https://tiny.cc/newton-ped-lighting
Short URL: https://tiny.cc/newton-ped-lighting
The Transportation Advisory Group became acutely aware of the importance of street lighting after noting spikes in motor vehicle-pedestrian crashes after the end of daylight saving time in November 2015, which has continued through March 2016. At the time, Newton Police noted the number of cited motorists who claimed not to have seen the pedestrians they hit, and also suggested that Newton street lighting seemed dimmer than other communities. This document is a quantitative and qualitative analysis of this issue.
UPDATE: Since these measurements were completed in 2016, Newton has adopted A Street Design Guide with lighting standards. Several locations (such as near Franklin School) have had additional lights installed. Walnut Street and West Newton Square reconstruction projects (construction 2020-2021) include enhanced lighting plans. In general, however, these observations and the need for improved lighting in Newton remain broadly valid.