The D.C. Council approved the $309-million contract.

On Tuesday, the D.C. Council approved a $309-million contract to upgrade the city's 75,000 streetlights. The streetlights will all be updated with new high-efficiency LEDs and Wi-Fi access points.

This comes eight years after then-Councilmember Muriel Bowser first introduced the Public-Private Partnership Act of 2014.

Under the contract, Plenary Instrastructure D.C. will finance the new streetlight upgrades by 2025. It's said the streetlights will be maintained for another 13 years after 2025.

"When I introduced the Public-Private Partnership Act as a Councilmember, I did so knowing the breadth of our city’s infrastructure needs and knowing that this would be a win-win for DC residents," said Mayor Bowser. "Our ability to modernize our infrastructure is directly related to our ability to increase the quality of life for Washingtonians in all eight wards. With this project, we’re doing so much more than just replacing lights – we’re making our streets safer, our communities more connected, and our city more resilient."

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) says this upgrade should begin by January 2023. Residents can expect project updates to come from DDOT, including a website to track progress and flyers placed at residences ahead of upgrades in neighborhoods.

What do you think of D.C. upgrading all 75,000 of its lights with LEDs and Wi-Fi capabilities? Sound off in the comments below.