H-3.

11

STREETLIGHTS

GENERAL
1. Description
This standard identifies minimum requirements that shall be met for Streetlights in the
design and construction of elements for Arlington County Horizontal Design Standards.
The development of this standard is to provide greater guidance in the design and
construction of streetlights while meeting the Countys guiding principles for increasing
pedestrian safety and accessibility, decreasing county infrastructure costs and balancing
the use of the Right-of-Way between all modes of transportation.
2. Related Arlington County Standards
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Arlington County Construction Standards and Specifications

Arlington County Horizontal Standards H-3.7 Crosswalks
Arlington County Horizontal Standards H-3.10 Sidewalks
Arlington County Master Transportation Plan Pedestrian Element
Arlington County Master Transportation Plan Streets Element
Arlington County Signal and Street Lighting Standards and Specifications

3. Applicable Standards and Specifications

A. IES Roadway Lighting Guideline RP-8-00
B. AASHTO Roadway Lighting Design Guides
C. Americans with Disabilities Act - Accessibility Guidelines for Building and Facilities
(ADAAG)
D. American with Disabilities Accessibility Guidelines for Public Rights-of-Way
(PROWAG)
4. Quality Assurance
A. Reserved
5. Submittals
A. Design and placement of all streetlights shall be approved by DES Transportation
Engineering and Operations (TE&O) Bureau Chief.

H-3.11

STREETLIGHTS

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
A. Definition & Purpose
Streetlights - Street lighting is a continuous fixed lighting system used for roadways.
Street lighting includes pedestrian and bike lane lighting when it is associated with
the public right-of-way.
The principal purpose of street lighting in the County is to provide visibility at night
for the safety of all roadway users, at the same time maintaining dark sky compliance
through reduced light pollution.
LAYOUT & PLACEMENT
A. Layout
1. Streetlights shall be placed on both sides of the street for all street categories
within the County, except for neighborhood minor streets.
2. On neighborhood minor streets over 36 in width, street lighting should be placed
on both sides of the street.
3. Where only one sidewalk is present, streetlights should be placed on the side of
the street with the sidewalk if feasible.
4. Streetlight spacing shall be determined by the IES / AASHTO minimum lighting
level design requirements. Property lines shall not be used as a basis for
determining streetlight spacing, but strong consideration shall be given to spacing
adjustment when the result can be property line placement.
5. Care should be taken by the designer to ensure that streetlight foundations do not
conflict with underground utilities.
B. Placement
Streetlights shall be placed within the ROW as follows:
1. Streetlights shall be placed in the Landscape & Utilities Zone, with the front edge
of the light placed 1.5 from the face of the curb.
2. If a Landscape & Utility zone is not present and the pedestrian clear zone is less
than 6 in width, streetlights may be placed behind the Pedestrian Clear zone, but
not more than 8 from the face of the curb.
3. If a Landscape & Utility zone is not present and the light cannot be placed behind
the Pedestrian Clear zone, it may be placed within the Pedestrian Clear zone.
When a light is placed within the Pedestrian Clear zone the front edge of the light
shall be located 1.0 to 1.5 from the face of the curb and a pedestrian clear access
route shall be maintained, that is 4 wide and ADA compliant.

H-3.11

STREETLIGHTS

DESIGN
A. Design Criteria
1. Crosswalk lighting requirements
a. At the intersection of all street categories except those that involve 2
neighborhood minor streets, all crosswalks (marked and unmarked) shall have
an average illuminance level of 2.2fc. (foot candle)
b. At the intersection of 2 neighborhood minor streets all crosswalks (marked
and unmarked) shall have an average illuminance level of 0.8 1.4fc.
c. It is recommended that the designer restart the streetlight spacing at each
intersection and ensure at least 2 lights are located diagonally opposite each
other to provide the required illuminance level at the crosswalks.
2. Streetlight Types
a. Carlyle streetlights should be used on all street categories, except as noted
herein and as otherwise approved.
b. Cobra or teardrop streetlights shall be used at signalized intersections.
c. Double globe streetlights are generally used on arterial or neighborhood
principal streets.
d. If double globe streetlights are used, they shall be placed so that the bracket is
parallel to the curb.
3. Street Category Lighting Requirements
a. Arterial Photogrammetric plans shall be required for all arterial street
lighting projects using the following design variables:
i. LLF (Light Loss Factor):
0.95
ii. Avg fc: (min Illuminance level)
1.3 3.0 (dependant on district)
iii. Minimum Uniformity Ratio (ave/min) 4:1
iv. Max/Min
20:1
v. Mounting Height
15.5, 17.5 or 19
vi. Pole Heights
14 or 16
b. Neighborhood Principal - Photogrammetric plans shall be required for all
neighborhood principal street lighting projects using the following design
variables:
i. LLF (Light Loss Factor):
0.95
ii. Avg fc: (min Illuminance level)
0.7 0.9 (Com.) 0.4 0.7 (Res.)
iii. Minimum Uniformity Ratio (ave/min) 4:1
20:1
iv. Max/Min
v. Mounting Height
13.5or 15.5
vi. Pole Heights
12or 14

H-3.11

STREETLIGHTS
c. Neighborhood Minor for simple roadway geometry, Table 1 may be used to
produce a street lighting plan. For neighborhood minor streets with more
complex roadway geometry, photogrammetric plans shall be required for all
street lighting projects using the following design variables:
i. LLF (Light Loss Factor):
0.95
ii. Avg fc: (min Illuminance level)
0.4 0.7
iii. Minimum Uniformity Ratio (ave/min) 6:1
iv. Max/Min
20:1
v. Mounting Height
13.5
vi. Pole Heights
12
d. When only one sidewalk is present and streetlights are placed on the other
side of the street, care should be taken to ensure adequate lighting levels are
achieved on the sidewalk. It is recommended that a minimum illuminance
level of 0.3fc be achieved on sidewalks.
4. All street lighting installed within the County excluding interstate lighting shall
comply with all County street lighting standards and specifications
5. All street lighting shall use County approved LED bulbs and be dark sky
compliant.

Street
Width
(Face of
Curb)

Roadway
Classification

Pole
Arrangement

Recommended
Spacing

Pole
Height

LightsInstalledinLandscape&UtilityZone(min2.5)
Neighborhood
One Side of
2025.9
120
12
2631.9
3236
Over36

Minor
Neighborhood
Minor
Neighborhood
Minor
Neighborhood
Minor

street
One Side of
street
One Side of
street
Both sides Staggered

90

12

80

12

160

12

Each side

LightsInstalledbehindPedestrianClearZoneandmorethan5from
faceofcurb(noLandscape&UtilityZone)
Neighborhood
One Side of
2025.9
90
12
2631.9
3236
Over36

Minor
Neighborhood
Minor
Neighborhood
Minor
Neighborhood
Minor

street
One Side of
street
One Side of
street
Both sides Staggered

80

12

70

12

140
Eachside

12

Table 1 - Arlington County Streetlight Spacing for Neighborhood Streets

H-3.11

STREETLIGHTS
Notes: - The following assumptions have been used to generate the above table
Road geometry
i. Street is straight
ii. Street width is measured face of curb to face of curb
iii. Right angles intersections are present
iv. Pedestrian clear zone width is 5 refer to Arlington County Horizontal Standards
H-3.10 Sidewalks for further information
v. For more complex street geometry, such as the presence of significant
vertical/horizontal curves, skewed intersections or significant obstructions, then
photogrammetric calculations may be required.
The lights are placed 2.25 from the face of the curb.
On conflict situations, the longitudinal spacing can be adjusted to +/-15 of the
spacing above.

B. Materials
1. Carlyle streetlights
a. Brand:
b. Model:
c. Type (Typical Carlyle)
d. Wattage:
2. Cobra streetlight
a. Brand:
b. Model:

c. Type
d. Wattage:

Relume (*.ies file available from TE&O streetlight

engineering section)
UA2(XRE LED) with Sentinel System
LED (48 Total LEDs)
57w

Lumec (*.ies file available from TE&O streetlight

engineering section)
GPLM-180W98LED4K-LE3-120-ARRA-BLCDMG-016-PH8-USA-WB7-NP with
DYNADIMMER (Silver or Black)
LED (98 Total LEDs)
180w

3. Schedule 40 PVC conduit may be used behind the curb. Steel conduit or schedule
80 PVC shall be used under road surfaces and commercial driveways.

H-3.11
DETAILS

STREETLIGHTS

H-3.11

STREETLIGHTS

H-3.11

STREETLIGHTS

H-3.11

STREETLIGHTS