South Park walking trail lit up with solar panels

Walkers and joggers who frequent South Park will likely enjoy a new safety perk along Corrigan Drive.

A two-mile stretch of walking path is now illuminated with 122 solar lights.

Construction wrapped on the $738,750 Allegheny County project that targeted the pathway between Library and Brownsville roads.

“The lights are a tremendous feature for walkers and runners, allowing for more usage of the path and while also making it safer,” County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said. “They benefit our operations, bottom line, health and quality of life.”

The project was paid in part by a $323,750 Health Department Clean Air Fund grant.

The Clean Air Fund uses fines collected from polluters to pay for projects that improve air quality.

The remainder of the work was paid by the county’s public works department.

The Corrigan Drive pedestrian path is open to the public daily from dawn until midnight. The lights will boost safety for exercise enthusiasts who visit early or late.

Construction also included sections of guide rail replacement and the installation of 25 educational signs that relay information on air quality and how to help reduce pollution.

Ross-based Allegheny City Electric completed the work.

Fitzgerald said the project moves the county closer to using 100% renewable energy.

Using solar power will save about $1,300 a year, leaders said.

County officials noted that a calculation by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory determined that the new lighting system will use 16,511 kilowatt-hours a year, which is equivalent to charging about 1.489 million smartphones.

Based on that data, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that each year, the solar lights will keep 20,194 pounds of carbon dioxide, 16 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 14 pounds of nitrogen oxide from being emitted by local power plants, Fitzgerald said.

Using solar powered lights also is expected to save taxpayer dollars, leaders said.

The county saved an estimated $800,000 in upfront costs over traditional light installation and is expected to save $13,000 in electricity costs over the next decade.