The city's grand vision for remaking Broad Street is taking incremental steps forward with the temporary closing of the Broad Street bridge. And work will begin soon on a draft environment impact statement for what is being called the Historic Erie Canal Aqueduct and Broad Street Corridor project. Although money is a serious hurdle - there isn't enough to even begin the first phase - officials say they are convinced that the project can transform the center city west of the Genesee.
City officials envision a 20-year, $66 million project that would begin with the re-watering of the aqueduct over the Genesee River. The Broad Street bridge is closed right now, as a matter of fact, so the city can see how people cope and what effect the closing has on traffic patterns and downtown businesses.
"Does it cause a major hardship?" says Paul Holahan, commissioner of the city's Department of Environmental Services. "We got to know that now, before we go any further. And I think it's important for the area businesses to see how it affects their operations."
The bridge will re-open at 6 p.m. on Friday, February 26.
The Erie Canal used to flow through downtown Rochester, crossing the Genesee River on what is now the Broad Street aqueduct. The canal was rerouted away from the center city in the early 20th century, however, as canal traffic decreased and vehicular traffic became more common.
In the mid 1920's, Rochester converted the segment of the former canal bed running through the city into a subway line, and a road was installed - Broad Street - above the aqueduct for street traffic. The subway tunnel has been abandoned and in various stage of deterioration since the subway closed in 1956.
"The issue of what to do with Broad Street was around for years," Holahan says.
There was talk in the late 1980's of making the tunnel into something like downtown Atlanta's underground shopping and entertainment district. But that never amounted to much. The next idea was to fill in the tunnel west of the Genesee.
"Prior to Mayor Duffy, that was city's plan, but it got put on hold because of the protests from people thinking there's still something better," Holahan says.
Shortly after Bob Duffy took office, Holahan says, the decision was made to fill in the tunnel from Brown Street to West Main. The condition of that portion is exceptionally bad, Holahan says, and it's damaging the road above it.
The fill will take two years and cost approximately $16 million. Work was scheduled to begin this month.
The HistoricCanal Aqueduct and Broad Street Corridor Master Plan was released in May 2009. It lays out a three-phase, 20-year, $66 million project.
A canal district would be established - bounded by Main Street, South Avenue, Court Street, Exchange Boulevard, and Route 490. Linear water elements along Broad Street, including the restored aqueduct and - heading west - a "boulevard of fountains" would be the central feature of the district.
Establishing a district "brands" the area, says Tom Hack, DES project manager, and helps create a welcoming environment for developers by establishing planning, zoning, and land-use guidelines.
"We're trying to attract development, so we're doing everything we can to make sure they don't have to jump through all those hurdles," says city engineer Jim McIntosh.
The center city west of the Genesee suffers from a lack of identity and investment, officials say. The aqueduct project would hopefully reinvigorate the area, they say, resulting in a mixed-use community that combines culture and the arts, recreation, entertainment, office space, and community uses.
"The real plan is, what's going to draw that residential stuff," McIntosh says. "What's going to draw them to this area? It's going to be a really cool place to be."
Duffy praises the Broad Street project as transformative, and says it has the ability to jumpstart development west of the Genesee.
The key, of course, is money.
"I think the master plan was a great exercise and a great plan for the city," Holahan says. "The trick now is financial. We don't have the money to do even the first phase."
The city has $5 million of the $25 million needed for the first phase: the re-watering of the aqueduct. The second phase would cost about $20 million, and the third phase, $21 million.
Each phase would be completed as funding becomes available, McIntosh says, and each can stand on its own, just in case.
The project has a supporter in Congress member Louise Slaughter. A spokeswoman says that Slaughter has gotten $2.1 million in federal funds for the Broad Street project so far. Holahan and McIntosh are hopeful that more federal money will come their way - maybe through a second stimulus package or as part of a reauthorized federal transportation bill. Slaughter's spokeswoman wouldn't talk specifics.
"Conversations are taking place," she says. "She's been involved in the past and she's looking to see how she can be involved in the future."
The next step will be to complete a draft environmental impact statement. That will take six to 14 months, McIntosh says.
"Since we don't have the money, we're not going to rush it," he says. "We're going to take the time, schedule the meetings, and make sure we get the right public input."