BUFFALO, N.Y. — NYSDOT hosted a public information session Tuesday on the reconfiguration of Broadway between Oak Street and Fillmore Avenue.
The $2.66 million plan includes five-foot bike lanes on each side of the street.
To accommodate them, the state will essentially remove one traffic lane.
"Right now, you have two travel lanes in each direction, and we're looking to make it one travel lane in each direction with a continuous turn lane down the middle, so anyone making a turning movement would be removed from the thru lanes and in a center turn lane," says NYSDOT Public Information Officer Susan Surdej.
In a move to further streamline traffic, DOT officials say they will remove traffic lights from several intersections.
That includes Emslie Street, where they plan to instead put a high-visibility crosswalk with pedestrian crossing signs.
Emslie Block Club President Eva Doyle says that concerns her.
"We have, right across the street, there is a daycare, and there are a lot of children and teachers sometimes, if they're taking a walk or something like that, and they have to cross the street, so to me, that's a safety factor," Doyle said.
Others at the meeting were very excited with the plan.
Robert Preskop, an avid bicyclist, says he hopes the bike lanes could eventually stretch out to Sloan.
"I think this project for Broadway is an excellent idea. It’ll be very good for the area along Broadway. [It] could even help with development-wise, making it more attractive," Preskop said.
The project also includes replacing all curb ramps that are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Construction will begin next September with a scheduled completion date of June 2019.
NYSDOT will take public comment on the plan until December 20.
Email: Sanjyot.Vaidya@dot.ny.gov
Mail: Craig S. Mozrall, P.E., Acting Regional Design Engineer
ATTN: Sanjyot S. Vaidya, P.E., Assistant Regional Design Engineer
New York State Department of Transportation
Region 5
100 Seneca Street
Buffalo, New York 14203