DETROIT – Mayor Mary Sheffield on Thursday signed an executive order directing the Detroit Public Lighting Authority to begin restoring “mid-block” street lighting on residential streets, a plan city officials say will add at least 3,000 lights and improve visibility between existing corner lights across neighborhoods.
The project is funded in part by a $1 million budget allocation from the Sheffield administration, with the Public Lighting Authority covering capital costs and the ongoing expenses for powering and maintaining the new fixtures, according to the city.
Installation is expected to begin in early July.
“This is about improving safety, strengthening the quality of life, and making sure that every block in our city gets the attention that it deserves,” Sheffield said.
City leaders framed the effort as a response to lingering concerns after Detroit’s major streetlighting overhaul more than a decade ago.
In 2014, the city began installing about 65,000 energy-efficient LED lights to address widespread outages and bring illumination up to national standards on main corridors and intersections.
But the reconfiguration left gaps on some residential streets, where mid-block lights were removed and not replaced.
Public Lighting Authority Executive Director Beau Taylor said the new plan is intended to address those gaps with a “community-centered approach.”
“The 2014 lighting overhaul rebuilt Detroit’s system and set up a strong foundation, but the design approach at the time left gaps in mid-block coverage on many residential streets,” Taylor said. “This initiative reflects the mayor’s commitment to addressing those needs, going back into neighborhoods with a more community-centered approach and placing lights where they will have the greatest impact on safety and visibility.”
City Council President James Tate said the plan aligns with what residents have repeatedly raised and said the council would monitor the rollout as community engagement continues.
“Improving neighborhood lighting is essential to safety and quality of life,” Tate said. “The mayor’s focus on mid-block lighting reflects what residents have shared with us for years. I appreciate the administration’s outreach, and as engagement continues, we will work together to ensure the final plan reflects community priorities and responsible stewardship of city resources.”
The city and the Public Lighting Authority will hold community input meetings in April to gather feedback on priorities and placement before installation begins.
The mid-block lighting initiative is described as the first phase of a broader effort to address neighborhood lighting needs.
Future phases may include alley lighting and decorative lighting improvements in some of Detroit’s historic districts.
Sheffield announced the initiative outside the home of longtime Detroit resident Cynthia Loggins, who has advocated for additional lighting on her block after a mid-block light was removed in 2019.
Loggins said the new initiative will help restore her sense of security.
“It was a long wait, and then I got a call last week asking me if I was still interested in them putting it back, and I said yes, of course,” Loggins said.
Loggins said finally seeing the effort come together felt like a full-circle moment.
“Exciting. Very exciting. Happy — knowing that you really weren’t forgotten,” Loggins said.