Lighting Up The Montrose Bridges Over I59

[HoustonMidtown]

Project is complete

 

http://montrosedistrict.org/2017/05/montrose-management-district-finalizes-installation-of-led-lights-on-us-59-bridges/

 

 

[trymahjong]

Complete.........but not finished.......

Dear Community Stakeholder –

We wanted to share with you updates regarding the bridges over Hwy 59/69. You may have noticed additional testing and perhaps some outages of the bridge lighting. As is the case with any innovative project, some issues were encountered during installation that have caused some sections to malfunction. The project is still under the direct control of TxDOT and their contractor, Third Coast. The contractor is working as quickly as possible to get all sections functioning. The Montrose District special projects team is also working with the contractor to address the issues. We expect that we may encounter a few more intermittent outages, as we planned and budgeted for with TxDOT. Currently, the contractor is working through the punch list period towards the certificate of final completion. The expectation is for this process to conclude by the end of the third or fourth quarter this year.

As always, we would appreciate it very much if you would share this information with your colleagues, friends and neighbors so that we can reach as wide an audience as possible.

To learn more about the District and our work please visit www.MontroseDistrict.org. Thanks! 

 

 

 

[longcat]

I haven't kept actual count, but I'm pretty sure that every time I've gone under the bridges for the past year, there has been at least 1 (and usually more) flaws in the lighting (led light sections out or wrong color or off the program...etc)  Did they make the system too complex?  I think I would have preferred a simpler lighting system that worked and didn't distract from the experience with it's "problems"

[j_cuevas713]

10 minutes ago, longcat said:

I haven't kept actual count, but I'm pretty sure that every time I've gone under the bridges for the past year, there has been at least 1 (and usually more) flaws in the lighting (led light sections out or wrong color or off the program...etc)  Did they make the system too complex?  I think I would have preferred a simpler lighting system that worked and didn't distract from the experience with it's "problems"

I believe there is one that is still messed up. Who do we contact to get this fixed since the Montrose Management District doesn't exist anymore?

Edited November 28, 2018 by j_cuevas713

[Triton]

Just now, j_cuevas713 said:

I believe there is one that is still messed up. Who do we contact to get this fixed since the Montrose Management District doesn't exist anymore?

The city is paying the electric bill, right? My main concern is that they are just paying to keep the lights on. Who actually does the maintenance though?

[j_cuevas713]

2 minutes ago, Triton said:

The city is paying the electric bill, right? My main concern is that they are just paying to keep the lights on. Who actually does the maintenance though?

Good question. If this city expects to get the notoriety and publicity it wants, it can't afford to not keep these lights on. It's little things like this that draw tourism and enhance the city. Idk if anyone watched Monday Night Football with the Texans/Titans but they had a promo with Google Pixel showcasing the camera and they took a few shots of the bridges. That type of stuff is what the city can't afford to lose if it wants to continue to change the perception of outsiders. Seems minor and insignificant but it isn't.

Edited November 28, 2018 by j_cuevas713

[Houston19514]

I don't know why it is, but it seems like it is a very rare colored LED lighting installation that does not have problems. Is this technology not really ready for prime time?

[august948]

LED bulbs are more complicated than incandescent bulbs and when there's more complication, there's more room for issues.  I'm still waiting for the promised 22 year led light bulb.  All mine seem to die within 2 or 3 years or they fade out so much that I have to replace them. 

[BeerNut]

They run them 24/7 which probably isn't best for longevity or maybe they used poor quality LEDs.  Color LEDs are more susceptible to power fluctuations and should be ran within spec unless you want problems.

[longcat]

It's gotten to the point that I wish they would just turn the lights off.  They are so messed up whenever I drive through there - it makes the city look bad by in effect highlighting for all to see how dysfunctional the city's maintenance of infrastructure is

[ATH]

Sometimes the lights seem to be working, but mostly not.  It's too bad because when they were well synched, the bridge lights were very attractive.

[j_cuevas713]

I contacted the company running the lights and they said a plan would be set up Nov 2021 to get the lights repaired. I even emailed the city because Top Chef was being filmed and that had to look terrible to those from out of town. Anyways, since then nothing has been done. I don't understand how this city expects to get any national attention if it can't even handle some bridge lights. 

Edited June 16, 2022 by j_cuevas713

[editor]

20 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

I contacted the company running the lights and they said a plan would be set up Nov 2021 to get the lights repaired. I even emailed the city because Top Chef was being filmed and that had to look terrible to those from out of town. Anyways, since then nothing has been done. I don't understand how this city expects to get any national attention if it can't even handle some bridge lights. 

Good for you for actually contacting them.  Maybe post the contact information here, in case anyone else wants to do the same.

(Sorry if this already exists upthread.  I didn't see it.)

[Houston19514]

In reality, I don't think there is a company "running the lights."  I recently contacted the company that installed the lights.  They told me that the Montrose Management District was responsible for running and maintaining the lights (and paid for their installation).  Sadly, the Montrose Management District no longer exists.  So no one is "running the lights."  The City needs to get this figured out and, as suggested above, either turn them off or get them fixed. As is, they are embarrassing. 

[kennyc05]

19 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

In reality, I don't think there is a company "running the lights."  I recently contacted the company that installed the lights.  They told me that the Montrose Management District was responsible for running and maintaining the lights (and paid for their installation).  Sadly, the Montrose Management District no longer exists.  So no one is "running the lights."  The City needs to get this figured out and, as suggested above, either turn them off or get them fixed. As is, they are embarrassing. 

I'll say it again those lights have never fully worked even after they were installed. It makes you wonder if the company who installed the lights did shotty work.

Edited June 16, 2022 by kennyc05

[j_cuevas713]

27 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

In reality, I don't think there is a company "running the lights."  I recently contacted the company that installed the lights.  They told me that the Montrose Management District was responsible for running and maintaining the lights (and paid for their installation).  Sadly, the Montrose Management District no longer exists.  So no one is "running the lights."  The City needs to get this figured out and, as suggested above, either turn them off or get them fixed. As is, they are embarrassing. 

This is from Aug 2021

Hi Jacob,

 

Thanks for looking out for the bridge lighting. The lights are really in bad shape right now. We are currently coordinating with the City and TXDOT to get them back to 100%. Hopefully that will happen in the coming months.  
 

Lance Gandy

IALD, LC, IES, Assoc. AIA

 

G2LD gandy² lighting design

6101 north main street 

houston, tx 77009

office 713.489.5111

cell 281.796.1253

www.G2LD.com

8 minutes ago, kennyc05 said:

I'll say it again those lights have never fully worked even after they were installed. It makes you wonder if the company who installed the lights did shotty work.

I've thought the same thing or they just don't do good work period. With Houston getting World Cup games, I'll bet ANYTHING these lights will be working by then. 

 

Edited June 16, 2022 by j_cuevas713

[Houston19514]

11 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

This is from Aug 2021

Hi Jacob,

 

Thanks for looking out for the bridge lighting. The lights are really in bad shape right now. We are currently coordinating with the City and TXDOT to get them back to 100%. Hopefully that will happen in the coming months.  
 

Lance Gandy

IALD, LC, IES, Assoc. AIA

 

G2LD gandy² lighting design

6101 north main street 

houston, tx 77009

office 713.489.5111

cell 281.796.1253

 

April 29, 2022

The management district that maintained the lights was shut down a few years ago, so there is no one currently maintaining the lights.  In other words when one goes out, there is no one to replace or repair it.

Lance Gandy
IALD, LC, IES, Assoc. AIA

G2LD gandy² lighting design
6101 n. main street
houston, texas 77009
office 713.489.5111
cell 281.796.1253
www.G2LD.com

[j_cuevas713]

5 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

April 29, 2022

The management district that maintained the lights was shut down a few years ago, so there is no one currently maintaining the lights.  In other words when one goes out, there is no one to replace or repair it.

Lance Gandy
IALD, LC, IES, Assoc. AIA

G2LD gandy² lighting design
6101 n. main street
houston, texas 77009
office 713.489.5111
cell 281.796.1253
www.G2LD.com

Wow so what can be done at this point?

[trymahjong]

Wait……….didn’t MMR “revive “ itself? Otherwise I’m confused who has been attending Neartown zooms.

 

 

……..or maybe the new MMD wasn’t given the lights to look af?

[kennyc05]

6 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

April 29, 2022

The management district that maintained the lights was shut down a few years ago, so there is no one currently maintaining the lights.  In other words when one goes out, there is no one to replace or repair it.

Lance Gandy
IALD, LC, IES, Assoc. AIA

G2LD gandy² lighting design
6101 n. main street
houston, texas 77009
office 713.489.5111
cell 281.796.1253
www.G2LD.com

 What was it to maintain initially they were new and they didn't work!!!!

[Houston19514]

49 minutes ago, trymahjong said:

Wait……….didn’t MMR “revive “ itself? Otherwise I’m confused who has been attending Neartown zooms.

 

 

……..or maybe the new MMD wasn’t given the lights to look af?

I don't know.  You've been attending all these meetings...  You tell us.  ;-)   I can find nothing that says the Management District has been reconstituted.  Perhaps you're thinking of the Montrose TIRZ?

FWIW, here's a list of Neartown's Member Organizations (notice no Montrose Management District):

Audubon Place Association

Avondale Association

Castle Court Neighborhood Association

Cherryhurst Civic Association

East Montrose Civic Association

First Montrose Commons Neighborhood Association

Hyde Park Civic Association

Lancaster Place Civic Association

Mandell Place Civic Association

North Montrose Civic Association

Park Civic Association (no website)

Richwood Place Civic Association

Roseland Estates Civic Association (no website)

Vermont Commons Civic Association

WAMM Civic Association

Westmoreland Civic Association

Winlow Place Civic Club

Edited June 17, 2022 by Houston19514

[trymahjong]

Uhm..........Neartown is a Superneighborhood .....#24

Only  the civic clubs within "Montrose" would be on any list. However, other organizations do attend; HPD/PIP, reps from District C, reps from Churches, people running for office etc.It is an easy place (monthly zoom meeting) to get information on what is happening with developments, streets, crime etc.

I do attend most meetings, along with 20-40 other people=> each signing up (if needs be) to give a 2-3 schpel of yadada. It's a long meeting,where remembering just who has spoken gets confusing for me.

So yes, Steve Madden did speak last winter about reviving the MMD. It seemed to me to be  mostly the same staff and people. I guess I was wrong to assume that "reviving" might not have included management  of bridge lights of 59.

 

 

[Houston19514]

Here's some news on the Bridge Lighting --  A report was given at Houston First's Operations Committee meeting in April:

"The bridges were a partnership project between TxDOT, Montrose Management District ("MMD") and Houston Galveston Area Council with a $3.5 Million budget. The lights were initially turned on just before Super Bowl LI in 2017. MMD was responsible for maintaining the bridges [sic], but was dissolved in 2018, resulting in the City of Houston transferring the responsibility of the lighting system on the bridges to Houston First in early 2019. Shortly before taking over the responsibility, deterioration of the lighting system was noticed. It will cost approximately $1.5 million to make the lights operable and $90,000 a year to operate and maintain. The president/CEO emphasized that this project is not within the mission of HFC but the increase costs will need to be considered when planning the budget."

So, at least it's on someone's radar...

[j_cuevas713]

It would be foolish to not have these working before 2026. I know that's a while away but knowing this city, they would literally wait till the week of the World Cup to get them repaired. This is good news though that it's being considered for the yearly budget. 

Edited June 23, 2022 by j_cuevas713

[scarface]

Does anyone have any information on the Arches over 59 lighting. It seems that they have all but let them go and it is beginning to look very tacky tacky at night.  They are starting to have the resemblance of that old neon tavern sign that is half lit and blinking like it is ready to go out.

For a while, Post 2017 and pre-covid, Houston seemed like it had invested in itself on more monuments and appearance. Well, it seems like they have given up now. 

If anyone has any intel on this or if there are plans to improve this, it would be much appreciated.

[hindesky]

Topic has been discussed here.

 

[j_cuevas713]

19 hours ago, scarface said:

Does anyone have any information on the Arches over 59 lighting. It seems that they have all but let them go and it is beginning to look very tacky tacky at night.  They are starting to have the resemblance of that old neon tavern sign that is half lit and blinking like it is ready to go out.

For a while, Post 2017 and pre-covid, Houston seemed like it had invested in itself on more monuments and appearance. Well, it seems like they have given up now. 

If anyone has any intel on this or if there are plans to improve this, it would be much appreciated.

I was told after the freeze that the city would coordinate with the company that did the lighting and that they would have a plan to get them working again. That was last November. 

[Houston19514]

20 hours ago, scarface said:

Does anyone have any information on the Arches over 59 lighting. It seems that they have all but let them go and it is beginning to look very tacky tacky at night.  They are starting to have the resemblance of that old neon tavern sign that is half lit and blinking like it is ready to go out.

For a while, Post 2017 and pre-covid, Houston seemed like it had invested in itself on more monuments and appearance. Well, it seems like they have given up now. 

If anyone has any intel on this or if there are plans to improve this, it would be much appreciated.

Here's some news on the Bridge Lighting --  A report was given at Houston First's Operations Committee meeting in April:

"The bridges were a partnership project between TxDOT, Montrose Management District ("MMD") and Houston Galveston Area Council with a $3.5 Million budget. The lights were initially turned on just before Super Bowl LI in 2017. MMD was responsible for maintaining the bridges [sic], but was dissolved in 2018, resulting in the City of Houston transferring the responsibility of the lighting system on the bridges to Houston First in early 2019. Shortly before taking over the responsibility, deterioration of the lighting system was noticed. It will cost approximately $1.5 million to make the lights operable and $90,000 a year to operate and maintain. The president/CEO emphasized that this project is not within the mission of HFC but the increase costs will need to be considered when planning the budget."

So, at least it's on someone's radar...