Back on December 11, 2023, the Lakewood Village Board was presented a proposal by the state Transportation Department to install sidewalks on both sides of Fairmount, Route 394, from Elmcrest Avenue on the south side and from Shadyside Avenue on the north side to Route 474.

The proposal was to support and approve the state DOT applying for grants for sidewalks. The resolution had to be voted on that evening. Normally when there is a controversy the board will table the resolution until at least the next meeting. There was unknown information and thus controversy. But because it had to be resolved that night the board passed the resolution 3 to 2.

Here is why I have a problem with the whole resolution.

“One of WHEREAS stated that the NYSDOT Region 5 intends on applying for grant funding through the CMAQ program to fund the RT 394 sidewalk extension project” This is a federal grant program and the state DOT did not receive this grant.

Another of the “WHEREAS stated the village of Lakewood Comprehensive Plan, Active Communities Enhancement and the villages Complete Streets Policy support sidewalks along West Fairmount, Route 394, in order to improve pedestrian and Bicycle circulation in the village”

From the Comprehensive Plan these are the only word for word quote referrals that talk about Fairmount Avenue, Route 394.

3.3.11 Project sidewalks “Chautauqua Ave. to Elmcrest Ave.”

10.5.1 Fairmount Ave. have wider shoulders to accommodate.pedestrian and bicycle travel

14.4.3 As a primary corridor Fairmount Ave. should be tree-lined linear greenway accenting the core corridor for the entire village experience and enhancing the appearance of commercial uses.

14.6 Expand the tree regulations to protect significant trees on all properties

There is absolutely nothing about going from Elmcrest to Route 474 and the state taking down over 200 trees. Does all this sound like support for West Fairmount Avenue sidewalks? I think not.

From the Active Communities Enhancement. A group of locals put together five different areas that either sidewalks were proposed or a bridge over the railroad tracks on Winchester Avenue. The sidewalks proposed were West and East Summit, East Terrace, West Fairmount and the bridge. They sent out a survey and there were 127 responses. From the response they asked the responders to rank the importance from 1 to 5. West Fairmount was last with only 11 votes for importance. Of least importance West Fairmount came in fourth The average for all questions was also lowest. Again does this sound like support for West Fairmount sidewalks? I think not.

The state had an outreach meeting three days after the Dec. 11 board meeting with little notice. The result of the meeting was that 11 people showed up.

Then they had a survey and there were 108 responses. One of the questions on the survey was “Have you seen any accidents involving pedestrians along this corridor? According to the fire and police chiefs they do not remember any walking pedestrians or bicycle rider accidents. Yet 21 people in the survey said they had seen them. How reliable was that survey?

The state DOT is planning another public meeting sometime in September. Before that meeting the Lakewood Village board should again vote on a new resolution. Because of the CMAQ denying the sidewalk grant and the board having information that was not available to them for the original resolution they need a new vote.Take a ride down West Fairmount and just imagine over 200 trees gone and ask yourself why. You may have to ride the same route for a few days in order to see a pedestrian or a bicyclist and again you have ask yourself, why?

I have spoken to numerous businesses and residents along Fairmount and I am yet to hear one of them say, yes, we need sidewalks

The Lakewood Village Board meeting will be held Monday September 9, at 6:30 p.m. Please show up to voice your opinion. Also be looking to see when the state DOT will be having their public meeting (Sept. 26) so you again can voice your opinion

Rich Fischer is a Lakewood resident and a former member of the Lakewood Village Board.