News Release - Broad Street Two-Way Conversion Project to Receive $400,000 Federal Grant

City of Rochester
News Release


(Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012) – Mayor Thomas S. Richards announced today that the City has been awarded $400,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to convert Broad Street from Stone Street to Chestnut Street from one-way westbound traffic to two-way traffic.

“The award of this grant is more great news for downtown Rochester. The conversion of Broad street to two-way traffic will greatly advance our goal of creating a pedestrian-friendly, visitor-friendly downtown streetscape that supports economic development, especially at the adjacent Midtown redevelopment site,” said Mayor Richards. “I want to thank Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Sens. Charles Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand for their tireless advocacy for Rochester’s transportation needs, which helped us, secure these funds.”

The Broad Street Two Way Conversion Project is a component of a Downtown Development Strategy that calls for eliminating one-way traffic patterns where possible. A common complaint of Downtown residents, businesses, and visitors alike is the confusing one-way street pattern, which makes it difficult to locate destinations and find parking, and encourages unsafe, high-speed driving habits. The City is also moving ahead with plans to convert St. Paul Street and North Clinton Avenue to two-way streets.

The Broad Street Two-Way Conversion Project is also expected to have a positive impact on the Midtown redevelopment project, which is leveraging considerable private investment in new retail, office, and housing development. Broad Street amenities will include enhanced street lighting, shared use lane markings and benches to promote a walkable, livable Center City that is a magnet for development.

The total project cost is $825,000. The remainder of the funds will come from already-committed City sources. The project is set to begin construction in spring 2013 and be complete by summer 2013.

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News Media: For more information, contact Paul Holahan, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services at 428-6855.