CHICAGO – Plans to upgrade Chicago's streetlamp system are advancing with the launch Monday of a public lighting demonstration ahead of a deadline early next year for final submissions from shortlisted private partners.
The city and Chicago Infrastructure Trust developing Chicago Smart Lighting, which calls for the conversion of 270,000 streetlamps that use outdated high pressure sodium to energy-efficient LED lighting over the next four years. The plan also calls for the installation of a wireless lighting management system that provides real time outage updates designed to reduce replacement times. Targeted repairs of existing poles and wires will also be made.
The trust earlier this year conducted a request for qualifications and proposals process for private contractor partners and shortlisted nine firms. Final proposals from the firms were pushed back to Jan. 9 from Dec. 14.
Non-shortlisted parties interested in participating in this procurement can contact the shortlisted respondents about joining as a supporting member of a shortlisted team.
The project financing will be procured separately and is not part of the RFP. The project is not intended to lead to the privatization of the outdoor lighting system or its maintenance, which is managed by the city's Department of Transportation.
"The Infrastructure Trust and the city are reviewing all financing options in conjunction with the RFP review, but we do expect to leverage the immediate energy savings from the conversion to LED lights to help cover the cost of this lighting program," a statement said.
The new lights will consume 50-75% less electricity than HPS lights. The financing could also leverage new revenue sources not cited in the documents.
On Monday, the city and CIT launched a demonstration of the new lighting technology in seven neighborhoods. Public input is being sought on light qualify, lighting levels, and visibility through the end of the year.
"All the feedback we get will be used to finalize the specifications for the new lights that we will be installing in all neighborhoods," CDOT Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld said in a statement
The City and CIT will recommend a winning vendor team to the city council for approval in early 2017, with installations beginning soon after council approval.
The city and CIT say the project is one the largest LED conversions projects in the country and will create the nation's largest lighting control network.
