Street Lighting Study
The City of Winnipeg wants to know how our street lighting system compares to systems in other Canadian cities. First and foremost, we need to learn how Winnipeggers feel our streets are lit. This benchmark survey will help us determine how our street lights are performing, whether any areas in particular are under- or over-serviced, and what Winnipeggers feel are priorities in terms of lighting.
- Updates
- Engage
- Timeline
- Background
- Documents
- FAQs
- Related Links
Updates
April 2020 - Thank you for participating in the Street Lighting Survey.
A summary of survey results is now available online. The report does not recommend action or direction, but rather presents a cross-section of public opinion on street lights in the city to support an administrative report requested by the Standing Policy Committee for Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works (SPC-IRPW).
SPC-IRPW will receive a report on April 21, 2020 that outlines the survey results as well as the findings of a technical analysis and environmental scan.
November 29, 2019 – Thank you to the many Winnipeggers who told us about street lighting at more than 200 locations. Your feedback on the efficacy of street lights will help us provide a written report to Council. An engagement report will be posted online later this year.
Fall 2019 – The 2019 Street Lighting survey is open! Participate by clicking on the Engage tab and following the prompts.
Spring 2019 – On May 28, 2019, the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure and Public Works directed the public service to report back within 180 days on whether other major Canadian cities provide street lighting services at a higher or lower level than Winnipeg, and what standards they utilize to determine appropriate street lighting levels.
Engage
The City of Winnipeg wants to know how our street lighting system compares to systems in other Canadian cities. We recently conducted a benchmark survey to help determine how our street lights are performing, whether any areas in particular are under- or over-serviced, and what Winnipeggers feel are priorities in terms of lighting. The survey is now closed.
Next, we will compile survey data, along with technical data researched and reported by our Transportation branch, into a report, and present it to the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure and Public Works in early 2020. The report will also be made available online, and will be emailed to any survey participants who subscribe for updates.
If you would like to stay updated on City of Winnipeg public engagement events, follow the City on Facebook and Twitter or City of Winnipeg public engagement newsletter.
Background
The main purpose of street lighting is to provide an adequate visual environment for road users to safely use the road system during hours of darkness.
The City currently pays Manitoba Hydro approximately $13 million annually to light Winnipeg streets according to lighting guidelines developed by the Transportation Association of Canada. This is the criteria that defines the lighting levels used to illuminate City streets.
The City is looking to determine a number of factors about our street lighting system, including:
- how this service fee compares to what other Canadian cities pay for lighting;
- whether our city is lit appropriately, or is under- or over-serviced;
- how Winnipeggers feel they are serviced by the street lighting; and,
- whether lighting contributes to safety, or a feeling of safety, for road users.
Documents
| Document Name | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Public Engagement summary | 2020-04-20 | Report |
| Appendix A – Promotional materials | 2020-04-20 | Report |
| Appendix B – Mapping tool instructions and survey questions | 2020-04-20 | Report |
| Appendix C – Geographic response heat maps | 2020-04-20 | Report |
| Appendix D – Full survey results | 2020-04-21 | Report |
Frequently Asked Questions
The City currently pays Manitoba Hydro approximately $13 million annually to light Winnipeg streets. On May 28, 2019, the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure and Public Works directed the public service to report back within 180 days on whether other major Canadian cities provide street lighting services at a higher or lower level than Winnipeg, and what standards they utilize to determine appropriate street lighting levels.
Yes and no. As part of its transportation planning activities, the City determines where on the roadway lights are placed according to City design standards and the lighting levels required according to Transport Canada's Guide for the Design of Roadway Lighting.
Manitoba Hydro currently procures, installs, supplies power to, and maintains street lights for the City of Winnipeg. The City in turn pays Manitoba Hydro an annual fee for this service.
The roadway lights are placed according to City design standards and the lighting levels required are according to Transport Canada's Guide for the Design of Roadway Lighting. In some cases lights are re-located to meet clearances of other infrastructure such as fire hydrants and approaches. This criterion defines the number of lights and the wattage used to illuminate City streets, and we look to it when building new roads and new developments.
Visit the Engage tab to learn more.
This benchmark survey is primarily an informational tool. It will help us determine how our street lights are performing, whether any areas in particular are under- or over-serviced, and what Winnipeggers feel are priorities in terms of lighting.
We will compile survey data, along with technical data researched and reported by our Transportation branch, into a report, and present it to the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure and Public Works by the end of 2019. The report will also be made available online, and will be emailed to any survey participants who provide their email address and consent to be contacted further.
Related Links
- Transportation Association of Canada: Guide for the Design of Roadway Lighting