The public has until February 27 to make any additional comments regarding the Rt. 531 Terminus and Rt. 31 Highway Improvement project planned by the New York State Department of Transportation.
About fifty people attended a public hearing on the proposed improvements held by the NYSDOT on Thursday, February 5 at Spencerport High School.
Bryce Walker of Stantec Consulting presented an overview of the alternatives the DOT is continuing to consider to help improve safety and traffic flow in the area.
He explained the DOT’s preferred alternative includes an at-grade conventional signalized intersection at Rts. 531/36 as well as modifications to Rt. 31 west to near Salmon Creek Road. Those modifications include a widening of Rt. 31 with the addition of a center median, curves designed to reduce speeds along Rt. 31 at Hubbell and Gallup Roads, as well as dedicated turn lanes with a median at those intersections, and a two-way center turn lane between Gallup and Salmon Creek Roads.
Under the preferred alternative, Rt. 531 would connect directly to Rt. 31 past the Rt. 36 intersection, transitioning from a four-lane expressway to a two lane rural arterial.
According to DOT officials, the preferred alternative would provide more direct movement between Rt. 531 and Rt. 31, as well as provide a viable speed transition area, and reduce rear-end and intersection accidents as a result of reduced congestion.
Walker said the factors in considering the preferred alternative included, “… accident reductions, reducing congestion, best cost/benefit value, construction costs and minimizing environmental impact.”
Additionally, Rt. 31 would be severed approximately 2,000 ft. west of Rt. 36 and end in a cul-de-sac. The hill on Rt. 36 south of Rt. 531 would be cut down approximately two feet to allow for improved sight distance at the Rt. 531 intersection, Walker explained. The cost of the preferred alternative is approximately $15 million.
The DOT is still considering two other alternatives which include a Rt. 531/Rt. 36 at-grade signalized superstreet median crossover combined with the Rt. 31 improvements. This alternative controls right-only turns by way of raised medians and would prohibit motorists on Rt. 36 from proceeding straight through the intersection with Rt. 531.
Instead, an indirect maneuver by way of a u-turn in the Rt. 531 median approximately 600 ft. from the intersection would be used. Motorists on Rt. 36 would also be prohibited from turning left onto Rt. 531 and motorists on Rt. 531 would be prohibited from turning left onto Rt. 36. The cost of this alternative is approximately $15 million.
The final alternative is a full diamond interchange at Rts. 531 and 36 with on-off ramps and Rt. 531 going under Rt. 36, eliminating the traffic signal. This alternative includes the improvements to Rt. 31. The final alternative comes with a higher price tag – approximately $25.6 million.
All three alternatives include right-of-way acquisition of private property along the north side of Rt. 531 between the Rt. 531 tie-in and Gallup Rd. This would create a “right-of-way-without-access.” The DOT says six residences would be purchased and current residents relocated. Property acquisition costs add $2 million to the cost of each alternative.
Mary Beth Bell, acting director of the Office of Right of Way, said that the DOT believes, “… all occupants could be successfully re-located in 12-18 months.”
Four people spoke during the public hearing, with most saying they preferred the full diamond interchange.
Three of the speakers said the improvements might help congestion at the Rts. 531/36 intersection, but back-ups would continue to occur heading west through the Town of Sweden to Rt. 19 and beyond.
“It kicks the can down the road,” Hamlin resident Mark Glogowski said. Gloglow-ski, who ran for the New York State Assembly last fall, said Rt. 531 was intended to serve six communities to the west including Albion, Medina and Lockport.
“The lack of infrastructure has impacted the area,” Glogowski said. He added he would like, “… to see the state take an aggressive approach to meeting infrastructure needs.”
The DOT is accepting written comments until February 27 addressed to:
Mr. Kevin Bush, Regional Director; NYS Dept. of Transportation; 1530 Jefferson Rd.; Rochester, NY 14623; Attn: Wesley Alden.
DOT officials say all officially recorded comments will be carefully reviewed before final decision plans are approved. That decision is expected to come this spring with property acquisition to follow and construction starting as early as the fall of 2016.
