Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, announced during a press conference at City Hall on Thursday morning that he secured $1 million in the state Assembly to help the city expand its push for “smart” technology.
“Now our efforts are focused on the great neighborhoods of Schenectady,” Santabarbara said alongside Mayor Gary McCarthy and ex-GE tech chief Mark Little, who serves as chairman of Schenectady’s Smart City Advisory Commission. “This project will be just as transformative as what we’ve seen in downtown.”
The money will be used for about 38 streetlights, with Wi-Fi, to be installed in Mont Pleasant from Crane Street to Forest Road and from 3rd Avenue to Norwood Avenue, which includes Mont Pleasant Middle School and Pleasant Valley Elementary School.
“It will make Mont Pleasant a stronger neighborhood, support our school efforts and provide Internet access,” he said.
The high-tech streetlights have already been installed on Jay Street in front of City Hall along with 38 on lower Union Street recently. The plan is to also install them on State Street in downtown and ultimately citywide.
Little said the streetlights have LED bulbs that use less energy. The lights also have cameras, sensors and Wi-Fi to be “smart.” It is unclear at this time when they would be installed in Mont Pleasant.
“We’re looking to do a full city rollout,” McCarthy said. “We’re putting together the pieces and working with vendors so we have an optimal configuration to serve the needs of Schenectady’s residents and set an example for other communities across New York.”
©2016 The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, N.Y. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
