M-DOT: Public-Private Partnership to Keep 98% of Freeway Lights Operational

[Scottathew]

Interesting way to address neglected infrastructure and copper theft. According to M-DOT's projection there will be more operational lights with the P3, yet we'll save money over having M-DOT managing them.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015CONTACT:
Jeff Cranson, MDOT Director of Communications, 517-648-8247, cransonj@michigan.gov
Rob Morosi, MDOT Office of Communications, 248-483-5107, morosir@michigan.gov

Transportation Innovation:
Shedding a light on safety upgrades

Fast Facts:
- MDOT will enter a P3 [[public-private partnership) contract to upgrade freeway lighting in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
- The P3 contract will accelerate capital improvements to improve safety.
- Stipulations include the vendor being responsible for keeping over 95 percent of the lights operational.

August 18, 2015 -- Your commute in Metro Detroit will soon by brighter and safer. Using innovative contracting, the Michigan Department of Transportation [[MDOT) will enter a public-private partnership [[P3) agreement to upgrade and maintain freeway lights in Detroit's tri-county area. The country's first P3 dedicated to freeway lighting was approved today by the State Administrative Board.
Of the approximately 15,000 freeway lights in the metro area, 87 percent are now high-pressure sodium or metal halide fixtures. The P3 contract will replace those outdated lights with energy-efficient LED lights in the first two years.
Currently, close to 70 percent of the freeway lights are working. Much of this is due to fiscal constraints, multiple instances of copper theft, and other challenges. The P3 contract mandates that 90 percent of the lights are operational after the first year and 98 percent after the second year. The vendor is contractually obligated to monitor all lighting infrastructure while identifying and repairing deficiencies.
Taxpayers will save as the annual cost of the services under this contract is expected to be lower than what MDOT would have to pay for upgrades. This contract also allows MDOT maintenance forces to focus on other issues.
In addition, improving freeway lighting enhances motorist visibility and traffic safety. Conversion to LED lights, economies of scale that lower equipment costs, and transferring risk while creating incentives to a private partner ensure effective operation and maintenance.
"Keeping our busy highways well-lit is vitally important for safety," Gov. Rick Snyder said. "This innovative arrangement ensures that we have better, more efficient lights, improving the service for the residents and businesses using these roads every day."
The contract safeguards public funds through stipulations for performance measures. Criteria spelled out in the contract must be met or exceeded in order for the P3 vendor to earn maximum dollar value. If criteria is not met, there will be deductions in payment.
The P3 vendor, Freeway Lighting Partners [[FLP), is a consortium led by Star America Fund with participation from Aldridge Electric, Parsons Brinkerhoff, and Cofely Services. The agreement is over a 15-year time frame and is expected to save taxpayers over the life of the contract.

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Download MDOT’s Mi Drive traffic information app: www.michigan.gov/drive

[cmubryan]

Interesting way to address neglected infrastructure and copper theft. According to M-DOT's projection there will be more operational lights with the P3, yet we'll save money over having M-DOT managing them.

Surprised no one commented, this is great news. So sick of seeing large sections of freeway lights out. Just on my way home from DTW, east on 94 and north on Sfld/M-39, there have been many areas dark that contain lights.

[Detroitnerd]

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/12/...opper-thieves/

[Detroitnerd]

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/02/...uring-the-day/

[Gpwrangler]

Surprised no one commented, this is great news. So sick of seeing large sections of freeway lights out. Just on my way home from DTW, east on 94 and north on Sfld/M-39, there have been many areas dark that contain lights.

so what, cars have lights. Another way to piss away money. Fix neighborhood lights first.

[Augustus]

so what, cars have lights. Another way to piss away money. Fix neighborhood lights first.

Things are already moving with fixing neighborhood lights, this is an entirely separate issue with a different source of funding.

[cmubryan]

so what, cars have lights. Another way to piss away money. Fix neighborhood lights first.

HAHA...good point but if we want to stay competitive with other metros we can't have that attitude. If you want unlit freeways, go out in the country or at least the further out burbs!

[Gpwrangler]

Things are already moving with fixing neighborhood lights, this is an entirely separate issue with a different source of funding.

Still a waste of money. Let Scrappers take the copper wire, then replace perfectly good lights with stupid LEDs that shut off every time a car goes by. Money is money, I want a refund

[Gpwrangler]

HAHA...good point but if we want to stay competitive with other metros we can't have that attitude. If you want unlit freeways, go out in the country or at least the further out burbs!

Lol there are 50 billion headlights on the freeway, we don't need little bitty LEDs. Unless they are going to put in a walking path, in which case lights like Comerica Park aren't enough.

Want safer freeways, how about putting some cops out there.

[Honky Tonk]

Lol there are 50 billion headlights on the freeway, we don't need little bitty LEDs. Unless they are going to put in a walking path, in which case lights like Comerica Park aren't enough.

Want safer freeways, how about putting some cops out there.

I guess you took David Byrne literally when he said stop making sense.

[Gpwrangler]

I guess you took David Byrne literally when he said stop making sense.

The scarier part is that our paid legislators make much less sense than I do. They have a never ending pot of money to play with.

[MSUguy]

Lol there are 50 billion headlights on the freeway, we don't need little bitty LEDs. Unless they are going to put in a walking path, in which case lights like Comerica Park aren't enough.

Want safer freeways, how about putting some cops out there.

We don't need LEDs, because cars have headlights? You probably shouldn't be drinking this early in the morning. The sections of freeway with LED's are much better and brighter than those that don't so this definately an upgrade.

[Honky Tonk]

The scarier part is that our paid legislators make much less sense than I do. They have a never ending pot of money to play with.

One trip down a Detroit freeway @ night will tell you they need to be illuminated. Allah forbid someone gets a flat late @ night. Instant vulnerability. As far as "itty-bitty LEDs", it's not the size that matters, it's how you use the lumens. You know from my posts, I hate peeing away my yearly tax contributions, but in this case, not only are they coming out ahead with the number of increased lighting, there's money that is going to be saved by using "itty-bitty LEDs". They're actually saving $12 mil over the previous "fix 'em" plan.

[Gpwrangler]

One trip down a Detroit freeway @ night...snip..., there's money that is going to be saved by using "itty-bitty LEDs". They're actually saving $12 mil over the previous "fix 'em" plan.

Can't wait to see where that $12 million goes. Bet we never see a dime. And the new LEDs aren't reliable for shit. Either that or scrappers have already stolen the wire on them.

By the way, If you get a flat on the freeway you've already destroyed the rim. For God's sake drive to an exit so you don't get a Darwin Award for changing a tire on the freeway. But be careful...once off the freeway there are no streetlights

[ABetterDetroit]

Lol there are 50 billion headlights on the freeway, we don't need little bitty LEDs. Unless they are going to put in a walking path, in which case lights like Comerica Park aren't enough.

Want safer freeways, how about putting some cops out there.

Uhhh... I'm pretty sure that the cops would have pretty strong opinions about trying to do their job in complete darkness with "50 billion" headlights pointed at them traveling at a high rate of speed GP.

[Gpwrangler]

Uhhh... I'm pretty sure that the cops would have pretty strong opinions about trying to do their job in complete darkness with "50 billion" headlights pointed at them traveling at a high rate of speed GP.

^^^^^^^^^^^ who said complete darkness? The current lights work fine