LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- From dusk to dawn in Louisville, darkness dominates.
Streets and corners that should be illuminated are instead shrouded in shadows with only headlights to light the way.
Scott Shoenberger, president and CEO of the Al J Schneider Co. who helps oversee the Galt House Hotel downtown, said the lights outside on Main Street are critical to their business.
"Fourth and Main Street is really the epicenter of downtown Louisville," Shoenberger said. "We're dark cavern at this juncture. ...The streetlights lining the horseshoe of the Galt House are only silhouettes at night."
And Shoenberger said that's been the case for more than five years now.
"Glass globes are broken and they're hanging over where you see the wire going in between," he said.
So far, he said they've only had minor safety incidents outside. And without any lamps lighting the way, it's driving hotel residents and guests to stay inside.
"I love that they're gonna stay in the hotel and eat in the restaurants and drink in our bars and go to events. I think that's wonderful," Shoenberger said. "But we do want people to come out and experience all of Louisville."
'We needed a plan'
In 2020, Louisville Metro Government commissioned Strand Associates to study the city's lighting. The 170-page report pinpointed 20 different hotspots in the city that saw more crime and traffic crashes from 2016-20 because of poor lighting. Some of those spots included stretches of Bardstown Road, Taylor Boulevard near Churchill Downs and 3rd Street Road in the Auburndale neighborhood.
The downtown area was excluded from the study because Jeffrey Brown with Louisville Metro Public Works said the city has known for years nearly all of downtown lighting is lacking.
"As an engineer, streetlights are one of the proven countermeasures to improve safety and it's one of the least expensive opportunities we have to make a big impact to those traveling those public rights," Brown said.
In April, Mayor Craig Greenberg presented his approved $1.1 billion budget, which includes $2 million for streetlights downtown, $1.6 million for underpass LED lighting and $2.3 million for multiple improvements along River Road, including updated street lighting.
"There'll be a lot of catch-up because, it had been underfunded for so long," Brown said. "This is a jumpstart. This will go a long way in getting our streetlights into an acceptable condition."
With the influx of funds, Brown put boots on the ground. Crews went out to take pictures and inspect each and every streetlight in downtown Louisville.
"With this kind of funding, we needed a plan," he said.
This year alone, there have been 935 calls to 311 to fix streetlights. Last year, there were 2,100 calls, and there were another 1,500 in 2021. That's why the Department of Public Works plans to launch a new dashboard.
Every dot on the map will denote a streetlight where residents can reference what's wrong and where their streetlight falls on the repair list.
"We have to be realistic," Brown said. "We would never have the resources to light every street in the intersection the way it should be lit. That's just not feasible. So we're targeting those areas where we have the highest traffic, the highest number of incidents."
There is currently no target date for the dashboard to be live and available to the public. In a written statement, a spokesman for Greenberg's office said improvements are coming soon:
"We appreciate the Metro Council unanimously approving our new budget, which includes several million dollars for street light upgrades in the Central Business District," the statement said. "Residents and visitors will begin to see new downtown streetlights in the coming months, as our crews work to repair and replace more than 1,600 fixtures. We are also excited for the new LED lighting project underneath the Main and Market Street overpasses connecting NuLu and the CBD."
At the Galt House, bright lights are a priority inside Shoenberger's business, but he'd like to see the same of his city.
"You're also showing that your city is well kept and that the city is making the necessary investments within its infrastructure," he said. "Infrastructure is really important in the city, and for new development for new economic interest, it's absolutely critical."
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