Detroit Mayor Dave Bing announced a plan today that may help illuminate some of the city's darkest streets and freeways.
The plan aims to fix 3,300 reported burned out lights, broken light posts, or light outages in six months after the creation of a public lighting authority.
But in order to establish the new authority, the state Legislature must approve a bill allowing communities to establish lighting authorities.
Bing says the plan also needs the passage of a utility users' tax and suspension of an income tax rollback.
The mayor says he expects the legislation impacting his plan to be discussed Wednesday in Lansing, when the Legislature reconvenes for one day.
Bing's plan is part of his administration's "Detroit Works Project Short-Term Actions," a series of projects the mayor says will "give Detroiters tangible evidence of our overall strategy to improve their quality of life and redevelop the city."
Other "Short-Term Actions" include improving and restoring public safety and public transportation services.
The plan's total cost would be about $144.5 million, with most paid through bond sales by the authority.
Watch Channel WXYZ 7's investigative look at the city's public lighting problem below.
-Elaine Ezekiel, Michigan Radio Newsroom
