Urban Street Light Standards

Resolution Category Provincial Scope 12
Subject Infrastructure
Year 2016
Status Defeated
Sponsor - Mover
Olds, Town of
Active Clauses

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association urge the Province of Alberta to allow consolidation of specifications and design standards as it pertains to local municipalities for Roadway Lighting Systems for local, collector, arterial, and highway networks.

Whereas Clauses

WHEREAS Alberta highways are under provincial jurisdiction, regulated and maintained by Alberta Transportation through the Highways Development and Protection Act;

WHEREAS Alberta Transportation utilizes the Canadian Electrical Code System (CEC) for highway lighting and has established lighting standards (Highway Lighting Guide, August 2003) for all roadways under the control of Alberta Transportation;

WHEREAS Alberta Wire Service Providers maintain ownership of the provincial electrical system and follow the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) standards;

WHEREAS Alberta Transportation recommends that municipalities utilize the services of a qualified roadway lighting designer for specific projects, as the Lighting Guide was specifically developed for rural highways in Alberta;

WHEREAS the differences in roadway lighting standards between public and private entities creates inefficiencies and should be consistent with the same standardization of lighting within the rest of the community.

Resolution Background

Alberta Transportation guidelines are set for the design, placement, construction and maintenance of roadway lighting on provincial highways. These standards are used for all roadways under the control of Alberta Transportation, including those roads and highways passing through urban areas. The standards have been developed specifically for rural highways in Alberta. Municipalities formulate their own roadway lighting guidelines and utilize the services of a qualified roadway lighting designer for their planning and lighting projects.

Regardless of the warranting by Alberta Transportation for illumination, municipalities may finance the installation of street lighting and apply to Alberta Transportation for lighting specified situations within municipal boundaries regulated by Alberta Transportation.

Recent Community Redevelopment Plans and Economic Development Community Growth have created frustration in lighting of roadway systems, service provider standards, luminance standards, capital investment responsibility, and energy consumption and reducing opportunities. Current regulations in use by Alberta Transportation deem roadway lighting components are designed in accordance with the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC). All new infrastructure must comply with CEC. All wiring from the utility meter location to the luminaire must adhere to CEC code regulations for cables, wires and conduits. This includes the provision in the design for an electrical disconnect and meter, to properly delineate ownership of the electrical system between Alberta Transportation and the local Wire Service Provider.

The lighting infrastructure within municipalities is installed largely by electric utilities and is comprised almost entirely of a different standard than CEC. Local Wire Services providers are designed in accordance with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA).

These are currently not openly approved for use for roadway lighting applications under CEC without special requests for approval. The two different standards within the municipalities for Alberta Transportation roadways versus municipal roadways cause unnecessary delay in future construction of street lights and ownership.

This process causes delays and confusion. Working with local Wire Service Providers, municipalities can provide a reasonable standardization that utilizes developing technology in Roadway Lighting Systems consistent throughout a community.