DOT meets with Brockport merchants

"We want to give the village what it decides it wants - within reason - when it comes to a road construction project," Department of Transportation Regional Director Kevin O'Buckley said. "It's not our job to come to a village and say this is what you need and want. The village officials give us direction."

O'Buckley made these comments at a June 19 meeting at Java Junction in Brockport when members of the Brockport Merchants Political Action Committee met with a handful of DOT officials. The merchants requested a meeting so they could hear, first-hand from DOT officials, what was proposed for the Main Street reconstruction project slated to being in 2008.

The planned reconstruction has caused some of the merchants sleepless nights as they worry how their revenues will be affected by lane closures and ripped up roads if a construction project commences.

Bottom line, Anthony Peone, owner of Brockport Computer said is, "What is going on with the road work and how long will it take?"

Pat Reinhold, regional assistant design engineer with the DOT, said at this point, they are in the preliminary design phase, nothing has been decided.

"Also, with the closing of the Smith Street bridge, you've shut off access for people who might need to detour around Main Street," Peone said.

Archie Kutz, owner of Lift Bridge Books, said the merchants simply cannot afford to have a major thoroughfare closed down.

"We're aware of the bridge closure, but we won't be closing Main Street during the reconstruction," Reinhold said. "There will either be two way traffic, or one lane alternating traffic."

The question of construction taking place during the overnight hours was raised but because there are apartments above some of the Main Street businesses, it would likely not be feasible.

"We realize that for those of you in the central business district it will be a difficult time," Dan Schwind, project design engineer with the DOT said.

Schwind said the scope of the project would encompass about one mile, would begin at the south end of the village near Barry Dodge and end at the intersection of East and West Avenues. "Some parts of the pavement on that stretch of road have been in place since 1924. The curbs and drainage structures are deteriorating," he said.

The south end of the village street sees about 21,000 vehicles a day. Schwind compared that to the typical rate of traffic on a four lane highway in the city of Rochester.

The village's infrastructure is also a problem, DOT officials said. DPW Superintendent Harry Donahue concurred saying that many of the utilities are from 1915 and are in danger of breaking down. If the road project commenced the substructure work would be completed at that time.

Pat Kutz, owner of Lift Bridge Books asked O'Buckley if he could name a village in which a road project went smoothly and on time. "Honestly, there are none that go great," he said. "Because of the unknowns we encounter underground there always seem to be unforeseen issues. I will say, though, that every job we do makes the municipality look better when we left than before we started." "I know it will be beautiful but the question is, will we still be in business to appreciate it when it's over," Pat said.

"The village could decide to just have the DOT 'mill and fill' with a duration of the next 30 to 50 years," O'Buckley said. "If the village decides it doesn't want a project, why should we do it?"

Mayor Morton Wexler said the village will be putting together a committee comprised of merchants, residents and board members to look into the proposed construction project.

"The board will ultimately make the decision but you people will be involved in the process," Wexler said.

O'Buckley assured the downtown merchants that shoppers would have access to their establishments, "If the village decides it needs to replace sidewalks then they will be torn up, it might be a bit messy and noisy, but there will still be access for people to come to your shops," he said.

Peone wanted to know, if the DOT had such a long lead time for the village's project, why they couldn't be made a priority once construction begins. "The state has the resources, we pay taxes and why can't you allocate the manpower to get the project done one season?" Schwind said the underground work and the moving of utilities could be an issue to get a project done in one season.

Wexler said the village board will discuss the project, which would involve bonding for the amount of money the village would be responsible for. "We will need money to see this project through," he said. "It would be a bond issue which would affect taxes."

June 25, 2006