Let there be light, and it's about time. Three years into its existence, light is finally being shed on the pedestrian safety problems in the Northern Tier.

While it's nice to see some work being done in the Northern Tier, it's quite overdue.

The fact that the community is shared across two cities makes their slow efforts doubly disappointing.

Much-needed street lights were turned on this past weekend in the community of condos and apartments just north of Lake Lansing Road.

The Northern Tier community grew too fast for its own good and, as the flow of tenants increased, lighting remained stagnant.

Currently, there are no sidewalks, crosswalks or pedestrian lights. Also, the speed limit needs to be decreased to maximize pedestrian safety.

Officials in East Lansing and Bath Township are planning on improving all of these missing safety necessities, but plans have been on hold because of the weather.

But who knows how long it would have taken the slow combined-city effort to get these jobs done if not for the unfortunate death of one MSU student?

The cities could have at least installed proper lighting in the area from the start.

If these measures had been taken care of years before the accident, could the tragedy have been prevented?

While the Northern Tier communities expand with recreational and restaurant facilities in the spring, hopefully the safety utilities will not be left out of the blueprints.

Hopefully, for the safety of those dwelling in the Northern Tier, this is only the first brick to be laid in the construction of a great wall of safety.

It's just too bad no one had the bright idea to add the northern lights when they were originally needed - three years ago.