Blog

Port Authority replaces Lincoln Tunnel lighting, touts big energy savings

If the lighting inside the Lincoln Tunnel looks a little different to you, your mind’s not playing tricks on you.

In a move that Port Authority says will save $283,000 in energy costs annually, the bistate agency has replaced the lighting in the tunnel with 2,300 energy-efficient LEDlights.

“Replacing our bridge and tunnel lighting systems with new LED lights makes business sense and benefits the environment by reducing our energy consumption,” Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye said in a statement. “Our investment with the Lincoln Tunnel lighting upgrade is just one example of the myriad of efforts this agency undertakes to attain our sustainability goals.”

The $2.1 million project, which began early this year, consists of 45-watt Lincoln Tunnel LED lights that will reduce electricity use by an estimated 1.2 million kilowatt-hours annually, Port Authority officials said.

The LED lighting, which distributes light more efficiently and requires less energy, has a life expectancy of 15 years compared to 1.4 years for the existing tunnel lighting, officials said when the initiative was first announced.

Port Authority said that they expect a savings of roughly $1.3 million annually with the replacement of the lighting at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the Journal SquarePATH station, the George Washington Bridge and the Holland Tunnel.

The lights at the Holland Tunnel were replaced last year and in 2009, the George Washington Bridge became the first bridge of its kind in the metropolitan region to have a full strand of LED lighting.

“Our agency has a steadfast commitment to make our operations more sustainable and environmentally sound,” Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Deborah Gramiccioni said in a statement. “The Port Authority pursues a broad range of initiatives, such as lighting enhancements at our facilities that will help reduce our energy consumption while ensuring the safety and efficiency of use for our travelers.”

By The Jersey Journal

Start a Project

Contact us to start a project, and get more information.

Let’s get started ⟶