Dr. Noble opened the November workshop with an interesting discussion on the public health implications of our work together. He highlighted 3 prominent issues in the 1830’s when the Negro conventions started: Freedom, Land, and Education – one of the biggest Social Determinants of Health.
He emphasized the need for Black communities to come together on education, which can translate to higher life expectancy and increased opportunities.
Our session then transitioned to the presentation from City of Pittsburgh leaders: Chris Belasco, Flore Marion from the Department of City planning and Jan Raether of Neighborhood Services to illuminate the topic of the evening: Street lights!
The discussion underscored just how critical modern street lighting is. The benefits extend far beyond basic lighting, touching on core community needs: visibility, road safety, deterring crime, aesthetics and placemaking, facilitates commercial activity after dark.
Transitioning to LEDs
The City of Pittsburgh is currently undertaking a crucial, city-wide infrastructure upgrade, replacing outdated, energy-intensive high-pressure sodium lights with modern LED technology.
This is a clear case of an investment that pays for itself. The switch is projected to save the city an estimated $500,000 in lighting costs annually and significantly reduce maintenance burdens.
High-pressure sodium lights lasted a mere 2–3 years, while the new LEDs boast a life span of 10–20 years. This longevity ensures taxpayers and residents receive consistent quality and long-term value from their infrastructure dollars.
Leading with Equity: Larimer’s Success Story
The good news is that 462 of 498 streetlights in Larimer have already been installed!
The most compelling aspect of this project is its deliberate focus on equity. The City undertook a comprehensive analysis, overlaying a high-need index with 311 data highlighting reported issues of poor lighting. This data-driven equity analysis placed neighborhoods with the greatest need, like Larimer, at the front of the line for the LED installation.
This focus has translated into direct action, which didn’t go unnoticed. Participants at the session noted the immediate, positive difference, mentioning areas like Negley Run are now significantly more visible.
This process demonstrates a successful model for using data and mapping to understand community needs, resulting in direct improvements to their built environment.
Balancing Light and Life: Addressing Environmental Concerns
In addition to increasing visibility, the city is also taking an approach to ensure these upgrades benefit the local environment. Flore Marion spoke to the issue of light pollution, noting that Pittsburgh has a Dark Sky ordinance in place to mitigate excessive illumination, which requires streetlights and lights on buildings to follow dark sky principles:
- Useful – Lighting should have a clear purpose
- Targeted – Directed where it is needed
- Low-level – No brighter than necessary
- Controlled – Used only when needed
- Warm-colored – Using warmer light temperatures
Following these principles protects natural rhythms like the migratory patterns of birds, can impact human hormones, and shows a commitment to balancing infrastructure improvements with ecological and community well-being.
A Model for Future Investments
This street lighting initiative offers a powerful template for policymakers and funders: a project that is fiscally responsible, technologically modern, and fundamentally rooted in an equity-first framework.
The City’s commitment to using data to identify and prioritize needs ensured that neighborhoods historically underserved were the first to benefit from this critical public resource.
The work is ongoing, and residents are encouraged to continue providing feedback through 311 tickets or by visiting the City’s dedicated portal at EngagePgh:
https://engage.pittsburghpa.gov/PGHLED
This continuous loop of data, mapping, and community voices translate into action that makes for truly responsive and impactful governance. We are excited to continue this journey of exploring data to improve the built environment in Larimer.
