Illumination brings a sense of safety and well-being to Washington DC trails

The Washington DC Street Smart Street Lighting Project is considered the nation’s largest streetlight modernization P3 project to date. Designed to enhance public safety, improve energy efficiency, and preserve the historic aesthetic of the nation’s capital, this project transformed over 75,000 streetlights into a state-of-the-art, smart-controlled network.  The project was implemented via a P3 contract between the Government of the District of Columbia and developer Plenary Infrastructure DC (PIDC) and was overseen by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).

OPTERRA Energy Services managed the design, procurement, and installation of the large-scale urban lighting upgrade in collaboration with Acuity Brands and other key partners.

The District Department of Transportation required strict lumen-per-watt thresholds, 2700K-3000K color temperatures, 80 CRI, and meeting Dark Sky compliance with less than 10% uplight. And all of this was to be packaged within very specific aesthetic guidelines for each neighborhood, as well as functionality with respect to the controls platform. These requirements pushed the lighting partners, including Cyclone Lighting, to develop customized solutions beyond standard commercial offerings.

Cyclone Orillia luminaires were selected to line the forested Klingle Valley Trail and placed on existing poles. The Victorian-inspired post-top fixture features an ultra-efficient LED optical system that meets the DDOT technical specifications. And its design is consistent with the historical aesthetic of the trail while complying with the Dark Sky requirements.

One of the challenges was finding real estate on the luminaire itself to add a 7-pin receptacle, enabling it to be networked with the City's new lighting control platform. The Cyclone sales and manufacturing teams collaborated with OPTERRA  to modify the luminaire so that the receptacle could be incorporated right into the base of the light.

Rock Creek Trail and the signature Metropolitan Branch Trail both received lighting upgrades with Cyclone’s stylish Domia pendant. Aesthetics were particularly important on these trails, and DDOT wanted a look that did not vary too much from the original. Domia’s classic dome features softened organic curves, so it was considered a comparable – yet enhanced – twist to the original aesthetic.

This phase of the project also came with its own set of challenges. Domia, too, was to be installed on existing posts, but its shepherd’s hook form was at odds with the old design. OPTERRA Energy Services and Cyclone worked together to modify the arm’s shape. There was the additional challenge of where to place the 7-pin receptacle, and it was eventually determined that it could be incorporated onto the top of the pole itself as the new arm and luminaire were being installed.

Feedback from the Washington, DC, community has been overwhelmingly positive.

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Project name: The DC Smart Street Lighting Project

Location: City of Washington, DC, USA

Project completion: May 2024

Specifier: OPTERRA Energy Services

Product: Orillia and Domia luminaires

Photographer: Willis Weese