Why Streetlights on FM 1314 in Porter Remain Unlit: Wire Thefts Cause Danger

Dark Roadway on FM 1314

• 💡 Streetlights installed over a year ago along FM 1314 in Porter have never been turned on, according to residents.
• ⚠️ The roadway remains dangerously dark, especially between the Grand Parkway and Highway 59, raising safety concerns for drivers.

Cause of Lighting Outages

• ⚡ TxDOT confirms that multiple light outages are due to wire thefts.
• 🔌 Thieves are breaking into electrical boxes at the base of light poles, cutting wires and causing significant damage.
• 💸 The estimated value of stolen wire is around $5,000, with an additional $10,000 in damage costs.

Repeated Repairs and Ongoing Issues

• 🛠️ The agency has had to replace equipment in this area along Highway 99 twice already.
• ⏳ TxDOT states it takes weeks for new equipment to arrive, and another round of repairs is currently in the works.
• 🔍 Electrical boxes found open with wires hanging out indicate recent tampering.

Community Impact and Future Hopes

• 🏘️ Residents like the Smallwoods are frustrated by the lack of lighting and the ongoing danger.
• ❓ It is currently unknown if the lights were ever operational before the wire thefts began.
• ✅ The community hopes for a resolution to make this stretch of road safer soon.