City of Atlanta plans to add 10,000 streetlights to nearly 100 neighborhoods

ATLANTA — The city of Atlanta is adding 10,000 lights around the city to make it safer.

The transportation commissioner says they’ve already started replacing burned out lights, but imagine if you have to catch the bus at 7 p.m. and there are no streetlights.

For three years, Denine Jackson has been working to get more streetlights by the Big Bethel Village Senior Facility off Fairburn Road.

“People will be more free to move about and explore more the things that are in our community, and not worry about being attacked,” Jackson said.

Residents brought up safety concerns that dark streets present for their neighbors.

“We go out at night and we can’t see. It’s very, very dangerous,” resident Dana McLaurin said.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is ready to change that.

“We are bringing out 10,000 new lights in the city of Atlanta,” Bottoms said.

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As part of her One Atlanta safety program, the city’s transportation department will add lights and repair any broken ones in more than 100 different neighborhoods. The span of this initiative reaches all parts of the city.

“The city had 50,000 streetlights, 40,000 are for Georgia Power, 10,000 are ours. The 10,000 we anticipate a 15%, 20% replacement need,” Bottoms said.

Bottoms said the lights will not only improve the quality of life but also make communities safer.

“This initiative alone will help reduce crime in our city by 20%,” Bottoms said.

The city has already started accessing and repairing existing lights throughout Atlanta.

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