District Of Columbia 2025-2026 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill B26-0140 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER ANITA BONDS
4	4	CHAIRPERSON, COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION AND LABOR
5	5	THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
6	6	1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
7	7	WASHINGTON, DC 20004
8	8
9	9	February 25, 2025
10	10
11	11	Nyasha Smith, Secretary
12	12	Council of the District of Columbia
13	13	1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
14	14	Washington, DC 20004
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17	17	Dear Secretary Smith,
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19	19	Today, I am introducing the “Lighting Intentionally Guides and Halts Transgressions in DC
20	20	(LIGHT DC) Amendment Act of 2025”, along with Councilmembers Brooke Pinto, Janeese
21	21	Lewis George, Robert White, and Zachary Parker. Please find enclosed a signed copy of the
22	22	legislation amending Title 50 of the District of Columbia Official Code to require the Mayor to
23	23	install and maintain lighting on all designated pedestrian crosswalks and bicycle trails in parks
24	24	and forested areas.
25	25	This legislation addresses two needs for the District: 1) brighten our pedestrian crosswalks and
26	26	bicycle trails in parks and forested areas; and 2) improve public safety by illuminating dark
27	27	areas. According to VisionZero DC, between 2017 and 2021, 58 pedestrians have died on
28	28	District roadways, which represents 36% of all traffic fatalities. During that same period, 2,159
29	29	pedestrians were injured, which represents 16.9% of all injuries. On average, 46% of all
30	30	pedestrian crashes result in an injury each year.
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32	32	Pedestrians in the D.C. area are now twice as
33	33	likely to lose their lives as they were a decade ago.
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36	36	Although the District already provides various safety protections, such as crosswalks,
37	37	appropriate speed limits for drivers, signage, crosswalk signs, and encouraging individuals to
38	38	wear reflective clothing, it does not currently have the necessary tool of illuminating our many
39	39	residents who walk around the city to get to and from work, and other social activities. To ensure
40	40	that our communities are safe from preventable injuries and harm, pedestrians and bicyclists
41	41	traveling in those designated areas shall be illuminated and visible.
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44	44	Vision Zero DC: Highway Safety Office https://visionzero.dc.gov/pages/pedestrian-safety.
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46	46	Harden, J.D., Weiner, R. and Hilton, J. (no date) D.C., Va., Md. are getting more dangerous for pedestrians - the
47	47	Washington Post, Washington Post. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-
48	48	va/2025/02/23/pedestrian-deaths-dc-region/ (Accessed: 25 February 2025).
49	49	For example, by adding more lighting around our city and in forested areas, we are improving
50	50	both pedestrian and bicyclist safety and overall public safety by making our communities
51	51	brighter. In a recent study, New York added more lighting in nearly 80 public housing
52	52	developments and the results showed a significant correlation between crime at night and
53	53	outdoor lighting, in which the lighting reduced 39% of so-called “index crimes”—a subset of
54	54	crimes such as murder, robbery, and aggravated assault.
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57	57	Additionally, in the past, D.C. has installed high intensity street lighting that resulted in 54%
58	58	reduction of night crimes over two years.
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60	60	Because
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62	62	we have seen this improvement in years past,
63	63	we should take immediate action to replicate what has been successful in the past and improve
64	64	the safety of District residents and visitors.
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66	66	As many of us recognize that public safety, including traffic and pedestrian safety, are crucial to
67	67	the well-being and security of our society. As such, this legislation will provide a more
68	68	collective approach to address a basic need to illuminate our designated areas and the bigger
69	69	need for improved public safety.
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71	71	Should you have any questions about this legislation, please contact Kevin Chavous at
72	72	kchavous@dccouncil.gov.
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78	78	Thank you,
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80	80	Anita Bonds
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84	84	Buildings. (2018, March 13). Major study finds outdoor lighting cut crime by 39% (updated). Buildings.
85	85	https://www.buildings.com/architecture/article/55254349/major-study-finds-outdoor-lighting-cut-crime-by-39
86	86	4
87	87	U.S. Department of Justice (1974). Lighting Reinforces D.C. (District of Columbia) Crime Fight.
88	88	https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/lighting-reinforces-dc-district-columbia-crime-fight.
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92	92	_______________________________ ________________________________ 2
93	93	Councilmember Brooke Pinto Councilmember Anita Bonds 3
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98	98	_______________________________ ________________________________ 8
99	99	Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 9
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104	104	________________________________ 14
105	105	Councilmember Zachary Parker 15
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112	112	A BILL 22
113	113	______ 23
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115	115	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 25
116	116	_______________ 26
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118	118	To amend Title 50 of the District of Columbia Official Code to require the Mayor to install and 28
119	119	maintain lighting on all designated pedestrian crosswalk and bicycle trails in parks and 29
120	120	forested areas. 30
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122	122	BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF TH E DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 32
123	123	act may be cited as the “Lighting Intentionally Guides and Halts Transgressions in DC (LIGHT 33
124	124	DC) Amendment Act of 2025”. 34
125	125	Sec. 2. The Department of Transportation Establishment Act of 2002, effective May 21, 35
126	126	2002 (D.C. Law 14-137; D.C. Official Code § 50-921.01 et seq.), is amended as follows: 36
127	127	(a) Section 5(a)(2) (D.C. Official Code § 50-921.04) is amended by adding a new 37
128	128	subparagraph (M-i) to read as follows: 38
129	129	“(M-i) Install and maintain high quality lighting in all designated pedestrian 39
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131	131
132	132	crosswalks and bicycle trails in parks and forested areas, which shall be illuminated from dusk to 40
133	133	dawn;” 41
134	134	(b) Section 9(c) (D.C. Official Code § 50-921.20(c)), is amended by striking the phrase 42
135	135	“transportation, including education” and inserting the phrase “transportation, including adding 43
136	136	lighting to all pedestrian crosswalks and bicycle trails in parks and forested areas, education” in 44
137	137	its place. 45
138	138	Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 46
139	139	The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 47
140	140	impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 48
141	141	approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 49
142	142	Sec. 4. Effective date. 50
143	143	This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by 51
144	144	the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of Congressional 52
145	145	review as provided in section 602(c)(l) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved 53
146	146	December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code §1-206.02(c)(l)). 54
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