Tulsa World: Tulsa mayor announces 53 new streetlights to help fight crime
By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Mayor Dewey Bartlett and utility officials announced Wednesday that 53 new streetlights will be installed as part of the "Lights On!" initiative.
"Citizens told us through a survey that more lights in neighborhoods would make them feel safer at night," Bartlett said during a news conference at the corner of Lewis Avenue and Mohawk Boulevard. "This wasn't just in one specific area of Tulsa but throughout Tulsa that people felt this way, and we are trying to react to that in a positive way."
Mohawk from Lewis to Peoria avenues will have 23 lights installed. The other 30 are scattered around the city.
American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma is covering the cost of installing the lights and maintaining them. The city will pay for the electricity, which will run about $2,735 annually for all.
AEP-PSO's Steve Baker said the installation of the lights should be complete by December.
Earlier this year, Bartlett formed a "Lights On!" committee to evaluate where new lights were needed. It included representatives from the Mayor's Office, AEP-PSO, the Police Department and the city's traffic engineering staff.
The group will continue to meet to determine more lighting locations.
"This is just our first list," Bartlett said. "We assume we are going to have the financial capability to add more. In the whole scheme of things, it's not a significant investment, but it can have a significant impact."
