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Bemus Point ‘Complete Streets’ Program

Shelly Wells explains the Complete Streets Program to the Bemus Point Village Board during its recent meeting. The Village Board voted to look into implementing a program locally. P-J Photos by William Mohan

BEMUS POINT — The Bemus Point Village Board met recently for its monthly meeting at the Village Hall. The main discussion was improving the safety of sidewalks and streets for pedestrians and motorists.

The board agreed unanimously to research the composition of the village’s approach to the planning. Complete Streets is the result of a measure adopted by Chautauqua County in its 2018 budget to make roadways in accordance to the New York State Complete Streets Act passed in 2011. A presentation was given to the board by Public Health Planner Shelly Wells of the Chautauqua Count Health and Human Services Department.

Wells noted that money is already set aside for Complete Streets.

“The county put aside some money for Complete Streets this year in the budget,” Wells said. “This is the first year we have set aside funding for the Complete Street Program.”

The 2019 Chautauqua County capital budget has a total of $5,350,000 set for highway and county road projects. Of that money, $850,000 is for Capital Reserve and $75,000 is for dedicated revenue which would be used to construct Complete Streets.

Pictured are boards from the ‘Complete Streets’ presentation.

According to the New York State Department of Transportation, the act signed by the governor requires state, county and municipalities to adhere to the convenience and mobility of all users when transportation projects with federal and state funding are being developed. Specifically, the initiative offers the state, counties and local agencies the ability to collaborate with bicyclists, pedestrians, persons with wheelchairs, children, elderly persons, public transportation riders, and motorists to identify practices and designs for transportation facilities.

Chautauqua County adopted the Complete Streets policy in 2015. Under the adoption of the policy, the County Department of Public Facilities will consider all modes of travel in the design projects. During the planning of each project, DPF will also evaluate feasibility of sidewalks, paves shoulders, lane striping, bicycle lanes, share the road signs, crosswalks, road configurations, traffic calmers and similar initiatives. At the same time, DPF would also access what road users require depending on whether the location in question is defined as rural, suburban or urban.

In cooperation with the DOT, municipalities work to ensure the policies and procedures required of Complete Streets are met.

The DOT identifies a Complete Street as being designed and operated to enable all users to have safe convenient access and mobility to roadway users of all ages and abilities.

By design, Complete Streets include sidewalks, lane striping, bicycle lanes, paved shoulders for bicyclists, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, bus pull-outs for bus stops, curb cuts, ramps and traffic calming measures.

Currently only only seven villages and/or cities in the county have Complete Street policies in effect. Jamestown began their Complete Street programs in 2012.

Celeron, Dunkirk, Fredonia, Lakewood and Silver Creek started their programs in 2014. Cassadaga adopted their program in 2017.

There is no formal implementation required besides adapting and adhering to the Clean Street Act. Planning and evaluation would be performed on an as needed basis.

Coordination would also take place between health, planning and public facilities would also take place.

Wells also described the benefits Complete Streets would have on communities.

“There are benefits to aging people if the streets are safe for them to move about, health, economic,” Wells said. “It could help you get funding for future projects.”

Economically, Wells explained that Complete Streets would attract people to Chautauqua County, success for local businesses because of increased walking and biking and improved neighborhoods that become links with residential and commercial areas.

In the case of Bemus Point, this would involve an interdepartmental working of seven groups along with the support of the county executive. They include the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Planning and Community Development, Department of Public Facilities, Office of the Aging, the County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management Services and Chautauqua County Health Network.

In addition, other agencies as well as municipalities and their appropriate boards and personnel would assist in Complete Street implementation.

There would also be coordination across the county to help simplify the planning.

“We (the board) will get together to construct and adopt a Complete Street policy,” Board Trustee Margaret Richardson said.

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