Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe presented $135,000 to the City of Long Beach on Oct. 3 to help fund new energy-efficient streetlights that are being installed adjacent to California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) to improve safety for students and members of the community.
Supervisor Knabe, the City of Long Beach and CSULB joined together in a partnership to share the costs of the project, which will provide lighting along Bellflower Boulevard, from the main campus entrance at Beach Drive to Atherton Street, and along Palo Verde Avenue, between Atherton Street and State University Drive. Night students who park in these areas will especially benefit.
“After hearing about the safety concerns related to the lack of sufficient streetlighting on the university’s frontage roads, as well as the great opportunity this would provide to the city to move forward with one of its key sustainability initiatives— energy efficiency— it became clear to me that this was something the county should definitely take part in,” Supervisor Knabe said, as he presented a check to the city.
This pilot project features approximately 45 new energy efficient, LED streetlight fixtures. City staff will monitor the lighting levels and energy consumption to determine whether similar lighting should be used in other parts of the city.
“Long Beach is fully committed to environmental sustainability, which is essential to the city’s future,” said Councilmember Gary DeLong, who represents the 3rd District, which includes CSULB. “I’m pleased to note that this project is the first of its kind in the city, and one of the few currently under way in Southern California. It would not have happened without the partnership of Supervisor Knabe and President Alexander.”
The project’s estimated completion date is mid-November.
