This is a project update informational item, no formal action is requested.  Several key points are highlighted in the presentation and attachments regarding changes to the Engineering Standards related to pedestrian lighting and residential lighting requirements for which staff is seeking input.

Residential Lighting has been a standard element of a complete street in Flagstaff, this latest update to Lighting Standards proposes to eliminate residential lighting requirements for new construction.  The exception is the lighting of residential street intersections with higher classification streets such as Collectors and Arterials will continue to be required.

Pedestrian Lighting has been an optional element in Flagstaff and when installed was allowed to be full-spectrum 'white' light.  An example is the pedestrian scale lighting in the Downtown area.  With the proposed standard updates Pedestrian Lighting is still an option, but will be required to be Narrow Band Amber LED.

This Work Session item will review the Engineering Standard Updates that result from the Street Lighting to Enhance Dark Skies (SLEDS) project to update the City's Street Lighting Standards, as well as a staff-led project to update the Traffic Signals, Signing, Pavement Markings, and Fiber Optic sections of the standards.

The SLEDS Project’s primary objective is to find a solution to Flagstaff’s current
street lighting replacement needs while balancing dark skies, safety, and maintenance/cost-effectiveness objectives.
 
The SLEDS Project is the result of several years of discussions between the City and the local observatories (USNOFS and Lowell Observatory) and the Dark Skies Coalition that started in May 2012. At that time, the City found itself in a lighting predicament as Low Pressure Sodium (LPS), the preferred lighting source since 1989, was becoming increasingly more expensive to purchase, quality replacement parts were becoming more difficult to acquire and we were experiencing structural failures of the pole/mast arm connection due to the size and weight of the LPS fixture, especially in wind prone areas.
 
In June 2015, Council approved an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with ADOT to secure funding for the SLEDS Project. 
 
The following from the SLEDS Request for Proposals summarizes the direction and goals of the project: “The City seeks cost-effective replacement technologies that (1) maintain or approximate current lighting levels and (2) do not adversely impact the City’s dark sky natural resource or the missions of the Lowell Observatory and the U.S. Naval Observatory. In consideration of cost-effectiveness, the City seeks to utilize existing light pole infrastructure."
 
In September 2015, the Consultant Team, led by Monrad Engineering, was awarded a contract to conduct applied research in order to develop a replacement strategy for the City’s increasingly obsolete LPS streetlights with newer technology (LED).
 
The SLEDS Project has been an opportunity for Flagstaff to demonstrate to other municipalities an innovative lighting solution for dark sky preservation with Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology that achieves municipal objectives for safety and cost-effectiveness and astronomical objectives for maintaining dark skies.  

Project Outline:

• An assessment of the viability of continuing to use LPS, which is no longer available as of July 2019
• Structural analysis of existing light pole/mast arm assemblies and retrofit recommendations for existing poles/masts
• Test fixture specification and procurement
• Installation of test fixtures:
  • Arterial and select Major Collectors - NBALED @ 12k lumens
    • Butler Avenue - Milton to Sawmill
    • Fourth Street - Route 66 to Industrial
  • Arterial and select Major Collectors - Hybrid LED @ 9k lumens
    • Butler Avenue - Sawmill to Ponderosa Parkway
    • Route 66 - Arrowhead to Fourth Cedar at West signalized intersection
  • Residential Minor Collectors and Local Streets - NBALED @ 1500 lumens and 2500 lumens
    • Southern half of Cheshire
• Solicit public feedback on the test installations through survey and lighting tours
• Developed City Wide replacement scenarios – Retrofit
• Developed proposed Engineering Standard updates 

Final Step:

• City Council Regular Meeting for consideration of Engineering Standards for New Construction adoption (by Ordinance).

Traffic Signals, Signing, Marking and Fiber Optic Engineering Standards Updates: 
 

City Council Goal: Transportation and other Public Infrastructure – Deliver quality community assets and continue to advocate and implement a highly performing multi-modal transportation system. Regional Plan: Goal T.2. Improve transportation safety and efficiency for all modes. Policy T.2.1. Design infrastructure to provide safe and efficient movement of vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. Policy T.2.2. Consider new technologies in new and retrofitted transportation infrastructure. Policy T.2.3. Provide safety programs and infrastructure to protect the most vulnerable travelers, including the young, elderly, mobility impaired, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Goal T.3. Provide transportation infrastructure that is conducive to conservation, preservation, and development goals to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts on the natural and built environment. Policy T.3.6. Seek to minimize the noise, vibration, dust, and light impacts of transportation projects on nearby land uses. Goal T.4. Promote transportation infrastructure and services that enhance the quality of life of the communities within the region. Goal T.5. Increase the availability and use of pedestrian infrastructure, including FUTS, as a critical element of a safe and livable community. Policy T.5.2. Improve pedestrian visibility and safety and raise awareness of the benefits of walking Goal T.6. Provide for bicycling as a safe and efficient means of transportation and recreation. Policy E&C.5.1. Evaluate the impacts of the retention of dark skies regarding lighting infrastructure and regulatory changes, land use decisions or changes, and proposed transportation developments within the region. Policy E&C.5.2. Encourage and incentivize voluntary reduction of “exempt” lighting that degrades night sky visibility, and work to prevent light trespass whenever possible in both public and private areas. Goal LU.19. Develop a manageable evolution of the main corridors into contextual place makers. Policy LU.19.4. Balance automobile use, parking, bicycle access, while prioritizing pedestrian safety along all corridors. Team Flagstaff Strategic Plan: Strategic Priority #3 – Foster a resilient and economically prosperous city and Strategic Priority #4 – Work in Partnership to enhance a safe and livable community Performance Based Budgeting Key Community Priorities: Safe & Healthy Community, Sustainable and Innovative Infrastructure, Livable Community and Environmental Stewardship