State officials are studying the possible redesign of Fluvanna Avenue from four lanes to two, which could include the addition of bicycle and turning lanes, which would be similar to the changes made to the Third Street Bridge in the fall of 2015. P-J photos by Dennis Phillips

The state Department of Transportation has proposed design changes to three streets in the city of Jamestown.

On Tuesday, state DOT officials held an open house to answer any questions and to take any comments on the proposed changes. The biggest change proposed will be to Fluvanna Avenue. Susan Surdej, state DOT public information officer and assistant to the regional director, said they proposed change to Fluvanna Avenue will be taking the four-lane highway and turning it into a three-lane highway, which will include one lane for both eastbound and westbound traffic and a turning lane. She also said the change will include adding bike path lanes for both directions.

“It is one project for three routes,” she said. “We are in the preliminary design phase right now with construction to start next summer with the project being completed in the fall of 2019.”

Surdej said the only changes to Forest Avenue and McDaniel Avenue/Third Street will be resurfacing of pavement and to update curb ramps to be American With Disabilities Act compliant. She said the public comment period on the project will end Nov. 5. For members of the public who couldn’t attend the open house, but would like to comment on the project, written responses can be sent to sanjay.singh@dot.ny.gov, or New York State Department of Transportation, 100 Seneca Street, Buffalo, New York 14203, and reference Project identification Number 5813.51..

“We are here to get comments, opinions from the public. It is important to talk to the public,” Surdej said. “We are here so they can see what we are proposing.”

For a number of years, city officials have been discussing the possibility of asking the state to redesign Washington Street. In 2017, Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor, meet with state DOT officials about launching a comprehensive effort to analyze, rethink and possibly redesign the entire Washington/Fluvanna arterial corridor from West Second Street in the downtown to the city line near Clifton Avenue.

Surdej said Washington Street is not included in this project, but state officials are aware that city officials would like to see a similar change being proposed for Fluvanna Avenue to also occur one day to Washington Street.

“We know city officials have the desire to see that happen,” she said. “That is outside of the scope of this project, but not outside the scope of a future possible project.”

The proposed cost to redesign Fluvanna Avenue, Forest Avenue and McDaniel Avenue/Third Street is $1.9 million. The purpose of the project is to extend the service life of the pavement by milling and resurfacing the pavement with a new layer of asphalt. The project includes Fluvanna Street from the west Jamestown city line to Washington Street; Forest Avenue from the south Jamestown city line to Washington Street; and McDaniel/Third Street from state Route 394 to Monroe Street.