Jefferson Avenue Revitalization Project

Project Background

Jefferson Avenue, from Plymouth Avenue to West Main Street, is the site of a public improvement and revitalization project that is currently under design by the City's consultant, Fisher Associates. Jefferson Avenue is a vital mixed-use commercial/residential street in the southwest quadrant of the City of Rochester. Current street conditions like substandard street lighting, inadequate landscaping, and the lack of pedestrian-friendly street amenities have prompted the City to turn its attention to this area. 

Check out the project slideshow to see "before" and "after" concepts.

Funding and Proposed Work

$950,000 in federal grant money was secured with the generous help of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. Those funds, along with other federal and City contributions, bring the total project budget for design and construction to approximately $2.3 million.

Among the proposed work is:

• Milling and resurfacing of Jefferson Avenue from Plymouth Avenue to Champlain Street
• Replacing sections of deteriorated curbing along the entire Avenue
• Replacing hazardous sidewalks along the entire Avenue
• Installing decorative lighting, concrete sidewalks, and decorative sidewalks in the commercial core (Flint Street to Champlain Street)

Depending on funding and public input, the following amenities may be possible:

• Light pole banners
• Commemorative plaques
• Pedestrian-level lighting
• Bicycle racks
• Benches
• Specialty sidewalk treatments
• Decorative crosswalks
• Sidewalk pillars

Project Documents

Planning phase:

• Planning Summary Report by Ingalls Planning and Design (3.14.09)
• Planning Supplemental Report by Ingalls Planning and Design (9.30.09)
• Planning Concept Plan by Ingalls Planning and Design (9.30.09)

Design phase:

• Engineering Concept Plan by Fisher Associates and Trowbridge and Wolf Landscape Architects (11.9.09)
• Steering Committee Members
• Agenda from the 11-30-09 Public Meeting 
• Minutes from the 11-30-09 Public Meeting 
• Presentation from the 11-30-09 Public Meeting
• Existing vs. Proposed Street Lighting Levels from the 11-30-09 Public Meeting 

Community Participation Opportunities

• Would you rather see benches or bike racks along Jefferson Avenue? Would you rather adorn your neighborhood with identifying banners or recognition plaques? Help the City decide which street enhancements to select by filling out the comment form.

Send completed forms to:
Dennis Judson
Fisher Associates
135 Calkins Road
Rochester, NY 14623
or, fax it to him at (585) 334-1361, or scan it and attach it to an email to Mr. Judson.

• Seniors at Wilson Magnet High School presented the City with their ideas on how to spend enhancement funds. Check out their suggestions! 

Project Timeline

Engineering design completion- Winter 2010
Construction Bid- Spring 2010
Private Utility Work completion- early Summer 2010
Street construction start- Summer 2010
Street construction completion- Fall 2010

Questions?

Contact City project manager, Ms. Lisa Reyes, a street design engineer in the Bureau of Architecture and Engineering, at (585) 428-6354, or email her.