Route 5/Main Street Reconstruction Project (2005 Main Street)

City of Batavia
County: Genesee County
Population: 10,001 to 50,000
City Hall: (585) 345-6300

In 1999 the City of Batavia and the New York State Department of Transportation entered into a partnering agreement to rebuild Main Street, known officially as New York State Route 5. The initial purpose of the project was addressing safety and capacity concerns, providing a structurally adequate driving surface, and improving accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists. After receiving business and citizen input, community leaders realized the enormous opportunity the reconstruction could provide. Main Street had the potential to once again become the center of Batavia's commercial district. The autonomy given in the partnering agreement allowed Batavia to structure the Main Street project to meet the needs of Batavia residents and businesses and focus on improving aesthetics and enhancing economic viability in the Main Street corridor.

Batavia proactively pursued local planning control and contributed $4.25 million of upfront capital to ensure this control. This financial commitment also quickened the arrival of federal and state funds required to begin construction. Without this initial capital, Batavia would not have been able to adequately address the long-term needs of restoring the downtown.

Raised median islands adorned with decorative brick pavers, trees, and planting beds replaced the seldom-used middle lane. Street light poles with banners and flower baskets lined the newly-paved road, and bump-outs at intersections shorted the crossing distance for pedestrians. Flowers, bushes and shrubs restored a natural quality to a downtown district previously overtaken by concrete and asphalt. The removal of a key traffic signal eased congestion and reduced accidents at Main Street's busiest intersection.

The Main Street Reconstruction Project was an overwhelming success on both an engineering and community level. Estimated to take four years to complete, the $21.6 million project was finished in October 2004 after only eighteen months of construction. áBatavia's Main Street project coincided with numerous other fatade enhancements. Forty-seven fatade projects have been completed since 1999 and resulted in $359,665 reinvested into Batavia's Main Street. In 2004 alone there was over $3,450,000 of private business investment in the City of Batavia. Main Street is now a source of community pride and played host to Batavia's annual Wing-Ding festival that attracted over 10,000 people last year.