The City of Palm Coast Public Works Traffic Division is working to upgrade and install new solar-powered traffic beacons in local school zones. This project will include 7 new beacons and 1 existing upgrade at the Indian Trails Middle and Belle Terre Elementary, 4 new beacons and 3 upgrades at Buddy Taylor Middle and Wadsworth Elementary and 2 beacon upgrades at Rymfire Elementary.
While providing and maintaining flashing traffic beacons are a requirement for all school zones in the State of Florida in accordance with the Florida Department of Transportation, the new solar devices will not only help with staying in compliance of the law, but also offer more feasible functionality.
“With the installation of these new solar traffic beacons, we are now able to control most of the functions and receive real-time status updates remotely which helps us not only from a convenience standpoint but also with maintenance as we won’t have to visit each beacon as frequently,” said Matthieu Johnson, Traffic Signal Technician Lead for the City of Palm Coast. “These beacons aid in keeping our motorists, pedestrians and students safe and any way that we can provide a more efficient manner of doing that is something we see as a win-win for the community.”
Work on the project is slated to be completed in the coming weeks. By completing the project entirely in-house through the traffic division, the city is expected to save over $120,000 in the process. Upon completion, all school zones within Palm Coast City Limits will be in compliance with state law requirements. View a video update on this project here: https://youtu.be/BewgkHIwhCg
For updates on this project and all other projects in the City of Palm Coast, visit PalmCoast.Gov/capitalprojects
Deborah Coffey says
Good idea! Are we allowed to love science and say “climate change” now in Florida?
Joe D says
Great idea!
Solar powered systems are making leaps and bounds improvements in the last few years, collecting cells able to collect MORE energy than older generation solar cells, with improved LED lighting which ( just like LED bulbs for your home) require just a fraction of the power required by old incandescent bulbs, but generate just as many LUMINS ( the measure of light “brightness”). All this at a rapidly reducing cost!
And not mentioning the savings to the environment by not having to produce fossil fuel electricity to light them (even the staunchest “anti climate change” citizen should appreciate the savings projected of $120,000 in maintenance by switching to this system).
Hopefully, as the technology improves (helped quite a bit by the FEDERAL Infrastructure investments in GREEN ENERGY development), we might see more replacements of road lighting, sign lights, and street lights running on solar power.
Unfortunately, the technology for those high power lighting needs are CURRENTLY too expensive for switching over electric grid community lighting….but it’s COMING.
And due to Florida ( the SUNSHINE State), we are in a better position to use the “free” solar energy around our sub-tropical state, than other more northern areas.
I even switched over to a solar “generator” instead of propane or gasoline to power essential household appliances (currently just the freezer and refrigerator) in the event of an extended power outage ( think Fort Myers post hurricane). As I can afford it (currently more expensive upfront than a gas or propane generators), I plan on expanding the system with more battery storage to bridge even SEVERAL days of cloudy sky’s. This particular company (ECOFLOW) has recently released a whole house system than can run 220 volt ( think washer/dryer, electric stove, whole house A/C) appliances off movable batteries, but a full house solar back up system is out of my budget. However the cost of my original battery system to keep the freezer and refrigerator running has now dropped by 1/2 price in just 4 years from what I paid for it. Luckily, I don’t have to trash the older system if I expand the system. It’s designed so you can “add on” as needed.
Fernando Melendez says
This is in lockstep with our population growth and definitely necessary to our growing safety needs in and around all our School entry roads.
Tony Mack says
“One small step for man…” I swear to DOG, we live in the Sunshine State, for Pete’s sake! We should be exploring ways of using solar to generate electricity throughout the state. Oh, wait — got to pay off the Tallahassee Taliban first., says FPL. Oh well, maybe water power? Wave Power? Wind power? Nah — Drill, baby Drill!