Street Lights

OVERVIEW

Street lights personnel are responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of the illumination system. Currently, the City owns an estimated 8000 street lights. This system was purchased from TU Electric in 1984. Wichita Falls is one of only two cities in Texas to own and operate its street light system; Wichita Falls can save approximately $1 million each year.

The division regularly receives requests from the public for new street light installations. The division follows a policy approved by the Council in 1984. Programs currently in place include the overhaul of older street light circuits and the installation of additional lighting on the City’s thoroughfare system.

The City is also a leader in the movement towards low-energy lighting. This division has converted over 8000 street lights to low-wattage LED lights. These lights save approximately $40,000 a month and have the added benefit of being low maintenance.

The City Street light crew maintains only the lights that are on City streets and the lights that are in the proper Downtown City alleys.  

  • All residential alley lights are considered guard lights.  Those are to be reported to Oncor at 1-888-313-6862.
  • Mobil Home Park lights are to be reported to the manager of the said park.

To report a street light that is not functioning please contact the Traffic Department at (940)761-7640.

Hours of operation for the Traffic Department are 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

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Street Light Policy


Section 1 – General


It shall be the policy of the City to install one (1) street light luminaire of at least 7000 lumens at each street intersection.

The standard installation shall be overhead service to a luminaire mounted on a wood pole. Exceptions prevail where underground and/or steel poles currently exist. Exceptions also prevail in newly plotted subdivisions where underground service exists.

Section 2 – Residential & Commercial Street Lighting


Lighting shall be as stated in section 1, with the exception, streets having long block lengths that exceed six hundred feet (600’) will be considered for a mid-block installation. However, it shall be the responsibility of the person or group making the request to secure access easements for the service to the standard street light installment at no cost to the City.
•Mid-block lights will only be installed where City funds are available for additional lighting (limited number budgeted each year).
•Residential or commercial lighting in subdivisions requiring non-standard wood or steel poles requires the developer to pay the cost of the non-standard pole and related fixture.
•Cul-de-sacs and dead-end (non-through) streets may have a light installed at the street intersection and at its interior end if the cul-de-sac or dead-end street is three hundred feet (300’) or longer.


Section 3 – Thoroughfare Lighting


Average illumination levels will range between 0.4 and 1.0-foot candles on thoroughfares within the City. Factors taken into consideration for lumen output will include nighttime traffic volumes, the width of the roadway, the curvature of the roadway, accident statistics for the thoroughfare itself, and posted speed limit.

Section 4 - priorities for installation

All street light installations shall be subject to available funding in the Traffic Control Division’s street light budget. 

As funding permits, installations shall be made according to the following priorities:

  1. Intersections of streets.
  2. Cul-de-sacs or dead end streets.
  3. Mid-block lighting.

Consideration of mid-block lighting installations will be based on the following criteria:

  1. Fully developed streets.
  2. Partially developed blocks where 50% of the buildings are occupied.
  3. Blocks where less than 50% of lots are developed or where distances between residences are two hundred feet (200’) or greater.
  4. Undeveloped areas (can determine installation, but may wait until one of the three criteria above is met).
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SECTION 5 – DUTIES OF PROPERTY OWNERS

It shall be the duty of the property owner to keep the light unobstructed by branches or other obstructions, natural or man-made.

A light that may be rendered ineffective by a natural or man-made obstruction shall not be considered as justification for a mid-block installation.

It shall be the responsibility of the person or group making the request to secure access easements for the service to the standard street light installment at no cost to the City.