October 20, 2025
"Lighting three roadways for the price of one is the kind of outcome that resonates with every city official and every taxpayer."
Project Summary
Project: Rowlett Corridor Solar Lighting Upgrade
Location: Rowlett, Texas
Stakeholders: City of Rowlett, Fonroche Lighting America, TxDOT
Challenge: Unlit state and city roads creating public safety risks; high costs of traditional grid lighting
Solution: 425 off-grid SmartLight Essential units with Power 365, trenchless installation, DOT-compliant design
Impact: 5.5 miles lit across 3 major corridors; improved safety, 50% cost savings vs. grid quote, 12-hour rapid install
Technology: Fonroche SmartLight Essential, 3000K LED, Power 365 energy system, direct burial w/ concrete base
Status: Fully Operational (as of October 2025)
Lighting Safer Roads in Growing North Texas
In the fast-growing Dallas metro area, Rowlett, Texas is raising the bar for public infrastructure with one of the most ambitious solar street lighting projects in the country. Backed by a voter-approved bond in October 2024, the city is installing 425 solar-powered SmartLights across a 5.5-mile stretch of Route 66 (Lakeview Parkway), Dalrock Road, and Rowlett Road, three of its most critical and heavily trafficked corridors.
What makes this project groundbreaking isn’t just its size; it’s the strategy. Route 66 is a designated state highway, and Rowlett’s deployment represents the largest solar streetlight installation ever completed on such a corridor in the U.S. By choosing Fonroche Lighting America’s off-grid, trenchless lighting systems, the city avoided costly delays, eliminated future utility bills, and delivered fast, scalable safety improvements. The result: a future-proof solution for safer, smarter urban infrastructure, without waiting on the grid.
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Problem:Safety Gaps on Rowlett’s Darkest Roads
Before the upgrade, Rowlett’s busiest roads were dangerously dark. Route 66 (Lakeview Parkway) had no lighting infrastructure, despite being a key corridor for commuters and freight. Rowlett Road only had sporadic lighting at intersections, and Dalrock Road was known for sharp curves and low visibility, drawing ongoing safety complaints from residents.
The problem peaked along the 5.5-mile Lakeview Parkway corridor, stretching from Rowlett Creek to the bridge at 9900 Lakeview Pkwy. With fewer than 25 utility-owned streetlights, most of the roadway was in complete darkness, putting drivers, pedestrians, and school commuters at daily risk. When the city pursued a traditional solution, the utility quoted $2.8 million just for Route 66, leaving Dalrock and Rowlett Roads in the dark. It became clear: Rowlett needed a scalable, budget-friendly solution to deliver full coverage, without trenching or grid delays.
Solution: High-Impact Solar Lighting Across Urban Corridors
To meet Rowlett’s urgent roadway safety goals, Fonroche Lighting America deployed SmartLight Essential systems engineered for high-traffic corridors, delivering rapid installation, zero trenching, and dependable performance without reliance on the power grid.
To meet growing roadway safety needs without increasing its infrastructure budget, the City of Rowlett partnered with Fonroche Lighting America to deploy 425 SmartLight Essential units across 5.5 miles, at nearly half the cost of the original utility quote. Each Fonroche SmartLight operates independently using the Power 365™ energy platform, ensuring year-round lighting without trenching, grid hookup, or permitting delays. The system was tailored for Rowlett’s city environment with:
- 3000K warm-white light optimized for residential visibility
- Full cut-off optics for dark-sky compliance and glare control
- 6-ft TxDOT-compliant pole setback
- Direct-burial installation on 4-ft concrete bases
- Under 1-hour install time per light with no trenching or cabling required
Deployment: 425 SmartLights Across Three Critical Corridors
Route 66 (Lakeview Parkway), a TxDOT-managed highway and major freight route, was entirely unlit before the project, posing daily safety risks for commuters and transport vehicles. Its transformation now represents the largest solar lighting deployment on a U.S. state highway. Dalrock Road, a curving corridor near Lake Ray Hubbard, had long been flagged for dangerous turns, low visibility, and public safety concerns, conditions now addressed with consistent, glare-controlled lighting. Meanwhile, Rowlett Road, a critical connector serving neighborhoods and schools, previously had lights only at intersections. The new installation eliminates visibility gaps between signals, making travel safer for residents, students, and pedestrians.
Rollout Timeline
- Phase 1 – Dalrock Road (66 units): Served as a proof-of-concept, completed successfully with strong community feedback.
- Phase 2 – Route 66 (131 units): Completed in September 2025, marking a milestone for high-speed DOT-compliant solar deployment.
- Phase 3 – Rowlett Road (107 units): Final phase, completed October 12, enhancing safety across school zones and civic areas.
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Key Engineering Takeaways
Rowlett’s deployment of 425 Fonroche SmartLight units wasn’t just fast; it was engineered for performance, compliance, and long-term value. Every design decision supported the city’s goals: safer roads, faster implementation, and future-proof infrastructure that aligns with both municipal and TxDOT standards.
- Installed in Under 1 Hour – Rapid, trenchless deployment without cabling or road closures minimized disruption and accelerated rollout.
- Engineered for Durability – Direct-burial poles mounted on 4-foot concrete bases ensure long-term stability, even in high-wind zones.
- Storm-Proof & Resilient – Independent power keeps lights operational during outages and severe weather events.
- 3X Coverage Within Budget – Delivered lighting for three corridors at half the cost of the original utility estimate for just one.
- Built to TxDOT Standards – Designed with 6-ft setbacks, full cut-off optics, and precise siting based on traffic and crash data.
Results: Safer Intersections, Sustainable Impact
Improved Driver Visibility and Faster Reaction Times
Following the installation of 425 SmartLights across Rowlett, nighttime visibility along Route 66, Dalrock Road, and Rowlett Road dramatically improved—reaching consistent illumination levels of 0.5–0.6 footcandles across high-risk curves, crossings, and underlit zones.
This uniform lighting enables drivers to better spot signage, pedestrians, and changes in roadway geometry,especially in areas historically linked to near-misses and limited visibility.
On corridors like Dalrock Road, once flagged by residents for hazardous turns and poor night driving conditions, lighting upgrades have reduced blind spots and improved reaction times, contributing to safer navigation throughout the city.
Safer Routes for Residents, Schoolchildren, and Pedestrians
Rowlett Road and nearby residential zones serve as daily routes for families, students, and commuters accessing community centers, transit stops, and schools. Before the project, many of these segments were partially lit, creating dangerous gaps between signals.With SmartLights now filling those gaps, the city has significantly reduced pedestrian risk during early morning and evening hours,especially in school zones and crosswalk-heavy areas.
Local feedback has praised the transformation as a “noticeable upgrade in public safety,” helping restore confidence in nighttime travel across the community.
Long-Term Operational and Environmental Value
Long-Term Operational and Environmental Value
Fonroche’s SmartLight Essential systems offer true lighting independence—no trenching, no grid hookup, and zero maintenance for over 10 years. Designed to perform in North Texas’s storm-prone climate, the systems deliver unmatched reliability and sustainability.
Additional outcomes include:
- No utility costs or monthly energy bills
- More than 90% component recyclability
- 98% recyclable NiMH batteries
- Uninterrupted operation during outages and extreme weather
For the City of Rowlett, the investment eliminates ongoing utility expenses while advancing climate goals—offering a low-carbon, high-impact model for resilient infrastructure.
Conclusion: A Replicable Model for Texas and Beyond
The City of Rowlett has set a new standard for how municipalities can approach roadway safety, budget management, and sustainable development. By deploying 425 solar streetlights across three key corridors, the city proved that solar isn’t just a fallback, it’s a smarter, scalable, and fully viable first-choice infrastructure strategy. As other cities face growing safety needs and strained infrastructure budgets, Rowlett’s project stands as a replicable model, demonstrating how solar lighting can power a brighter, safer, and more resilient future.
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