COQUITLAM, B.C., October 31, 2023 – The City of Coquitlam is celebrating a milestone in its commitment to sustainable technological innovation with the successful completion of its LED Street Light Conversion Program.
City staff updated Council yesterday on the extensive initiative that launched in 2008. Since then, the program has seen the conversion of 9,800 City-owned streetlights to energy-efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) luminaires, resulting in a 54 per cent reduction in energy use. This achievement aligns with goals set out in the City’s current Environmental Sustainability Plan and brings Coquitlam even closer to being carbon neutral by 2050.
Coquitlam also has the proud distinction of being among the first cities in Metro Vancouver to have achieved a complete conversion to LED street lights.
Light Updates One Part of Coquitlam’s Enhanced Transportation Infrastructure
In addition to reducing energy use, the LED street lights will bring a number of safety benefits, including improved visibility, reduced light pollution and a more efficient roadway lighting system.
The lights are just one piece of planned updates to Coquitlam’s infrastructure in support of an updated Strategic Transportation Plan as the City continues to move towards an intelligent and innovative transportation system. This include the integrated use of sensors, devices and communications technologies, and will enable the City to analyze, manage and operate the transportation network in a way that's safe, smart and coordinated.
Future initiatives identified by the City are aimed at continued advancement of intelligent transportation systems in Coquitlam, and include:
- Adaptive traffic signal control: Using existing signal equipment to modify the traffic signal timing to best suit the current traffic volumes in real time, allowing traffic in all modes to move in a more efficient and safe manner.
- Rail crossing information system: The installation of specialized sensors at the railway crossing on Westwood Street, between Dewdney Trunk Road and Lougheed Highway, allowing real-time information so drivers can avoid the area during an active train crossing.
- Connected vehicle communications: The installation of Bluetooth receivers and transmitters on Lougheed Highway/Westwood Street, Barnet Highway/Pinetree Way, and Como Lake Avenue/Chilko Drive to collect data that will help improve traffic safety, combat congestion and alert drivers to potential hazards.
- Smart Light traffic sensors: Smart Lights are streetlights equipped with specialty sensors that allow the collection of real-time data to assist how the City manages, maintains and operates the transportation network. Data collected would include weather, road conditions, vehicle speeds and vehicle volumes.
Coquitlam’s Environmental Sustainability Plan
In January 2022 Coquitlam finalized an Environmental Sustainability Plan that guides the City’s decisions and ensures the long-term resiliency and sustainability of the community. The Plan is organized into five themes: Climate Action, Built Environment, Waste Management, Water Management and Natural Areas, Wildlife and Habitat.
In the first year of implementation, Coquitlam achieved significant progress with a focus on the “Top 10” priority actions for 2022, which were deemed critical to the City’s environmental goals. Out of the 135 actions identified in the Environmental Sustainability Plan, 98 (72%) are underway, with 11 (8%) already completed by the end of 2022.
Learn more at coquitlam.ca/EnviroPlan.
Media contact:
Douglas McLeod, P.Eng.
Director, Transportation
epw@coquitlam.ca
604-927-3500
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.