WMATA awards contract to update lighting in parking facilities

As part of its sustainability plan, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has awarded a zero-cost, performance-based contract for the replacement of more than 13,000 parking garage light fixtures over the next year.

The 10-year contract was awarded to Philips Electronics through a competitive, technology-neutral procurement that will be funded through the resulting $2 million in energy and maintenance savings annually, WMATA officials said in a press release.

The contract calls for replacing outdated and inefficient lighting with new high-efficiency LED lighting that will create a brighter environment, use less electricity and lower energy costs, they said. Twenty-five parking facilities will receive the improved lighting.

"This high-efficiency LED lighting overhaul not only means increased safety and visibility for riders, but also a 68 percent reduction in energy consumption at these facilities," said WMATA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Richard Sarles.

The contract also covers the lighting system's maintenance, which will redirect an estimated $600,000 annually in labor and material resources to other system maintenance tasks, agency officials said.