Following a lawsuit and subsequent pressure from Lakewood officials – particularly from Mayor Miller and Committeeman Lichtenstein – Jersey Central Power & Light is taking light outages very seriously.
Over the past few weeks, you may have noticed more of the JCP&L trucks around town, and that’s because they’re in the process of changing hundreds of bulbs, and adding many new structures in the darker areas in Lakewood.
The Township in the recent months has submitted requests for the placement of hundreds of lights in an effort to increase pedestrian safety.
“Lakewood has a very large pedestrian population,” says Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein. “There are people walking all the time. including before dawn and even more so after dusk.”
Committeeman Lichtenstein, a veteran Hatzolah member, has seen first hand the outcome of dark roads. Over the past several months, there have been multiple pedestrians struck by vehicles on roads which had inadequate lighting.
“We will continue to press for more adequate street lighting to ensure our residents’ safety,” says Lichtenstein.
The efforts to get JCP&L to place more focus on Lakewood included withheld payment – initiated by Committeeman Lichtenstein – as well a lawsuit, initiated by Mayor Miller. The efforts resulted in an open line of communication between Township officials and JCP&L.
The locations currently being improved are based mostly on information gathered from residents who submitted the information to the Township. Once a the information is submitted, the Township forwards it to the electric company, which then sends out foremen to confirm the issue prior to putting in a work order. The process can take up to several months.
Committeeman Lichtenstein however intends to ensure the project continues, and the needs of the fast-growing community are further met.
“This will be an ongoing top priority for us,” says Lichtenstein. [TLS]
Oak off the Nine can use more lighting!
thank you Mayor Lichtenstein for arranging light on harvard street near railroad tracks
its greatly appreciated
Coral Ave as well as the entire Albert area can use more lighting! (and sidewalks!!)
lets all complain about JCPL when the township cannot plow and salt their own streets.
Maybe if lakewood leads by example JCPL will follow?
Granted, many pedestrians in this town are covered in black from head to toe, there is still no excuse to have limited lighting. However, pedestrians may want to consider the fact that when wearing black shoes, black socks, black pants, black coats, black scarves and black hats (have black hair), they’re practically invisible to motorists.
Who do you speak to? 14th Street and the side streets really need more lights, its dangerous there.
Maybe thats why they don’t blow so that the people dressed in black can be visable againts the white snow
Albert area especially all the side streets can really use lighting please…..
Thanks! County line area from squankum until somerset can use lighting – major! Thank you! Bravo mayor !!
All of raintree could use more lights. The distance between lights is so far there are dark patches inbetween. One has to wonder what they were thinking when they designed it.
Why do people always complain when things are not the way they lije it do u ever say thank u when the help us out
Thank you Mayor M Miller and Mayor Lichtenstein and all the other hard working township people
Keep it up
The town has to pay for each street light and the electric it uses. Expect your taxes to go up.
How about adding some on the older streets? Theyre the ones that tend to have fewer street lights.
Tent city needs lighting
Thank you “11. stop building lkwd” for complaining about complainers. Always count on someone out there to take a moral high highground and admonish the rest of us.
Yes, thanks to all. Yes, keep building Lakewood. Yes, I’m happy to see my tax dollars at work. Yes, I would have liked better snow clearing after the big storm, so that 5 days later some fellow cruising on unplowed block of ice didn’t knock down my mailbox…oops, that’s complaining.
Everyone on TLS – Happy Wednesday!!
Central av. Between harrison and regent is very dimly lit . There are near miss accidents there on a daily basis.
Miller rd and all tht area needs more lighting thanks mayor miller &. Meir Lichtenstein
May now with all the new lighting, the town cant have any excuse for not plowing because they dont see the roads covered with snow. Its a win win situation.
Maybe if they put up enough new lights, the heat from the lights will melt the snow… that could happen
about time how many people need to end up at best in a cast/rehab before the township decided to take this issue seriously
How about everyone walking on the sidewalks and not running in front of cars like squirrels then we can start TAKING DOWN some lights.
I’m grateful to the committeemen for finally dealing with this important, but long ignored, safety issue. It is for dealing with this type of issue that we vote our fellow citizens into local government. It’s a real shame that we had to live with dark streets till now. Hopefully, the future will remain much brighter.
Incidentally, can we request that JCP&L use the new energy saving LED bulbs? Those bulbs will be far cheaper to keep lit and will significantly lower the town’s electric bill.
Anthony Court is in need of additional street lights
Why do the people in Lakewood walk in the roads where there are sidewalks available? I cant begin to count how many people I have almost hit because they are walking in the road. I do not want street lights added in my neighborhood because people do not want to use the sidewalks.
ridge ave. can really use more lighting but thanks keep up your good work
Led bulbs will save money but you will sacrifice on illumination.
It’s about time
Kennedy between squankum and Princeton desperately needs more lights.
CountyLine rd e & w has numerous lights out intermitant or totally
LED last longer & take very little electric.
I’ve seen strong ones at Dr’s office.
To # 26 and # 22,
There is technology available today for VERY energy efficient and VERY bright LED bulbs – without noticeably sacrificing on illumination. The bulbs do cost more to purchase but cost a lot less in the long run.
Hearthstone Area very dark. Thanks.
People walk on the roads because the sidewalks don’t have enough room for two people to walk side by side. By making wider sidewalks you ccould take care of that problem also.
The new lighting in place allows me to see all the ice so I don’t slip! A win – win for all! The township can hold on to their salt.
If u have some extra lights…. My driveway could use one or two 🙂
Sooner rather than later a driver talking on a cell phone will hit a pedestrian talking on a cell phone causing standbyers to text LCWS furiously resulting in massive thumb trauma which will then need rapid Hatzolah response
lakewood is getting out of hand, can not hold this many people nor can the earth
global warming is a fact. running out of space.
Poor route 9
taxes pay for all the lights, do not complain about your taxes….
Miller Rd between Central and New Central can use more lighting