TECO Installing First Street Lights in Sulphur Springs

From City of Tampa officials:

Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Gordon Gillette, president of Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas, will celebrate and cut the ribbon on the first street lights installed as part of Mayor Buckhorn’s ‘Bright Lights, Safe Nights’ Initiative. The event will be today at 2 p.m. at the new streetlight located between 2106 and 2108 E. Nedro Drive.

“Sulphur Springs is only the first neighborhood that will benefit from this initiative. We’re illuminating streets across this city that are dangerous for motorists and pedestrians and the dark corners where criminals can hide,” said Mayor Bob Buckhorn. 

The Sulphur Springs neighborhood was the first to receive the tree trimming and installation of new lights. In total, 127 new lights have been installed in the Sulphur Springs area.

Sulphur Springs is also the area targeted for revitalization, and through the Nehemiah Project, the City of Tampa is demolishing more than 50 vacant, uninhabitable houses in the neighborhood.

The next neighborhood to receive new streetlights will be the Jackson Heights area.

The City of Tampa has committed $2.2 million over the next five years to keep our streets safe and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods through this initiative. Each year, a city-wide inventory of street lights will be done. Dimming street lights will be replaced, and the Neighborhood Enhancement teams will trim any tree branches that are obstructing the light.

In total, after five years, approximately 8,400 new street lights will be added to the city's overall grid, expanding the current street light network by 30 percent. The new street lights will be strategically placed throughout the City of Tampa, including in Community Redevelopment Areas as well as in zones with high crime or high crash rates.

Tampa Electric oversees the installation of new streetlights within the City of Tampa. The City of Tampa funds the maintenance and electricity.

To request either a repair on an existing streetlight or for installation of a new streetlight, please visit tampagov.net/streetlight or call (813) 274-5800.

What areas of Seminole Heights or Sulphur Springs do you think need new streetlights? Tell us in the comments.