Lighting up the Narrows bridges for oohing, ahhing and civic pride is a great idea, Tacoma City Council members said Tuesday night.
The council unanimously approved a resolution supporting the efforts of a grass-roots citizens group to put permanent energy-efficient lights on the 57-year-old existing bridge and the new span due to open this year.
The resolution doesn’t commit any city money, but it authorizes representatives of city departments and Tacoma Public Utilities to help find funding for the project. Getting TPU involved might help the group get money from the federal Bonneville Power Administration, member Jim Willers told the council.
Gig Harbor and the Pierce County Council already have passed resolutions in support of the effort.
The group, NarrowsBridgeLights.org, is trying to get funding for the strings of LED lights from several local, state and federal agencies as well as private companies. Solar-powered lights could cost $4 million or more.
But they’d be worth every dollar, supporters say.
The bridges are “a signature landmark” that can help write Tacoma’s pride in lights, Willers said.
Kris Sherman, The News Tribune
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