This technical report proposes an alternative solution to replacing street lights on Belcrest Road in Prince George's County. It identifies issues with the Department of Public Works' proposal to use standard cobra-head street lights spaced at 150 feet. The alternative proposes a three-phase program: 1) Install new two-headed street lights and conduits every 100 feet while adding a new sidewalk; 2) Add infill lights every 50 feet for continuous lighting; 3) Retrofit the sidewalk as development occurs to include a separated cycle track along with new development standards. The goal is to provide safe lighting for increased pedestrian and bicycle activity along this important corridor.

1. Prince George’s PlazaTDDP Implementation Program:Technical Report #1 1
Prince George’s County Planning Department
Community Planning Division
www.pgplanning.org
BELCREST
StreetLightReplacement
PhasingProgram
ROAD

2. Prince George’s PlazaTDDP Implementation Program:Technical Report #12
Summary
This technical report offers an alternative solution to DPW&T’s current
proposal to replace the failed street lights and conduit on Belcrest Road
with standard cobra-head street light fixtures at 150-foot intervals
(maximum 75 feet from the end of the curb/Point of curvature) based
on DPW&T Standard 500.12 for Street Light Spacing in an Urban Area.
This report assesses the DPW&T proposal in terms of key issues that it
is intended to address. Several other critical issues are identified which
should be taken into consideration by any proposal to replace the
street lights on Belcrest Road. Our report then presents and describes
in detail the suggested alternative street light replacement program
that, in our opinion, will best address all of the critical issues associated
with the ultimate goal of continuous lighting and enhanced safety for
pedestrians and bicyclists along Belcrest after dark.
The balance of this document sets forth general design
recommendations and a suggested three-phase schedule for
completion of this project.
Existing Conditions Belcrest Road
Brick Wall Landscape Green Strip Sidewalk Curb Buffer
1.6’+/- 7.1’+/- 7.6’+/- 3.5’+/- Belcrest
Road

3. Prince George’s PlazaTDDP Implementation Program:Technical Report #1 3
Introduction
Belcrest Road is the primary north-south thoroughfare in the Prince
George’s PlazaTransit District, and is envisioned to carry a significant
portion of theTransit District’s north-south vehicular, transit, bicycle,
and pedestrian traffic over the next 20 years.The street lights on
Belcrest Road have failed and require immediate replacement.
The Department of PublicWorks andTransportation’s Specifications
and Standards for Roadways and Bridges recommend traditional,
cobra-head street lights at intervals up to 150 feet.This project could
cost several million dollars. DPW&T’s proposed solution will not provide
adequate lighting for pedestrians and is wholly inadequate for the
increased pedestrian activity that future redevelopment will generate
along Belcrest Road.The standard cobra-head lighting retrofit proposed
by DPW&T runs the risk of being inadequate and functionally obsolete
upon its completion.
The need to replace the Belcrest Road street lights presents an
opportunity for the County to invest in a highly visible and needed
public improvement that will actually produce a safe and walkable
after-dark pedestrian environment along Belcrest Road.
Key Issues Addressed by the DPW&T Proposal
1. The street lights have failed and require immediate replacement
because of their non-standard nature and functional obsolescence.
2. The cost of replacing the failed street lights and connecting conduit
is likely to encumber a significant portion of the County’s limited street
lighting budget
3. The DPW&T street light replacement proposal recognizes Belcrest
Road’s importance as theTransit District’s primary north-south
thoroughfare and gateway into the area from the north.
Other Critical Issues for Consideration
4. Pedestrian Volumes: Belcrest Road sees significant pedestrian
traffic both day and night because of the major destinations that border
it (UniversityTown Center, Mall at Prince Georges, and apartment
complexes) and the heavy use of public transit (bus and Metro).
5. Inadequate Pedestrian Lighting: Street lights at 150-
foot intervals will not provide continuous lighting of the sidewalks,
especially with the existing thick tree canopy along Belcrest Road.
6. TDDP Pedestrian Lighting Standards: Should the
preliminary Prince George’s PlazaTransit District Development Plan
(TDDP) be approved, property owners would be required to install
pedestrian-scaled street lighting at intervals not to exceed 40 feet as
redevelopment occurs, regardless of existing lighting that covers the
cartway of Belcrest Road.
7. Anticipated Pedestrian Volumes: The volume of pedestrian
traffic along Belcrest Road is expected to greatly increase with the
redevelopment of the Landy and Percontee properties, the University
Town Center’sToledo Road parking lot, and the Mall at Prince Georges.
As this redevelopment occurs, insufficient lighting along Belcrest Road
may create areas of darkness and shadow along this important
pedestrian commuting route. Future redevelopment might not occur or
succeed if residents and/or workers are concerned about the safety of
pedestrian access to the Metro station, especially after dark.
8. Cycle Track: Should the preliminaryTDDP be approved, property
owners on the west side of Belcrest Road would be required to
construct, or dedicate right-of-way for, a two-way cycle track outside of
the existing west curb. Future streetscape improvements would have to
accommodate this feature.
9. Street Trees: The street trees along Belcrest Road are appropriate
for the envisioned future Downtown and should be retained.
Sidewalk material
precedent
Existing tree
encroaching
pedestrian clear zone

4. Prince George’s PlazaTDDP Implementation Program:Technical Report #14
What We are Proposing
The intent of our suggested alternative street replacement program is to maintain the existing curb-to-curb dimensions and street trees while
allowing for the retrofit of the frontage zone to support bicycling, increased pedestrian activity, and street-level commerce abutting the sidewalk in
accordance with the requirements of the preliminary Prince George’s PlazaTransit District Development Plan upon its approval.
Phase 1: The County proceeds with its current project but a) installs two-headed street lights that illuminate both the vehicular cartway and the
sidewalk and b) install new street light conduits that will allow access to power for future two-headed street lights installed at 50-foot intervals. A
new 10-foot sidewalk is also installed along the west side of Belcrest Road to serve both pedestrians and bicyclists.
Phase 2: Shouldanindependentfundingsourcebeidentified,the County or other entity installs infill two-headed street lights at the above-
recommended 50-foot intervals.This creates the desired safe pedestrian environment and removes a significant public improvement cost from the
balance sheet of future private redevelopment.
Phase 3: As redevelopment occurs, a new 10-foot sidewalk clear zone will be constructed outside of the existing tree zone and the existing sidewalk
would ultimately be retrofitted as cycle track.

5. Prince George’s PlazaTDDP Implementation Program:Technical Report #1 5
Phase One: Installation of Replacement Street Lights and Conduit (Years 1-3)
10’
Sidewalk
Existing
Conditions
Belcrest Road (southbound)
Intent:
To construct new infrastructure that will ultimately provide continuous
lighting along Belcrest Road’s sidewalks. In this phase, DPW&T will
work with PEPCO to install initial street lights and electric conduits
while preserving existing landscape, tree canopy, and brick wall. A new
sidewalk would also be installed along the west side of Belcrest Road if
new funding is identified to pay for it (see program details below).
A. New electric conduits should be placed along Belcrest Road
to support new street lights.
B. Conduit access points (marked by protective electric
conduit caps flush to the sidewalk) should be installed every
50 feet in order to support future closely-spaced street lights.
C. Street lights that include both elevated vehicular lamps
and lamps (approximately 14 feet high at most) focused
on the sidewalk, should be installed every 100 feet.
PEPCO’sTeardrop lamp, or similar fixture, should be
used; such fixtures are required of private property
owners within theTransit District.
Program:
1. Replace existing street lights.
2. Replace existing sidewalk on the west side of Belcrest Road with a
new 10-foot sidewalk (to be retrofitted to include a cycle track in Phase
3).
3. Install new street lights five (5) feet from existing curb.
4. Place new street lights every 100 feet center-to-center.
5. Maintain existing tree canopy and landscape.
“ ” marks the
location of new lights
added in PhaseTwo.

6. Prince George’s PlazaTDDP Implementation Program:Technical Report #16
PhaseTwo: Installation of Infill Light Fixtures (Years 3-6)
Intent:
To eliminate dark zones between light fixtures by installing second
batch of street lights financed by different funding sources. Should this
option not prove feasible, see PhaseThree.
A. New street lights should be placed every 50 feet center-to-
center from existing street lights.
Program:
1. Identify alternative funding source for construction and/or
maintenance of additional street lights.
2. Install pedestrian street lights on the previously-installed conduit
access points, with a five (5)-foot setback from the existing curb.
3. Install new pedestrian street lights every 50 feet center-to-center
from existing street lights. Pedestrian street light should not be taller
than 14 feet in height.
4. Maintain the existing tree canopy and landscape.
10’
Sidewalk
Existing
Conditions
Example of an ideal street light for Belcrest
Road - Two-Headed Teardrop style
Belcrest Road (southbound)

7. Prince George’s PlazaTDDP Implementation Program:Technical Report #1 7
PhaseThree:Transformation of Belcrest Road Frontage Area (BeyondYear 6)
2’
Cycle Track
10’
Sidewalk
5’
Landscape
Example of mixed-use development along
the cultural trail
Indianapolis Cultural Trail:
Example of a clear landscaped delineation
between sidewalk, trail, and pedestrian street
light.
4’ 4’ 3’
Existing Buffer
(to be repainted)
Intent:
To implement the Prince George’s PlazaTransit District Development
Plan as redevelopment occurs, including the required construction of
an expanded sidewalk and a cycle track (if the expanded sidewalk is
constructed in Phase 1, it would be retrofitted to include a cycle track).
New Development:
1. Development proposals must conform to the newTransit District
Standards:
a. New buildings along Belcrest Road will be at a build to
line framing the sidewalk and helping to create a more active
and safe environment.
b. Property owners are required to construct a new sidewalk
clear zone outside of the existing tree zone, along with any
additional sidewalk frontage they desire to support retail/
restaurant operations.
2. New sidewalks will tie into an at-least five (5)-foot-wide tree/
landscape strip. It is recommended to repurpose existing brick or
sidewalk pavement and place it between green boxes.
3.The two-way cycle track will be installed where the current (or
expanded) sidewalk meets the west-side curb, with the street lights
in its median.This is not optimal, but necessary to support cycle
traffic while maintaining the existing curb-to-curb and not requiring
excessive re-purposing of private property for public use because of the
cycle track.
Program:
1. Maintain existing tree canopy
2. Reduce landscape strip to 5’x 10’green boxes.
3. Between green boxes, special stamped concrete, brick, or other
paving material should be used to demarcate a separation between
sidewalk and cycle track and allow cyclists to enter/exit the track.
4. Stripe, stamped concrete, or landscaping for clear delineation
between bicycle travel lanes.
5. Create physical barrier between the northbound cycle track and the
southbound auto travel lanes.