"Consideration and ACTION to approve the expenditure of $99,365.00 with Spring City Electrical Mfg. Co. to procure the "arm extension" to be installed in the new downtown street light poles for the Downtown Light Pole Project, as budgeted. (Engineering & Public Works Department)" Agenda item for tonight's City of Brownsville Commission meeting
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Source: Brownsville Herald
It was earlier this year that the City of Brownsville administration announced that SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk was donating $10 million for downtown renovation in the form of grants, and the plans included a project to replace downtown Brownsville's old pedestrian street lamps with new, more energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures.
The $855,000 initially entailed a pilot project where 15 new lights and poles along East Elizabeth and Washington streets downtown were replaced first. The planning was for the work to begin late last year and completed in time for Charro Days, when the billionaire would ride on a float and under the glow of his gift to the city.
As a result, the foundation added a few more dollars to the original $855,000 amount, and the city administrators were hoping against hope that Musk would foot the bill for the three-foot extension at about $1,500 a crack. The foundation has already covered one cost overrun, and the city is hoping that will be the case again, City Engineer Doroteo Garcia Jr. said.
Well, apparently Musk didn't bite and it ain't gonna to happen.
Tonight, the city commission will be asked to fork out an additional $99,365 so that the manufacturer can outfit the 164 light poles and lights with the extension and prevent the continued collision by delivery trucks and the cowl of the LED lights.
Unlike the old design, the new LED lights overhang the street, which makes them vulnerable if the pole is of insufficient height.
"We are having an issue in the areas where we have delivery trucks," said Garcia said. "They have hit... the (light) skirt, or the guard basically."
No one thought it would be an issue since most trucks make their deliveries in the alleys, despite the obvious exceptions, he said.
"Where we have city bus stops we've turned the lights away so they're hanging over the sidewalk instead of the street," Garcia said. "We did that where we knew we were going to have an issue with the buses. With the other ones, we didn't anticipate delivery trucks."
The city has already talked to the supplier about how to fix the problem, he said
The city will install the extensions on every new pole for the sake of uniformity. The vendor is also sending 10 replacement shields and five new crystals free of charge, though the city will have to pay for the extensions, which may cost in the neighborhood of $1,500 a piece, Garcia said.
Another issue was the discovery that that dozens of bases in the other locations actually needed repairs.
"We've had to repair the anchor bolts, the bolts that hold the light fixture down," he said. "We were able to salvage all of the concrete bases so far."
Unlike the old design, the new LED lights overhang the street, which makes them vulnerable if the pole is of insufficient height.
No one thought it would be an issue since most trucks make their deliveries in the alleys, despite the obvious exceptions, he said.
"Where we have city bus stops we've turned the lights away so they're hanging over the sidewalk instead of the street," Garcia said. "We did that where we knew we were going to have an issue with the buses. With the other ones, we didn't anticipate delivery trucks."
The city has already talked to the supplier about how to fix the problem, he said
The city will install the extensions on every new pole for the sake of uniformity. The vendor is also sending 10 replacement shields and five new crystals free of charge, though the city will have to pay for the extensions, which may cost in the neighborhood of $1,500 a piece, Garcia said.
Another issue was the discovery that that dozens of bases in the other locations actually needed repairs.
"We've had to repair the anchor bolts, the bolts that hold the light fixture down," he said. "We were able to salvage all of the concrete bases so far."
16 comments:
Brownsville slogan - Used & Abused
otra vez?
Pos, si, Ama. Es que no hay animo verdadero. Solo para robar y chingar.
Dr. Oz Throws Trump Under Bus, Says He Would Have Certified Biden's Election
“I would not have objected to it. By the time the delegates & those reports were sent to the U.S. Senate, our job was to approve it, which is what I would have done,” Oz said.
(Oz is a Republican candidate for a US Senate seat from Pennsylvania)
There are subdivisions in Brownsville that don't have lights. But the downtown cantinas/watering holes deadbeats areas will get million dollar light system. Even the Brownsville ghost bike and hike trails have more lights for no one to use. Waste of money but COB is plain and stupid in everything they for themselves.
If you want to renovate downtown Brownsville have it bulldozed. Just make sure that when it’s being bulldozed Trey Mendez and his clonies are tied to the lampposts. Than use what’s left over of the 10 million to rebuild.
Tres La Rata
Pura pinche rata de dos patas en Brownsville politics.
Garcia, you thought lights size was not an issue since trucks make delivery in alley.
How do you think the trucks are going to get to the alley? I see your confusion the streets look like alley.
Yes, light bases already needing replacement.
Why?
You placed the base 5 inches from the curb. Of course the cars are going to touch them softly. Beyond repair. I know!!!
You are amazing, something that was "free" sure has a lot of problems.
Light shield damage, all light poles need extension, bases damage and need repair,
Repair anchor bolts, what the hell? Were the bolts placed in already damage?
And don't forget to tell us the cost of the freight both ways.
That light company knows city of Brownsville is operated by clumsy,lazy management.
Did dirty pizza tray get his family Eddie Lucios to build bus shelter's.
The leadership in Brownsville is full of fucking idiots. Morons.
Lo dado y chafas sale caro and at the expense of the poor tax payer specially here in the poorest city in the country. Busquen al mamon y cobrale o le tienen miedo...
The worst street in brownsville: Old Alice Rd from el ultimo taco to 802 hwYS.
PINCHES POLITICOS NO TIENEN VERGUENZA DRIVE DOWN THIS STREET PINCHES PENDEJOS AND THIS IS ONLY ONLY ONE STREET OF MAYBE `1000'S THAT ARE SIMILAR IN THIS PINCHE PUEBLO DE IDIOTAS POLITICOS....
FIX THE DAM STREETS
FIX THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS
FIX THE POTHOLES
FIX THE FLOODING
FIX AIRLESS PORT
FIX YOUR BRAINS TO DO YOUR JOB
What engineering work did Doroteo do to fuck this up?
September 7, 2022 at 12:52 PM
nada!
September 7, 2022 at 12:52 PM
Ese pendejo was standing on the sidewalk scratching his ass and smelling his fingers das al he diit
Just bring back the old light poles. We had them for many years and never had these problems.plus they looked better than these ugly ones. Would've probably been cheaper to just transform the old ones into LED.
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