New solar streetlights shine this winter

Published on January 11, 2025

Since 2023, the City's Transportation & Public Works (TPW) Department has replaced poor-condition streetlights, poles and LED streetlights in Fort Worth neighborhoods.

Why it matters: Neighborhoods across the City were selected for solar light installations based on scoring categories:

• Existing lighting equipment type and age
• Roadway type adjacent to the lighting
• Pedestrian generator location
• Equity

So far, three neighborhoods have received solar light installations. Solar conversions for The Parks of Deer Creek (Council District 8), Northbrook Council District 2) and Historic Carver Heights (Council District 5) are complete.

What's next: The remaining neighborhoods - Como, Stop Six Sunrise Edition, Historic Stop Six, Stop Six Poly Oversight, Brentwood Oak Hills, Oakridge Terrace, Central Meadowbrook, The New Mitchell Boulevard, Wedgewood East, South Hemphill Heights, Overton South, Highland Hills, Westcreek Central, Polytechnic Heights, and Parker Essex Boaz - are scheduled to be complete by October 2026.

Completed neighborhoods include:

• Year 1, Fiscal Year2023: Ridgmar, Alamo Heights, Glen Crest, Carver Heights East and Historic Southside.
• Year 2, FY2024: Eastland, Glen Park, Morningside, Near East Side, Rosemont, Ryan Place and South Hills.

Go deeper: In 2023 and 2024, 448 streetlights were replaced; 42,565 linear feet of old or bad wire were removed; and 36,818 linear feet of new wire was installed for a total cost of $1,888,737.

In late 2023, TPW began pilot projects using solar lighting as a new connected technology. This afforded an opportunity to implement solar lighting for Year 3 and Year 4 of the project neighborhoods rather than conventional streetlights.

Benefits of solar lighting include use of a renewable energy source, reduced environmental impact, cost savings for no electricity usage, reliable operation during power outages, low maintenance requirements and minimum equipment requirements.

Council districts impacted: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

Photo: New solar lights shine in the evening in the Historic Carver Heights neighborhood.

Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.

Tagged as:

• Project Update
• Transportation
• District 2
• District 5
• District 8