To an Arlington resident's delight, crew members of the Arlington Department of Public Works and Transportation responded to a dark situation near his community.

Alan Rowe, chairman of the architectural control for the Lago Vista Homeowners Association, said he was appreciative of the responsiveness of the Arlington Department of Public Works and Transportation to install a streetlight near his neighborhood, Lago Vista.

"At night there's a curve on Myers Road, just north of Starmont," Rowe said. "There, it was very difficult to see traffic coming southbound."

Rowe said cars coming down Myers travel at about 30 mph.

Rowe said Lago Vista is mainly a community of close-knit retired individuals who participate in activities together, such as having a wine club or going out to eat.

"For the most part, nearly everyone is very upbeat - very happy to spend their time with their neighbors," Rowe said.

Rowe, who said he has worked for Oncor, a utility company, for almost 40 years, decided to inspect the area in question.

"I looked at the situation and noticed a wooden electric utility pole, based on a little personal experience working on it my whole life."

After inspecting the area, Rowe concluded that if the City could install a light in that area, it would help the situation.

Rowe said other residents were also worried.

He said after a general meeting, many residents expressed concern about safety and traffic.

"To call the city, I think at first I called the citizen action line, and I think they directed me to a department who then put me in contact with Micheal Aranas," Rowe said.

"I told Aranas about the residents' security issues, such as people coming after hours," he said. "I also told him about the traffic safety concern. I had looked online and saw that there was a form to request a new streetlight. I needed to get 80 percent of the residents to sign the form."

Rowe said as he talked to Aranas on the phone, Aranas viewed a map of the area.

He said Aranas concluded the situation needed to be addressed.

Aranas said, "We'd have that up in a couple of weeks,'" Rowe said."The following week, I saw the truck up there and the guys were putting up the light."

Jorge Delgado was one of the streetlight specialist who installed the light.

"The curve was between two lights so we installed the light, which benefited the area," Delgado said. "It lit up the road so whoever is going north and south can see the subdivision as they drive around the curb."

Rowe said after the crew men were done, they gave him a call and said the light would be operating that evening.

"I just couldn't believe it," Rowe said.

Micheal Aranas, streetlight systems administrator for the City's Department of Public Works and Transportation, said the location of the curve, right at the entrance of the community, was one of the reasons the crew members were able to install the streetlight.

Aranas said the process involves determining if there are utility easements available that could support a streetlight.

If there is no easement for a utility, then the one who is requesting a streetlight would have to pay a fee.

In the situation at Lago Vista, Aranas said there was already one in place.

"We try our best to handle every citizen's request," Aranas said. "Top priority is how we operate."

According to http://webapps.arlingtontx.gov/tmp/cityhall/qna_traffic.html:

Streetlights are installed for traffic safety purposes. The City may consider installing additional streetlights in established neighborhoods if the current ones are at least 600 feet apart. If there is an intersection, dip or curve that does not have a streetlight, the City will consider a request.

A request must be accompanied by a form provided by the City with signatures of 80 percent of the property owners within 200 feet of the light.

If the request is approved there is no cost to the property owner.

If your neighborhood organization is interested in having streetlights installed in your neighborhood, contact the Department of Public Works and Transportation at (817) 459-6550.