27% of Streetlights Still Out

A significant percentage of Island streetlights are still dark, even as new lights are being installed.

Counting only those streetlights covered in The WIRE’s December 10 survey, there’s a slight improvement, from 23.3% dark last month to 22.4% this week. But the installation of 25 bollards along the service road walkway between the subway station and Meditation Lawn, done about three weeks ago, increases the proportion to 27% – lamps in those bollards and two at the Good Shepherd crosswalk are not functioning.

Candelabra units along the west promenade from Meditation Steps to the subway station are now fully working, but streetlights along the same stretch are out. One theory is that the blazing light from the candelabra units is "tricking" sensors on the streetlights into "thinking" it’s daytime.

There’s another long stretch of non-working streetlights on Main Street just north of the community gardens, along the tennis courts and the baseball field. During warmer months, tennis-court lighting covered that area, but the court lights are now off at night.

Many lights covered in the WIRE survey have been out at least since the first survey, done in October. Additional lights have apparently failed, including one at Meditation Lawn that had been burning night and day.

Problems with street lighting and Island maintenance were discussed Wednesday night at the meeting of the Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council. One member commented that the lack of lighting combined with poor sidewalk maintenance presents an increased hazard. A RIRA committee intends to work on the problem with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), which is responsible for the Island’s physical plant.