Dewey / Driving Park Intersection Named Regional AWPA Project of the Year

The City of Rochester was awarded the Project of the Year for the Dewey Avenue/Driving Park Avenue Intersection Realignment, which was designed by Bergmann’s architects, engineers and planners. The award was presented by the Genesee Valley Branch of the American Public Works Association (APWA) in the category of Transportation Projects—less than $5 million.

The project’s origins date back nearly 100 years to when consideration was first given to straightening the offset intersection of Dewey Avenue and Driving Park Avenue, one of Rochester’s worst traffic congestion points. In 2006, the intersection became part of a designated City of Rochester Focused Investment Strategy Area when a group of stakeholders came together to provide suggestions for improving the Dewey Avenue corridor.

The City of Rochester selected Bergmann in 2014 to complete a preliminary design in just five months to secure $1 million in available right-of-way funding. The money was needed to purchase, remove and relocate a store in the northwest corner of the intersection, making way for a realigned Dewey Avenue. Bergmann gained consensus for the new design concept by assembling a team that included representatives from the City of Rochester, the Monroe County Department of Transportation, and the New York State Department of Transportation, as well as community planners, engineers, landscape architects, property acquisition experts and community outreach specialists.

The project was completed in November 2018, more than a month ahead of the deadline.

“The realigned intersection provides the public with a safer, more aesthetically pleasing, environmentally-responsible experience,” said Pete Giovenco, president and CEO, Bergmann. “We’re proud to bring this critical project together for the City of Rochester and that these collaborative efforts have been selected by the APWA for this award.”

The realigned intersection features a 50 percent reduction in the number of potential conflict points; simplified traffic signal control; a dedicated parking pocket for patrons of businesses; marked bicycle lanes and shared lane markings to guide bicyclists; audible signals, accessible curb ramps and highly visible crosswalks for pedestrians; a more prominent, larger stop and easier route for buses; a public parklet; a green space; and new streetscape elements.

“The Dewey and Driving Park Avenue Intersection Realignment project was almost a century in the making, and now that it’s finally complete, the neighborhood has been transformed,” Mayor Lovely A. Warren said. “Effective traffic flow is critical to a neighborhood’s ability to create jobs, become safer and more vibrant, and create better educational opportunities. I would like to congratulate the teams here at the City of Rochester and at Bergmann on receiving this award, which has been a long time coming and is very well deserved.”

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For nearly four decades, Bergmann architects, engineers and planners have been delivering results to clients across the United States and Canada. This team of more than 400 professional and technical staff spans the Northeast, Midwest and Atlantic regions. Bergmann develops connections with partners and communities to create dynamic, creative solutions that will stand the test of time, while promoting environmental and functional sustainability. Projects in the Bergmann portfolio range from signature buildings and commercial developments to critical transportation infrastructure and community planning.