Street Lighting Design Checklist

June 15, 2024

OBJECTIVES

What are the primary reasons for considering outdoor lighting?

Safety

If safety is your primary concern, have you consulted with the AASHTO Information Guide for Roadway Lighting to determine if your situation warrants street lighting?

Security

If security is your primary concern, are there any preventive measures that don’t involve lighting that may be implemented?

Economic development

If economic development is your primary concern, what types of lighting will meet the objectives?

Parking lot? Roadway? Pedestrian? Can the lighting be limited to very specific areas?

Aesthetics

If aesthetics is your primary concern, what types of lighting will meet the objectives? Can it be accomplished in a way that minimizes light pollution?

Can the objectives be met without lighting?

LIGHTING CONSIDERATIONS

If lighting is necessary to meet your objectives, how much lighting is needed?

Safety

What safety objectives must be met?
What are current lighting levels?
What are IESNA recommendations?
What type of street is being considered?
What is the street width?
How many curves? Intersections?
Is the pedestrian conflict for this road high, medium, or low?
Are there any schools or playgrounds on this road?
What is the traffic volume on this street?
Is continuous lighting being considered? If not, what are the objectives of the lighting?
Are intersections being lit?
Are curves being lit?
Are there sidewalks on the streets?

Security

What are current lighting levels?
What are IESNA recommendations?

Economic development

What type of lighting is being considered? Roadway? Pedestrian?
Can the objectives be met with full cutoff luminaires?
Are timers, dimming, or curfews being considered?

Aesthetics

What are IESNA recommendations?

If lighting is necessary, can your objectives be met with full cutoff fixtures? What lighting levels are required to meet your objectives?

Are timers, dimming, or curfews being considered to reduce or eliminate lighting when it is not needed? Is all of the lighting energy efficient?

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