Create a Thriving Business District

PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING

Good outdoor lighting can create and encourage a pedestrian friendly environment, which is especially beneficial to neighborhood business districts. Pedestrian-scale lights improve walkway illumination for pedestrian traffic and enhance community safety and business exposure. Typically, this lighting is positioned over the sidewalk, rather than the street, at about 12 to 15 feet above the sidewalk.

The Department of Neighborhoods (DON) and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are currently working to install pedestrian lighting in business districts that requested these improvements through their neighborhood planning process. If your district did not include pedestrian lighting in its neighborhood plan, you can still work with the City to obtain this improvement.

Frequently asked questions:

Does pedestrian-scale lighting replace street lighting?

What pedestrian-scale lighting options can communities pursue for their neighborhood business areas?

In recognition of significant neighborhood interest, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has developed a pedestrian-scale lighting program with fixture options to choose from for placement along main business arterials. SDOT has four luminaires (i.e., lamp heads) of varying historic and aesthetic character. To maximize resources and minimize installation time, most neighborhoods have selected lights which are mounted on existing poles. A more expensive option is to install the lights on top of free-standing poles which receive power via underground conduit.

How do I get started?

The initial steps that need to be followed to pursue pedestrian-scale lighting for a neighborhood business area include:

• Contact your Neighborhood Service Center Coordinator or Neighborhood District Coordinators (see contact information on the next page) to find out if your neighborhood is already on the Department of Neighborhoods’ list to receive pedestrian lighting. DON must prioritize these improvements city-wide, so you can find out when and if your neighborhood is scheduled to receive lighting.
• Discuss your options with your Neighborhood District Coordinators or Neighborhood Service Center Coordinator, if you are not on DON’s list.
• Establish community involvement and support for the work. Installation of this lighting should have the support of the neighborhood – particularly the adjacent property owners.
• Choose a fixture and indicate a preference for streets and cross-street boundaries. Work with SDOT to find the best option for your area.

When lights are installed, who bears responsibility for their maintenance? Who pays for the power?

City Light will assume maintenance responsibility and power cost. To qualify, the pedestrian lights must be installed in the right-of-way to enhance lighting in the sidewalk area, selected from the City Light standard pedestrian lighting options and be installed to meet City Light standards.

What should we consider when choosing a light fixture ?

Choose fixtures from the SDOT approved “menu.” This will ensure that replacement parts are readily available when repairs are necessary. Contact SDOT's Ahmed Darrat, 206‐733‐9144, ahmed.darrat@seattle for the menu.

Keep in mind that your pedestrian lights will not be effective if they are buried in the tree canopies. It may be several years before very small trees can grow tall enough to be pruned up to the levels of the pedestrian lights.

Where can examples of the pedestrian lights be found?

Some examples of pedestrian-scale lighting around the city include:

• Previous pedestrian-scale lighting projects include the University Avenue in the University District; the West Seattle Junction’s California Ave. in the vicinity of SW Alaska St; E Broadway in Capitol Hill; Greenwood Ave N in the vicinity of N 65 th St; E Union St in the vicinity of 23 rd Ave; and 12 th Ave and Boren Ave.

Who are the best contacts to talk with about pursuing pedestrian lighting ?

It is best to talk to the Department of Neighborhoods first. The best person to contact is the Neighborhood District Coordinator or the Neighborhood Service Center Coordinator for your neighborhood (see contact information below).