New streetlights unveiled in Martineztown
Mayor Berry says energy-saving project is helping to deter crime
A citywide project hopes to shine some light on Albuquerque’s future.
“This is a new day,” community activist Frank Martinez said as, behind him, brand-new LED streetlights illuminated the streets of Martineztown.
“It’s going to be significant in our future and in the quality of our life,” Martinez told a crowd of around 20 people Tuesday night at the unveiling of the Envision-ABQ project.
The Martineztown neighborhood hosted a pilot project and, eventually, the city expects to have LED lights shine from every pole in the city.
The company in charge of the project, Citelum, plans to complete the $20 million project in 12 months and will maintain the streetlights another 15 years.
“When this is fully implemented, the citizens are going to be tickled pink,” Martinez said. He said the new lights will be a crime deterrent and will enhance safety for cyclists and pedestrians while improving traffic flow and boosting economic development.
Berry thanked those who live in south Martineztown for leading the pilot project, referring to Martinez as a mentor and hero.
“I’m just really proud to … kick this off,” the mayor told
the crowd of residents, community members and construction workers.
Berry said the citywide project, funded with bond money, will pay for itself through an estimated $19 million in energy savings and involve no tax increase.
Over the years, the conversion will reduce the city’s carbon footprint by almost 123,000 metric tons, Berry said, equivalent to taking 26,000 cars off the road.
“This initiative will not only make our city more beautiful and energy-efficient, but it will also improve public safety,” he said. “Crime does not like a stage, and by strategically lighting up our neighborhoods, we can make Albuquerque safer.”
During the unveiling, Roy Reine admired the brightness and span of the new streetlights compared with the older ones.
Reine, who has lived in Martineztown for 38 years, said there has always been a lighting problem in the neighborhood, west of Interstate 25 between Menaul and Lomas NE.
“It’s always dim,” he said, particularly around Longfellow Elementary School, where his walking partner tripped over a curb and broke her arm during one late-night stroll.
But it’s not just bad visibility, he said. In the past few years, the neighborhood has had a new issue arise.
“We have a lot of vagrants that are coming in … camping out,” Reine said. “It gives them an opportunity to move around and not have people looking at them.”
Although Reine often sees the homeless pitch tents and sleep in Martineztown, he knows the problem stretches across the city.
“Everybody needs it,” he said of the brighter streetlights. “More at the park, more at the school, more everywhere.”