Officials in Victor this week released details about the possibilities being looked at for reducing traffic congestion on Route 96.
Town Supervisor Jack Marren says they include the possibility of converting a portion of an underused section of the Ontario Central Railroad into a new village street which would run parallel to Route 96.
“And this would be taking an old railroad bed, and converting that into two-way traffic, and also tie-in to businesses along the 96 corridor…I certainly don’t want to use the term bypass, in my opinion, it’s not a bypass, it’s an alternate route for motorists who want to just head home,” Marren told WXXI News.
Another idea involves connecting roads to create more efficient intersections. In terms of the cost of making improvements, Marren says they range from $200,000 to more than $2 million, and he says the town would also seek state and federal help with the funding.
A public meeting was held Wednesday night. Marren says public comment is still being accepted until December 1st. He says when the new town board takes office in January, this will be a major priority for them during the year.
Here’s a full list of the draft recommendations:
- Convert a Portion of the Ontario Central Railroad into a New Village Street: This would transform an underused section of the railroad into a new two-lane street running parallel to Route 96, which is Main Street within the Village limits. Graphics are attached.
- The parallel street would begin at Route 251 between Route 96 and Shallow Creek Trail.
- The new street would end at a roundabout at School and Adams streets. Drivers could then continue east on Adams Street to Maple Avenue. Alternately, the street could be extended even further south to Lynaugh Road.
- The new street would provide access to businesses on the south side of Route 96 and would include on-street parking, a sidewalk and a bicycle lane.
- With the addition of the new intersection, the signal at School Street and Route 96 could be removed, with School Street becoming a right-in/right-out only intersection (i.e., no left turns would be allowed onto or from School Street at Route 96.
- Extend the five-lane section of Route 96 to Route 251: Route 96 currently has two travel lanes in each direction and a center turning lane from Main Street Fishers to just south of Omnitech Place, where the road narrows to three lanes (one lane in each direction and a center turning lane). This proposal would extend the five-lane configuration approximately one mile to a traffic signal at a reconfigured intersection with Route 251 and Lane Road. There is significant commercial development planned in this area, including the 96-acre Fishers Ridge project.
- Connect Roads to Create More Efficient Intersections: Several intersections along Route 96 can be consolidated into safer, more efficient four-way intersections. Draft recommendations include aligning Lane Road at Victor Mendon Road (Route 251) and Willowbrook Road at Omnitech Place. In addition, Collett Road, which now is a dead-end street at the eastern end of the corridor, would be extended to connect with Plastermill Road and Delray Drive to improve access to and from large residential developments in this area.
- Corridor-Wide Policy Changes: Creating shared driveways and parking for businesses reduces the number of conflicts created when drivers turn onto and off of Route 96 to reach their destinations. Collectively, these types of actions are referred to as Access Management and have been shown to improve safety and efficiency. A Complete Streets policy also would help the town to identify opportunities to address the needs of cyclists and pedestrians in any future road improvements, ensuring that all users can safely use Route 96.
- Traffic Signal and Lane Configuration Improvements: Recommendations for turning lane and traffic signal modifications throughout the corridor can reduce congestion and collisions. Key locations include Turk Hill Road, Woodcliff Drive and the northern terminus of High Street opposite Eastview Mall. In addition, Adaptive Signal Control Technologies would allow the traffic signals along Route 96 to be more responsive to actual conditions than the pre-programmed timings that do not adjust to the real-time traffic along the corridor.
- Diverging Diamond at I-490 Exit 29: This project was first proposed in the Town of Victor’s comprehensive plan that was completed in August 2015. At traffic signals, lanes in both directions on Route 96 would cross safely to the opposite side of the road. Drivers could then access the I-490 ramps without having to make left turns across traffic. By redesigning and adding ramps, Route 96 drivers also would be able to get onto I-490 in either direction; right now, access is available only to I-490 west. A similar design at South Winton Road and I-590 in Brighton has reduced both crashes and congestion: https://www.dot.ny.gov/590winton.
