New street lights approved for downtown Columbia

Downtown Columbia will soon get some new street lights.

On Tuesday, the city council approved the plan to replace six street lights on Broadway, between Waugh and Hitt Streets.

Downtown Community Improvement District director Katie Essing said she hopes it improves public safety.

The poles come with two lights including one close to the sidewalk. The police department said bright lights around the time bars close will help break up lingering crowds and the fights that often come with them. Lt. Eric Hughes said many of their calls for service downtown in 2017 came from the area on Broadway between Tenth Street and Waugh Street.

For more on the project, click here.

The downtown district completed an alleyway lighting project in 2017. Essing said the improved lighting in alleyways improves safety for pedestrians or people trying to get to their apartment through alley entrances.

Water and Light has set aside $295,000 so far to replace all lights in the downtown district.