LED streetlights coming to Cherry in August

Yesterday city councilmember Bruce Harrell announced that the Central District will be getting its first set of LED streetlights on Cherry Street this August.

They'll be placed on the 5-block section of Cherry between 23rd Avenue and MLK.

The councilmember says that it will be the first installation of LED lighting on a major arterial in the city. The new lights last 12 years (vs four for the old sodium lights), and use less energy to run.

Note that the light from LEDs is very different than the old orange sodium lights. Although the city says that 85% of the feedback has been positive, we've spoken to several people who dislike them. You can judge for yourself by taking a nighttime tour to Capitol Hill where you can see them in action. See the map over on Capitol Hill Seattle: http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2009/04/30/map-more-led-st