Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele announced today that the street lights along Lincoln Memorial Drive will be upgraded from high-pressure sodium bulbs to LEDs.
The upgrade will be covered by the Innovation Fund that Abele put in the 2014 budget and was approved by the Milwaukee County Board. The Parks Department will upgrade 350 light poles along Lincoln Memorial Drive.
The move is expected to reduce electricity usage along Lincoln Memorial Drive by 50 percent and save more than $14,000 per year. Upgrading the lights will also significantly reduce staff time that is spent maintaining the current lights, Abele said.
“Since taking office we’ve been making big changes across the county to become more sustainable and efficient. This project and the entire Innovation Program highlights that progress,” Abele said. “By moving to LED lighting we save significant tax dollars every year, use less energy and improve the lighting along our beautiful lakefront.”
Abele’s $4 million Innovation Fund uses land sale revenue, not tax dollars. All projects that receive funding must prove they will make the county more efficient and save money in the long run.
