U. to install brighter bulbs in safety phones

In order to improve visibility of blue light safety phones on and off campus, the University will replace the lights with brighter ones this month, according to University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich. "I noticed that the brightness of the lights did not?stand out from other lighting," Kuprevich said. "They were not bright enough or distinct enough to identify the place for an emergency phone." Kuprevich, along with Physical Plant workers, conducted research and selected a new, brighter light bulb -- number 117 Traffic Clear Bulb -- which will be placed in upgraded bulb housing on all 125 blue light phones on and around campus. Physical Plant Director of Maintenance and Utilities Lou Visco played a major role in the selection of the new emergency light. "We're using a different type of bulb, and keeping the sockets, fixtures and globes that are there," Visco said. The only additions to the fixture will be an extension for the bulb and a locking grate, he added. Workers began replacing bulbs two weeks ago, and should be finished with the project by the end of November, Visco said. In addition to visibility, Kuprevich said he had to consider issues such as cost and energy conservation. He said Visco examined these issues and picked a bulb to solve these problems. "New fixtures were going to cost approximately $100 per fixture," Visco said. "I [suggested] keeping the fixtures we have and adapting them." Because of these cost-saving efforts, the upgrade will be covered by regular maintenance and upgrading allocations, Visco said. But this was not the most important issue, he added. "It is a cost-savings, but I don't think cost-savings was really the issue that I'm after," Visco said. "I'm after the security of our campus community knowing that where there is a blue light, there is an emergency phone." All of the lights on campus, excluding the ones in the Quadrangle, will be changed by Physical Plant. The lights off campus will be handled by the University Police Department. And the lights in the Quad will be upgraded by Residential Maintenance. Al Zuino, the associate director of Residential Maintenance, said he was made aware of the blue light upgrade project Friday. "If the standard is changed, we will obviously comply with the standard for the Quadrangle," Zuino said. Kuprevich said he hopes the increased visibility of the lights will be helpful in both emergency and non-emergency situations. "The one message I want to get out is for people to recognize that those blue lights are what they should look for whenever they are uncomfortable or need help," he said.