Street lighting is being changed in Kansas City from mercury vapour to high pressure sodium sources. Two pilot projects were performed; overall goals were to: determine which sources and equipment types are most appropriate regarding maintenance and visibility; provide street lighting closely meeting nationally recognised light level criteria; modify existing lighting system to provide better visual information for drivers and pedestrians; provide comfortable and well defined environment night and day; design street lighting of good visibility at low overall equipment cost; provide low overall energy use equipment. The pilot projects are described in detail. Addition of pedestrian luminaries to existing wooden lighting posts offered an inexpensive retrofit solution in neighbourhoods. Light source colour options are provided by high pressure sodium and metal halide lanterns. Street lighting operation often accounts for significant proportion of municipalities' annual budgets and choices are often based on economics rather on lighting quality. These projects have shown that pilot studies can be an important tool for decision makers, law enforcement agencies and residents.
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