Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Ferrera studies street light

By G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD Sometime in June residents of the South End neighborhood will see things a little brighter at night.

Mayor Charles Ryan has approved a request from City Councilor James Ferrera to increase the wattage of the streetlights from Howard to Locust Street to 1,000 watts from their present 400 watts.

Ferrera began an investigation into the brightness of the streetlights in April. He told Reminder Publications he was concerned about how bright the streets were and how that could affect criminal activities in the neighborhood, especially in the Hollywood section.

The Planning Department currently has a study of all of the city lighting from the intersection of Main and Gridiron Streets to Main and Howard Streets.

Ryan sent a letter to Ferrera on May 15 notifying him of the change. Ferrera thanked the mayor for the decision and said that Ryan had turned back on many streetlights the previous mayoral administration had turned off during the fiscal crisis.

Ferrera said Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) will have to change the street light bulbs in the area and that process will not be completed until sometime next month.

While the changing of the bulbs is no cost to the city, the charge for the additional electricity is estimated at $635.10 a month.

Ferrera said he is now working with WMECO to compile a list of major thoroughfares around the city with the goal of increasing the wattage of streetlights in other neighborhoods. Ferrera wants all neighborhoods to see brighter streets.

"It's not fair to pit neighborhood against neighborhood," he said.

When asked if the city can afford the increased electric charges, Ferrera said that due to increased lottery funding to the city "there's money on the table."

Ferrera noted there's funding for a new personnel director in the Police Department a position he called "ridiculous" so there should be funding for well-lit streets.