Georgia Power celebrates launch of "Light Up the Night" collaborative initiative

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms—joined by Chairman, President and CEO of Georgia Power Chris Womack, ATLDOT Commissioner Josh Rowan, Councilmembers Andrea Boone and Marci Collier Overstreet and community members—celebrated the launch of the “One Atlanta—Light Up the Night” citywide streetlight project.

“Light Up the Night is anticipated to significantly reduce crime by up to 20 percent, as well as traffic accidents, furthering our Administration’s mission to build safe, welcoming and thriving communities in Atlanta,” said Mayor Bottoms. “Thank you to Georgia Power for their investment to improve safety and visibility throughout the city.”

In June of 2021, the City and Georgia Power entered a partnership to increase the city’s street lighting footprint by 10,000 energy-efficient LED lights. The additional lighting could reduce crime by as much as 20 percent in some areas, while upgrading right-of-way lighting on more than 3,100 roads in more than 100 neighborhoods. Additionally, the upgraded LED lights could provide a 40 percent reduction in the city’s energy usage and lower its annual carbon footprint by approximately 2,000 tons.

The installation agreement follows a six-month streetlight inventory and assessment conducted by the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) and a team of industrial engineering students at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). The audit:

• Prioritized lighting needs based on crime data, crash severity, and current lighting coverage.

• Identified the south and west sides of Atlanta as areas of highest need.

• Identified the need for 7,500+ new lights and another 2,500 which require repairs.

ATLDOT and Georgia Power are partnering to deliver the lighting installation project for substantial completion by the end of 2022.

“We congratulate Mayor Bottoms and the City of Atlanta for making this very significant investment in the city’s future, elevating the quality of life for residents and enhancing public safety,” said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. “As Georgia continues to grow, with more residents and visitors every day, we’re continuing to collaborate with forward-looking cities such as Atlanta to deliver better, more efficient roadway and public lighting solutions.”

ATLDOT Commissioner Josh Rowan said the “Light Up the Night” project aligns with the City of Atlanta’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and injuries. “The City of Atlanta is replicating successful lighting initiatives implemented in New York, Detroit, and other U.S. cities that have seen significant reduction in crime and crash rates,” said Commissioner Rowan. “We will continue to identify best practices that help us keep our neighborhoods vital and safe.”