this," Maxwell added.
The City Council will look into what areas downtown need increased lighting then do a cost estimate.
According to BPD's Crimemap, there have been more than 300 crimes committed within a half mile radius of Maxwell's restaurant on 17th Place.
A couple of business owners said the darkness downtown keeps customers out of there shops and restaurants. The switch from high-pressure sodium to LED lights has already happened here on H Street but the hope is to expand the project at a reasonable cost.
H Street from 21st to Truxtun Avenue in downtown Bakersfield is looking a little brighter. That's because many of the high pressure sodium lights like this were replaced with these LED lights.
"All the feedback we've gotten so far has been positive it's a brighter light, it's a whiter light."
Stuart Patteson says the conversion was a pilot project. But now city councilmember Terry Maxwell is hoping to expand the project throughout all of downtown.
"I don't think it's a question of whether it's a good idea or not it's an idea that we've got to move forward on," Maxwell said.
Maxwell says the lack of lighting keeps people away from downtown and it's hurting businesses.
"I've had to buy flood lights to light up the streets and things like that so I can have people come around and look at our stuff," said Larry Smith, owner of Dog-Gone Nice Stuff.
The life of a high pressure sodium lamp is about four years while an LED light can last for up to 15 years and uses half the energy. Patteson says it's an improvement all across the board and will save the city money in the long run.
"We win both ways both in the energy cost being less as well as the maintenance cost going down," Patteson said.
And councilman Maxwell hopes his colleagues will help back his bright idea.
"Quite frankly I think this is something that's so important that we need to find in the budget how to pay for this," Maxwell added.
The City Council will look into what areas downtown need increased lighting then do a cost estimate.
According to BPD's Crimemap, there have been more than 300 crimes committed within a half mile radius of Maxwell's restaurant on 17th Place.