Batavia committee hopes bridge would boost redevelopment

City officials are debating whether adding a second bridge to downtown Batavia should spur redevelopment of properties downtown, particularly those south of the current Wilson Street bridge.

A city council committee decided Tuesday that, at least for now, it wants a bridge that helps development, but also improves cross-town traffic.

The community development committee on Tuesday started a 13-step plan for deciding where to put a bridge, but Mayor Jeff Schielke warned the city might not be able to afford such a project anytime soon.

Alderman Alan Wolff stressed the committee should not take forever to decide.

"My biggest comment is I don't want to discount what the bridge committee did by going back to get more public input (again and again) and rehash and rehash" the issue every time a new detail is presented, Wolff said. When he ran unsuccessfully for mayor last year, Wolff listed siting a second bridge as a major goal, saying downtown property owners are reluctant to make plans for new projects until they know where a bridge is.

A residents advisory committee that studied the matter for nearly two years presented 16 potential corridors in December. Its lengthy report detailed the criteria used to come up with a ranking. But it was not asked to recommend one - that's the city council's job.

There is something of a deadline - a grant the city has to pay for traffic studies for the bridge expires in August.

The committee will hear from two local architects who have volunteered plans for a bridge, with the first speaking at the committee's Feb. 23 meeting. The committee also wants members of the public who have ideas to present them at its March 9 meeting.

A new bridge could create eight new corners in the downtown, and corners are more attractive for business development than the middle of blocks, City Administrator Bill McGrath told the committee Tuesday.

The committee discussed how a small "circulator" bridge would benefit downtown businesses, and a bypass bridge connecting major arterial streets would enable people to avoid downtown traffic, especially if they are traveling to Batavia High School on the far west side or Rotolo Middle School on the far east side.

Schielke reminded the committee that by the time the city has the money, a future city council with different members may not like the location this council picks. He said the location will be "highly politically volatile" and predicted it will be an issue for those facing running for office next year. Batavia voters eight years ago rejected building a bridge off Main Street. The council did not unanimously recommend a site then, and Schielke thinks that hurt its chances with voters.

The committee's "action plan" for making the decision, and the bridge commission's report, are available online at cityofbatavia.net.

Bridge: Mayor doesn't think city can afford it