Lakewood residents express their opinions, comments and concerns Thursday about the proposed Route 394 Sidewalk Project. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

LAKEWOOD – As a way to gauge community interest, representatives from the state Department of Transportation answered questions Thursday about the proposed Route 394 (Fairmount Avenue) Sidewalk Extension Project.

About 40 residents attended the informal meeting at the Busti Town Hall, 125 Chautauqua Ave., to hear about preliminary concepts that are being explored by the DOT.

The informal session also was a chance for residents to give opinions, comments and concerns about the proposed sidewalk project. At the meeting, residents two draft maps were available to view, and residents were asked to fill out a three-question survey. Residents have until Oct. 4 to submit the survey.

“At this time there has been no official decision made as to whether we’re (the DOT) going forward with the sidewalk portion of the project,” said DOT Senior Design Engineer Robert Schaller.

The DOT said some potential project improvements include asphalt pavement throughout the project from the bridge west of Ashville Road to McDaniel Avenue; reconfigure road striping within the current curb to curb width; minor traffic signal improvements; replace non-compliant curb ramps; and upgrade traffic signage.

Other improvements, the DOT said, include asphalt pavement throughout the project from the bridge west of Ashville Road to McDaniel Avenue; reconfigure road striping within the current curb to curb width; minor traffic signal improvements; replace non-compliant curb ramps; and upgrade traffic signage.

Some impacts of the proposed project, the DOT noted, are 155 property rights of way adjustments, utility pole relocations, and the removal of about 163 trees. Construction is slated to begin in 2027.

West Fairmount Avenue resident Teresa Chevalier is not on board with proposed project.

“I say ‘no’ to the sidewalk (project) because it’s going to take half of my front lawn and my two trees,” Chevalier said.

Copy Quik owner Tom LaLonde also expressed his opposition to the project because his business, located at 4384 W. Fairmount Ave., would lose three trees and have its entrance modified.

“The (proposed) sidewalk would affect the entrance. We would have to have the whole entrance changed. The sidewalk would go right through our driveway,” LaLonde said.

Mayor Randy Holcomb was happy with the attendance.

“It was very-well attended which we’re (village officials) happy about because the first one (December 2023 meeting) was not so well attended, and people walked away not really knowing the complete concept of the project,” Holcomb noted.

The mayor added that with Thursday’s meeting, residents received more information from the DOT about the proposed project.

Former village Trustee Rich Fischer wanted to thank the members of the public who came to the meeting.

“It was a very important meeting for both businesses and residents,” Fischer said.

Before resigning his trustee seat, Fischer expressed opposition to the project.

Holcomb lives on West Fairmount Avenue and also will be affected by the proposed project.

“My entire frontage of my property is on (West) Fairmount. My trees in front of my house will be taken down,” Holcomb said.

Surveys can be mailed to Sanjyot S. Vaidya, PE, Regional Design Engineer; Attention Robert Schaller, PE, Assistant Reginional Design Engineer, New York State DOT, Region 5 Design, 100 Seneca St., Buffalo, NY 14203 or emailed to daniel.ludlow@dot.ny.gov.