Transportation Projects

Interstate 86
The efforts to bring Interstate 86 into the Southern Tier has culminated in several local and regional projects to upgrade the conditions of State Route 17 (the Southern Tier Expressway) to federal Interstate standards. These projects have included the removal of intersections and the construction of the Lowman crossover in the Town of Chemung, the re-construction of Exit 56 to include access to Church and Water Streets in the City of Elmira, and the construction of Exit 50, the Kahler Road Interchange, in the Town of Big Flats to provide direct access to the Elmira-Corning Regional Airport and the Airport Corporate Park and Corporate Park South commercial development areas. Projects that are still left before the highway achieves federal Interstate designation include the Horseheads bypass, and the elimination of several at-grade intersections East of the City of Elmira.

The completion of the Kahler Road Interchange in the summer of 2004 brought Interstate 86 into Chemung County from the Steuben County line. The effects of opening the City of Elmira and Chemung County to Interstate access will improve the economic condition of the entire Southern Tier. With access to the Interstate, city and county leaders will be able to attract and keep new industries, businesses will be able to compete on an equal level, tourism for local museums such as the National Soaring Museum and the Wings of Eagles Museum will increase, attendance at state parks such as Newtown Battlefield and Mark Twain State Park will rise, and regional features such as the Finger Lakes Wineries and Antique Alley will see an overall increase in interest.

The removal of at-grade intersections, the improvements to the road and bridge structures, and the incorporation of modern transportation technologies in the projects to upgrade State Route 17 will also result in an improved and safer highway system in the Southern Tier. The removal of dangerous intersections that have been scrutinized for years will help to save lives on our roadways. The improvements will result in decreased highway maintenance by the NYSDOT and improve the conditions of the road during dangerous weather.

Along with Interstate 86, State Route 15 in neighboring Steuben County is similarly being improved for designation as Interstate 99 into Pennsylvania. The eventual completion of these two key highway projects will result in the Southern Tier's interconnection with the rest of the United States through the Interstate highway system.

For more information on Interstate 86:
»Elmira-Chemung Transportation Council
»I-86 Coalition's website
»NYSDOT Horseheads Bypass Project

Elmira Promenade Project
The City of Elmira is working with the Elmira-Chemung Transportation Council to develop plans for a multi-use vehicular and pedestrian corridor. The location of the project is under and directly adjacent to the Norfolk Southern Railway viaduct extending from Water Street north to Second Street.














See the difference the Elmira Promenade will make in Downtown Elmira by hovering over each of the "before" pictures above to see an artist's rendering of the result after the project.














The main objectives of this project are to transform the viaduct into an attractive and unified welcoming corridor through the City of Elmira, improve pedestrian infrastructure in the urban core the downtown district, and improve facilities for both pedestrian and vehicular access














The Elmira Promenade will create an identifiable gateway for the City of Elmira and link with important regional facilities such as the First Arena, the Clemens Center, and the Chemung County Transportation Center.














The Elmira Promenade will incorporate functional space and amenities. There will be space for artwork from local schools, displays from local museums, and other attractive features created by local organizations.














Funding is anticipated to come from a wide variety of sources. The largest share of the $2,000,000 project will come from Federal Enhancement Funding. A design team will be selected by a community panel in November of 2005, with the final design to be complete in 2006 or early 2007. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2008 and should last for a year.
»more from the Elmira-Chemung Transportation Council

Traffic Signal Project
The traffic signal project will upgrade all of the City's signal system in a 4-Corridor process. The goal of the project is to improve safety, provide synchronization of key signals, and increase the overall efficiency of the system. Both energy and time savings should be realized as a result of the project. Phases 1 and 2 of Corridor 1 will upgrade signals, poles, and controllers at 32 intersections in the downtown Elmira area. Fisher Associates has been collecting data and has also completed the framework for the Synchro model of the City of Elmira. Data for intersections in phases 1 and 2 have been input into the model. The model will be used to analyze traffic patterns and to optimize traffic signal timings. Phase 1 of Corridor 1 of the project, to include 19 intersections on Church and Water Streets, is now complete. Power Line Constructors of Clinton, New York, was the Phase I contractor. Phase 2 of Corridor 1 is scheduled for construction in 2007, and is currently under design.

Corridor 2 includes 14 intersections in the northside of the City. The Design Report for Corridor 2 was completed in the spring of 2005. Three of these intersections, in the Elmira College Park Place corridor, are currently under construction and will be completed early in 2006.

Lackawanna Multi-Use Trail Project
This project was funded in late 2003 with TEA-21 Enhancement Funds. Field survey is complete, and the final design report is being readied. The City of Elmira will design and construct a new multi-use trail along the City-owned Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western (Lackawanna) railroad corridor on the east side of Elmira. The trail will extend from the Chemung River north to Eldridge Park and east to Lake Street, largely making use of railroad corridors, City-owned Right-of-Way and property, and NYSDOT Right-of-Way. The project will convert an abandoned railroad corridor in the City of Elmira to bicycle and pedestrian use. An alternate transportation corridor free from the hazards of motorized vehicles will be created for commuters, stretching 3.5-miles through the northeast side of Elmira. The trail will be an all-season facility, able to accommodate bicycles, pedestrians, cross-country skiers, and snowshoe participants. As the trail will be paved with a 10' wide asphalt surface, it will be largely barrier free and will accommodate those with disabilities. Construction, delayed from last year, is now slated to begin in late 2005 with completion during the summer of 2006.

Completed Projects

Link Road: Clemens Center Parkway Extension
The Link Road Project is now complete and the road has been formally dedicated as the Clemens Center Parkway Extension; Chemung Contracting of Elmira, the lowest responsible bidder, was the contractor. Design was completed by Bergmann Associates of Elmira, with Hunt Engineers and Watts Engineering providing sub-consulting services. One interesting aspect of the project is the use of "Geo-Foam" to help stabilize the peat found in the project area. A limited amount of peat was removed and replaced with foam, followed by construction of the roadway overtop of the foam itself. The intent is to remove some weight from the Right-of-Way to prevent the roadway from settling.

The Clemens Center Parkway Extension provides an east-west connection between Grand Central Avenue and Lake Street on the City of Elmira's Eastside. This has improved the traffic flow in the city by removing truck routes from residential neighborhoods and improving flood control measures along Diven Creek. The wetlands portion of the Lackawanna Multi-user Trail was built as part of this project. Additionally, Sullivan Street from Lake Street to the US Postal Service facility was reconstructed. Parts of Grand Central Avenue and Lake Street were raised and reconstructed to help alleviate flooding risks.

1-way to 2-way Conversion Project
Bergmann Associates has updated their 1997 work to convert Church and Water Streets to 2-way operation. This project has been combined with the traffic signal project, requiring close coordination between Fisher Associates and Bergmann. Church and Water Streets will become 2-way from their eastern most points to Hoffman Street (last signalized intersection on the west side of Elmira). Retail businesses in the downtown district will be more easily accessible and trips around the City will become more convenient. Power Line Constructors is the contractor for this project. The project is expected to be completed in November of 2004.
»more information on the conversion project

Woodlawn Avenue Project
This project is the final step in moving State Route 14 from the narrow residential section of College Avenue to the four-lane commercially-friendly Clemens Center Parkway, completing the North-South Arterial through the City of Elmira. Funded by the Federal TEA-21 program, designed by Bergmann Associates, and constructed by J.F. and J.P Wenzel Contractors, Woodlawn Avenue opened to through traffic in late fall of 2003. The project included vertical and horizontal geometric improvements, and also involved the construction of new curbs and sidewalks, storm and sanitary sewers, landscaping, a new traffic signal at College Avenue, and a rebuilt roadway. Additionally, the Stormwater pumpstation at Diven Creek was upgraded, while a new pumpstation was built at the underpass to handle new flows. The single change order to the project replaced the foundations under the interior columns of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge. The footings were found to be in a serious state of disrepair, presenting a safety hazard to the public and the railroad alike. Successful negotiations between the City of Elmira and Norfolk Southern resulted in a 50-50 sharing of the cost of the additional work, providing a large savings to the State and Federal governments. The project was completed in the summer of 2003.

Sixth and Columbia Realignment Project
In the spring of 2004, the City of Elmira in cooperation with Elmira College completed an important street relocation project. It addressed traffic congestion; improved pedestrian safety for students and residents walking through the college campus; made access to college buildings and neighborhood amenities more convenient; and improved the operation of other streets abutting the project.

The Sixth and Columbia Realignment Project was made possible through the federal TEA-21 funding program with the support of Congressman Amo Houghton. The City of Elmira served as the qualified local sponsor for the project, and was responsible for the administration of the public monies awarded to fund the "public works" portion of the project. The final cost of the public portion of the project totaled $673,290.07, less than half the amount of the total project. However, the project included a substantial amount of "private" improvements funded by Elmira College in addition to the work within the public rights-of-way.