Department of Public Works

IMPROVEMENT STANDARDS

FOR STREET LIGHTING

2010

CONTENTS PAGE Section 1 – Purpose & Definitions Purpose 1 Omissions 1 Modifications to Standards 1 Definitions 1

Section 6 – Street Lighting Street Lights Required 3 Street Lights Not Required 3 Developers Responsibility 3 Certificates of Occupancy 3 General Plan Details 4 Design Standards 4 Street Light Design Details 4 Design of Layout 7 LIST OF IMPROVEMENT STANDARD DRAWINGS: 6A – Street Lighting Poles & Symbols 6B – Meridian Street Classifications 6C – Typical Street Light Locations, Arterials and Collectors 6D – Typical Street Light Locations, Residential/Local Streets 6E – Typical Street Light Locations for Roundabouts 6F – Street Lighting Design Criteria 6G – Street Light Base Location * Drawings immediately follow Section 6

SECTION 1

PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS 1-1 Purpose: It is the purpose of these Improvement Standards to provide standards

to be applied to improvements and private works to be dedicated to the public and accepted by the City for maintenance and operation, as well as improvements to be installed within existing rights of way and easements. This is necessary to provide for coordinated development of required facilities to be used by, and for the protection of, the public. These Standards shall serve to regulate and guide design and preparation of plans for constructions of street lighting.

1-2 Omissions: Any items or situations not included in these Improvement Standards

shall be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice, the City of Meridian Supplemental Specifications to the Idaho Standards for Public Works Construction, the Idaho Standards for Public Works Construction (ISPWC), and as required by the Engineering Manager of the Public Works Department.

1-3 Modifications to Standards: If unusual conditions exist in new developments

such that the strict application of these Standards will result in substantial hardship or inequity, the City Council may waive or modify the requirements to allow the owner to develop the property in a reasonable manner. Under no circumstance will any modification or waiver supersede the public welfare, the interests of the City, or the intent of these Improvement Standards.

1-4 Definitions: When the following terms or titles are used in these Standards, or in

any document or instrument where these Standards govern, the intent and meaning shall be as herein defined:

City Engineer – Shall mean the Engineering Manager/City Engineer of the Public

Works Department of the City of Meridian. City Standards – Shall mean the latest edition of the City of Meridian

Supplemental Specifications to the Idaho Standards for Public Works Construction adopted by the Meridian City Council governing the construction of sanitary sewers, water supply, street lighting, landscaping, and other facilities within the City of Meridian to be accepted by the City for maintenance and operation.

Consulting Engineer – Shall mean any person or persons, firm, partnerships or corporation legally authorized to practice civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering in the State of Idaho who prepares or submits improvement plans and specifications to the City of Meridian for approval.

Developer – Shall mean any person or persons, firms, partnership, corporation or

combination thereof, financially responsible for the work involved.

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Development – Shall mean the act, process, or result of any land grading, utility

installation, street or building constructed on properties.

Downtown Meridian Redevelopment Area – Shall mean the area bounded by East 3rd Street, East Ada Avenue, North Meridian Road, and East Carlton Avenue.

State Standards - Shall mean the latest edition of the Idaho Standards for Public

Works Construction (ISPWC). Urban Area – Shall mean the area within the boundary of the City of Meridian’s

Area of Impact as defined by Ada County Code Title 9, Chapter 4.

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SECTION 6 STREET LIGHTING

6-1 STREET LIGHTS REQUIRED: Street lights shall be required for all

developments within the urban area, along all streets and pathways offered for dedication, including existing streets bordering the development unless excepted by Section 6-2. In addition, street lights may be required for lots and parcels containing existing structures which are being improved or altered, depending on the nature and extent of the work. Illustrations of street lights generally required are shown on Improvement Standard Drawing 6A.

6-2 STREET LIGHTS NOT REQUIRED: Street lights shall not be required under

the following circumstances:

A. Single family residential subdivisions having an average lot street frontage of more than 125 feet will not be required to install a street lighting system along local streets, but shall as a minimum, be required to install street lights at all intersections, cul-de-sacs, and other locations deemed by the City Engineer to be essential for safety.

B. For planned developments, residential, commercial, and industrial

developments where internal streets are not offered for dedication, a street lighting system will not be required for the internal non-dedicated streets, but shall be provided by the developer on external public street frontage.

6-3 DEVELOPER’S RESPONSIBILITY: Existing street lights which must be

relocated or repositioned as a result of the construction of new streets or driveways into a development shall be the responsibility of the developer.

Any new services, including those with a step-down transformer, which are required as a result of the modification of an existing utility service pedestal, shall be the responsibility of the developer. It shall be the responsibility of the developer to ensure that power shall remain to the existing street light system until the new street light system to replace it is complete and functioning correctly.

6-4 CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY: Lack of a functional street lighting

system at the time certificates of occupancy are requested shall be grounds for denial of such certificates. The following must be complete for all developments before the City will assume energy costs and authorize Idaho Power to energize the street light system:

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A. A finaled electrical permit, issued through the City of Meridian Building Division for the street light system work.

B. Record Drawings showing locations of street lights, junction

boxes, services points, and conduit runs. 6-5 GENERAL PLAN DETAILS: The plans show and identify all street lights to

be installed, all existing lights in the immediate vicinity of the project, all conduit and conductor runs, service points, trees, and all applicable provisions and details specific in these standards.

On subdivision plans, the street lights shall be shown separately. In addition to the above, the following shall be required on the street light portion of subdivision plans, even though duplications may be involved: - A vicinity map or equivalent - Utility poles and public easements - Names of adjacent subdivisions - Intersecting property lines of adjacent properties - A “Symbols” legend conforming to Improvement Standard Drawing 6A - A North arrow and appropriate scale (1”=10’ to 1”=100’) - All existing street lights on both sides of any streets - All trees within the vicinity of the conduit runs or proposed street lights

6-6 DESIGN STANDARDS: Street lighting shall be designed by the developer’s

Consulting Engineer in conformance with these Standards and the current edition of the City and State Standards. Average horizontal foot candles for the various street classifications shall be as shown on Improvement Standard Drawing 6F. Data and calculations supporting the satisfaction of the above requirements shall be submitted for review, or the predetermined design standards included herein shall apply.

6-7 STREET LIGHT DESIGN DETAILS: Design details for street lights are as

follows:

A. Intersections – Intersections shall have at least one street light. Intersection street light locations and the number required shall conform to Improvement Standard Drawing 6C, 6D, and 6E.

B. Cul-de-sacs – All cul-de-sacs shall have a street light within the ‘bulb.’

The location of the street light within the ‘bulb’ shall conform to Improvement Standard Drawing 6D.

C. Micropaths & Multiuse Pathways – Street lights shall be placed at both

ends of all micropaths and multiuse pathways, as well as at path intersections and bridges. Care shall be taken to avoid excessive light

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trespass into neighboring residences. IES Type II reflectors and/or house-side shields should be used were light trespass could be an issue.

Pathways not offered for Public Dedication will require bollard type

lighting along the length of the pathway or, in the case of properties abutting State Highway 55 (Eagle Rd), pathway lighting may be required per ordinance 11-3H-4c3.

D. Spacing – Maximum street light spacing shall be measured along roadway

centerline and shall conform to Improvement Standard Drawing 6F. Spacing for historic poles shall be 60 feet.

E. Street Light Poles – All Type 1 street light poles shall be galvanized steel,

conforming to Meridian Standard Drawing T1. A “Mesa” style bent pole may by approved by the City Engineer in place of Type 1 poles in instances of overhead utility line conflicts. All Type 2 street light poles shall be square steel with bronze polyester coating and conform to the City Specifications. Historical poles shall be used in the Downtown Meridian Redevelopment Area and shall conform to City Standards.

The position of street light pole bases shall conform to Improvement

Standard Drawings 6G. F. Luminaires and Ballasts – Luminaires shall be high pressure sodium type

with internal ballasts. The type of street light and the appropriate wattage shall be specified on the plans. All luminaires and ballasts shall conform to the standards outlined section 1102, paragraph 2.17 of the City Specifications and State Standards.

G. Service – All street light systems shall have underground service provided.

Service voltage shall be shown on the plans. Service voltage shall be 120 volts only. Service enclosure shall be provided within a Public Utility Easement immediately adjacent to the right-of-way, or within the right-of-way, and at a point which is as reasonably near as possible to the serving utility power source. The service enclosure shall be a junction box which is easily accessible to the street frontage. New lights on developments adjacent to an existing development shall connect to existing service point. Types of service are as follows:

1. The City Engineer may approve overhead service in unusual areas

when justification is given why service cannot be provided underground.

2. A direct underground service consists of one light being served

from a single service point. The service enclosure shall be a junction box installed by the developer within 3 feet of utility

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connection point or transformer. If the light pole is within 50 ft and in sight of the service enclosure, an additional junction box in front of the pole is not required.

3. Multiple service is two or more lights being served from a single

service enclosure installed by a developer. The service enclosure shall be a junction box within 3 feet of utility connection point or transformer. Multiple service for downtown historical lights shall have a metered service pedestal conforming to the pedestal in ACHD Standard Drawing TS-1111 and ISPWC 1102, 2.16.

H. Junction Boxes – All junction boxes, including the size, shall be shown

and identified on the plans. Junction boxes shall be installed at all locations where more than two conduit runs intersect, where conduit runs are more than 250 feet long, where shown on City Standard Drawings, at critical angle points, at property lines at the end of the required conduit run to the property line, and at such locations ordered by the City Engineer.

I. Conductors – All conductors, including quantity and size, shall be

identified on the plans. Unless otherwise specified, conductors shall be single conductor, solid or stranded copper, sized in accordance with these standards and the National Electrical Code.

1. Both on direct and multiple services, the minimum conductor size

within each light pole shall be No.10. No. 6 conductors shall be used for all other wiring between services, pull/junction boxes, and poles. See City Standard Drawing T3.

2. In a metered multiple service system, the photocell shall be

connected to the service enclosure with three No. 14 conductors.

J. Photocell – A single photocell shall be connected to the service enclosure for metered multiple service systems. For all unmetered systems, a photocell shall be installed on each light.

Photocells shall meet requirements of section 1102, paragraph 2.6 of the

State Standards.

K. Conduit – All conduit runs, including the size, shall be shown on the plans. The minimum conduit size shall be 1”. Conduit shall be PVC per ISPWC 1102 – 2.5 B.

Conduit shall not contain any wiring system for any other purpose than

street lights.

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New development shall install 1” conduit with one No. 10 stranded pullwire from the last light on each end of the system to the adjacent property line on a stubbed street, where the adjacent property has no existing street light system.

L. Metering – All street light systems to be dedicated to the City shall be

unmetered, with the exception of Historic street lights required for within the Downtown Meridian Redevelopment Area, which shall be metered per Idaho Power requirements. The meter shall be contained in a service pedestal per ACHD Standard Drawing TS-1111 and ISPWC 1102, 2.16.

M. Installation of Non-Standard Street Lights –

1. Where standard Type 2 Shoebox lights are required, the City may approve the use of non-standard street lights (e.g. decorative street lights not specified in the City Standards) with a written agreement between the City and Developer, releasing the City from maintenance responsibility. The City will accept responsibility for the energy costs of these street lights. A sample agreement can be obtained from the Public Works Department.

2. When the use of non-standard street lights is approved by the City,

the developer shall be required to submit design calculations for the pole spacing including photometric calculations and plots showing the design meets the minimum light levels and other criteria of these Improvement Standards. The City reserves the right to deny use of specific light pole models.

3. Regardless of the type of decorative light used, the base and wiring

installation must be per City and State Standards. 6-8 DESIGN OF LAYOUT: The design of the street light layout for a development

is the determination of the street light locations between control points. Control points are proposed street light locations at street intersections in accordance with Section 6-7, Improvement Standard Drawings 6C, 6D, and 6E, and existing street lights. The purpose of the layout process is to establish an overall uniform street light system meeting minimum requirements. The layout process takes into account lighting on both sides of a street for local and collector roads. The design procedure for the street light layout is as follows:

A. Identify the nearest intersections each way from the street light locations

being planned. Determine the location of the street lights at the intersections in conformance with Section 6-7 above.

B. Identify any existing street lights situated between the intersections.

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C. Determine the distance between the adjacent designed intersection street lights and/or adjacent existing street lights, whichever are nearest to the street lights being planned.

D. Divide the distance into equal spaces between lights not to exceed the

maximum spacing requirements specified in Section 6-7 above.

E. Compare the light locations to intersecting property lines, driveways, micropaths/pathways, and other obstructions as follows:

1. If the location falls close to a property line and it can be adjusted to

the property line within the maximum spacing allowed, then the adjustment should be made.

2. Generally, street lights should be situated at intersecting property

lines for residential lots and parcels with minimal frontage (75 feet or less). The light spacing may have to be unbalanced, with additional lights being added, to attain this and still comply with the maximum spacing allowed.

3. Street light locations shall be adjusted to miss driveways, existing

utility poles, trees, and other obstructions by the clearances shown in Improvement Standard Drawing 6G.

F. Where street light pole installations cannot be reasonably accommodated

due to existing utility-owned poles with overhead electric power lines, the serving utility company should be contacted to determine if street lights can be installed on the poles.

G. Street light locations on local and collector streets with existing street

lights on the opposite side of the street, when possible, should be adjusted to obtain a more uniform light distribution.

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