Why are los angeles freeways dark??????? (San Jose, Sacramento: city hall, neighborhood, salaries)

[timtemtym]

Moving from Houston where we had super lit freeways and roadways, it was one of the first things I noticed here! It actually gets dark at night and I can see a few stars from my place in Long Beach. Houston always had this orange glow over the city at night. They way overuse superlights on streets, parking lots, etc...

I do not miss the orange glowing night sky.

[GatsbyGatz]

Traffic is 24/7. LA is always lit up with lights.

[Mashi]

Why waste money building lights and powering them when all cars come with headlights? And why would people want to live in a permanent orange glow when they can have normal day/night cycles? The reasons against super-lit highways are many.

[Howest2008]

Originally Posted by blksophisticado

I have been living in Los Angeles for about seven years now. Born originally in Michigan and having lived in places like New York City, Baltimore, Honolulu, Miami, Orlando I have seen my share of cities not to mention all the places I ahve traveled to. But I am curious to know why Los Angeles doesn't have well light freeways. Being a fanatic of urban planning and architecture I tend to observe things like freeway lamp poles, highway design etc and I am curious to know whats the deal with L.A. freeways. A friend of mine recently came to visit me from New York and the first thing he said was "Why is the city so dark." Although L.A. has a freeway system much larger and superior to those of most other cities there arent very many lights. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NEVER LEFT THE CITY OF L.A. you will see a dramatic difference if you go back east. Normally when you enter the official city limits of any major urban area in the U.S. you began to see continous freeway lights the start at the city line and run all the way through to the other end. FOR INSTANCE: If you go to vegas once you come down the hill on I -15 and approach the 215 Loop you see huge light poles continously down the center of the freeway all the way until you leave the city of vegas. Same thing in Phoenix. El Paso Texas as well. In Detroit one you past 12 mile road on I 75 heading south into Detroit there is a continous strand of lights down the center of the freeway. In L.A. however, the lights are very few.

Examples:
405 freeway. between LAX and I 10.
lights are in patches only around exit ramps. Once away from exit ramps its dark.
101 freeway in San Fernando Valley.
Particularly in the west valley the highway is pitch black.

10 freeway between 110 and 405. Lights mainly at exit ramps.
Most areas dark.

I'm wondering is the just an intentional design aimed at not diminishing the glow of the moutains at night or is it just a budget crisis.

I have never been in any U.S. city so dark. Normally one you enter the city limits you see a continous strand of street lamps and well illuminated freeway.

Thoughts Please.

BY THE WAY, SAN DIEGO IS THE SAME.

So what are you saying that Los Angeles doesn't have money for " freeway lights " only (2) cities in the world have more money than LA (GDP) Tokyo and New York City.

[Jews for Jesus]

Noticed the same thing, but it's not that bad. However, LA needs to replace their overhead outdated street signs....

[kyle242]

I noticed the same thing in Northern California at Bay Area and on off-highways on streets, orange light poles are upgraded to white LED lights that are as bright but don't have this ugly glowing orange effect.

[starstruckdiva]

Because unlike what you might think. California's priorities are out of order. They are BASSACKWARDS. If they light the freeways then you would see the vast number of homeless people who live underneath the freeways. Seriously, just try the 10 freeway and National for starters. The entire Los Angeles area is covered with poor people who struggle everyday and many of them live on street. L.A. has no real money to put into these infrastructural items where taxpayers pay a lot of money. They pay those who lead the city FAR too much money. NOthing gets done.

They paid millions for Michael Jacksons Funeral instead of getting alarms, lighting, and trying to put those homeless people to work or at least get them off the streets. The wealthy come to L.A. and take over raise prices of nasty looking apartments, hotels, and other housing. Many people live 15 in one home which they like to call, SHARED HOUSING. I'm surprised that's all you see is BAD lighting. I can give you a list of 100 items.

[bpeeps]

Originally Posted by starstruckdiva

Because unlike what you might think. California's priorities are out of order. They are BASSACKWARDS. If they light the freeways then you would see the vast number of homeless people who live underneath the freeways. Seriously, just try the 10 freeway and National for starters. The entire Los Angeles area is covered with poor people who struggle everyday and many of them live on street. L.A. has no real money to put into these infrastructural items where taxpayers pay a lot of money. They pay those who lead the city FAR too much money. NOthing gets done.

They paid millions for Michael Jacksons Funeral instead of getting alarms, lighting, and trying to put those homeless people to work or at least get them off the streets. The wealthy come to L.A. and take over raise prices of nasty looking apartments, hotels, and other housing. Many people live 15 in one home which they like to call, SHARED HOUSING. I'm surprised that's all you see is BAD lighting. I can give you a list of 100 items.

You're a bit much.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by bpeeps

You're a bit much.

Ditto. Hey, if you don't like the lights then bring your own. Or if you're not willing, we have plenty of people in line behind you.

[kyle242]

Folks, this conversation is getting us nowhere! Anybody has been outside California to any western state where it doesn't snow? Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona? What about big cities and suburbs in those areas? They can afford to install reflector lines on most roads and highways which helps with visibility at night instead of light poles. Few posts mentioned that Las Vegas and Phoenix have overhead lighting.