Spencerport's downtown area along Route 259 has been enhanced with new street lights. Shown above, with Mayor Ted Walker (left) are some who served on the project committee: Jack Linder, Ted Rauber, Terry Russell, Sue Howarth, George Fellows, Steve Russell.

Spencerport extends
unique street lamp project

The Village of Spencerport has completed the Union Street Lighting Project, which involves replacing the streetlights from the canal bridge to the old railroad bridge on the south side of the business district. The lights on Amity Street, East Avenue, those near the post office and in village parking lots have also been replaced. Besides replacing more than 30 poles, the $60,000 project will also include repairing the cracked and missing pavers surrounding the poles. The project was started early in the spring of 2001.

According to Village Board Chairman Steve Russell, the project was necessary because the previous lighting fixtures were over 20 years old; and replacement parts are no longer made for them. In addition, the foundations of the poles were unstable. The new lights are part of a larger project to revitalize and improve the appearance of the business district, as well as to enhance the use of the area for nighttime activity. The hope is to promote security by lighting from store front to store front and to create a pleasant ambiance and an inviting environment. The long-term objective is to extend the lights to the Route 31 intersection of Union Street.

A committee of residents and merchants researched the various types of lights available and settled on a Cooper fixture with a Classical Streetworks design and a tapered Washington style fiberglass ornamental pole from W.J. Whatley Inc. Fiberglass was chosen because it is resistant to corrosion especially of wintertime salt and also tends not to fade in sunlight. In choosing the fixtures, the committee members tried to choose those that would complement the site architecture. The lights were purchased from F.J. Lang Sales, Inc.

Committee members include zoning board member George Fellows; village residents Pat Hamann and Sue Howarth; Village Electric Superintendent Jack Linder; Chamber of Commerce member Joyce Lobene and Village Board Chairman Steve Russell and his wife, Terry. Contributors include Gary Inzana of Village Square Management and Developers, David Ritchie of the Family Hardware, Linda Rauber of Spencerport Insurance, Al Scheg, Village Administrator, Tom West, Village DPW Superintendent and Village Board Members Ted Rauber, Ted Walker, Tim Peer and Glenn Granger.