Town Council took action to light up the intersection of Saguaro Boulevard and Avenue of the Fountains.

The council Feb. 5 approved an addition of up to $100,000 to the Saguaro Boulevard improvement project that will add intersection lighting.

Council told staff to go ahead and get the infrastructure added to the project, but stopped short of approving a fixture style for the lighting.

Staff had proceeded with research after Councilwoman Cassie Hansen commented that improved lighting for pedestrian safety is needed at the intersection.

“I appreciate how quickly you got back to us with this information,” Hansen told staff.

Development Services Director Paul Mood and Kimley-Horn, the engineering consultant on the Saguaro reconstruction, had done the research.

Mood said they contacted 15 manufacturers and found three that would be suitable for the town for the available funding. He said there is a standard for lighting at an intersection.

The project is being engineered to use LED lighting because the electrical system available is inadequate to use lights that would require more power, according to Mood.

The engineers provided estimates for three different fixture types with the least expensive ($55,000) being a very basic down lighted fixture on a straight pole.

The most expensive ($74,000) is a more decorative lantern style with two lamps on each fixture.

Hansen noted that is the style she preferred because it more closely resembles the lights along the Avenue of the Fountains.

“I would not generally support a more costly option, but based on the work we did on the Avenue I think we need to look at (more options),” she said.

The plan calls for lights at six locations around the intersection, one on each of four corners and one each on the medians in the middle of the street.

The council as a whole was not completely sold on any of the proposed fixtures. Mood said he really needs the go ahead to get the underground in, but more time could be spent in selecting the fixtures.

Vice Mayor Cecil Yates made the motion to approve the work, asking staff to do a little more research on the fixtures and what else might be available.

The funding for the lighting would come from the downtown fund (sales tax revenues) and will not add to the Saguaro construction bond cost.