The program is a joint initiative between the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority.

A total of 30 speed violation monitoring systems that rely on RADAR technology are being used in active work zones on state maintained roads and on the thruway.

New York State has experienced a rising number of work zone speed violations in recent years, resulting in numerous highway worker injuries and several deaths among state and contractor personnel.

Under the program, all vehicles detected violating the posted speed limit within a work zone by over an established threshold will be fined. License plate images and speed data collected will be sent to NYSDOT and the Thruway within a week, with violation fines issued to the vehicle’s registered owner by mail.

Fines through the pilot program will be issued as follows:
– $50 for first violation
– $75 for second violation
– $100 for third and subsequent violations within 18 months of the first violation

For more information about the program, including a regularly updated list of camera locations, visit https://www.ny.gov/work-zone-safety-awareness/automated-work-zone-speed-enforcement-program

Welding students at Jamestown Community College

Jamestown Community College will begin offering the State Department of Transportation welder certification test beginning January 13.

Until now, Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua county residents seeking the certification have had to travel long distances for testing.

The test will be offered at both the Jamestown and Cattaraugus campuses with the first test scheduled for 8:00 a.m. to noon this Friday. The test will be offered the second Friday of each month at the Manufacturing Technology Institute welding labs on each campus.

Testing is open to community members and JCC students. The cost is $399. Registration can be completed at sunyjcc.edu/nysdotwelder.

Those taking the test should be proficient welders in the vertical and overhead positions using the Shielded Metal Arc Welding process and E7018 electrodes.

Welders choose either a 3G vertical up position or 4G overhead position test. The finished product is X-rayed and sent to Albany for review.

Those who pass are certified to the requirements of the NYS Steel Construction Manual and can work on NYSDOT projects, including bridge welding.

Students can receive formal practice at JCC through the Welding programs offered this spring. Courses begin January 17. For more information, visit sunyjcc.edu/welding.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist addresses Jamestown City Council (October 17, 2022)

Construction on Washington Street will not be completed this season.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said the city received notice from New York State on the status of the project, “And, as a response to that, Jeff (Lehman) and his team have formally put the state on notice for the current state of the road, the curbs, and other issues. We have sent them written notification of defect. We’ve asked them to take care of those items because there’s going to be a huge issue with not only plowing but mobility and access and others to the various areas.”

Public Works Director Jeff Lehman said he heard from state they’re working with their contractor to “better the situation.” He expressed concern that the state of the street will be hard on city plows.

Washington Street is a state road with the state responsible for its maintenance.

In regards to a different project on Washington Street, Sundquist said the foundation is in place for the expansion of the former Hartley Buick building that will be the new Central Garage for the city. He said they anticipate that project will be done in Summer 2023.

The project was last estimated to cost $2.1 million, which Sundquist said in June 2021, is a savings of $1.9 million over the original cost estimates.

Chautauqua County Legislature at a special meeting on September 12, 2022

The Chautauqua County Legislature approved a resolution accepting a $669,915 grant for the Dunkirk Airport at a special meeting Monday night.

Airport Manager Shannon Barnhart, speaking at the meeting, said that money from the Federal Aviation Administration would go toward upgrading the lighting on the crosswind runway to LED lights. She said it is required to have fully working lights on the runway. Barnhart added the project has already been approved and that the legislature was just accepting the grant award.

Legislator Elisabeth Rankin noted that 90% of the project will be funded by the FAA grant, “As we support the airport infrastructure, the infrastructure needs support and funding, this grant is vital to the support of safe and effective operations at the airport. And I’m in favor of this funding and of this resolution.”

The total cost of the project is $744,351 with a 5% share of $37,218 coming from both the county and the New York State Department of Transportation.

The $669,915 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration is for 90% of a project to do runway lighting improvements. The rest of the project would be funded with a 5% local share of $37,218 and 5%, or $37,218, from the New York State Department of Transportation.

The Legislature meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. and will be held by remote access. The public may participate in Privilege of the Floor by emailing a statement by 4:00 p.m. today to the Clerk of the Legislature at LeeO@chqgov.com. Emailed statements will be read during the appropriate Privilege of the Floor. The Public may view the meeting by accessing the live stream on the County Facebook page.

NYS Dept. of Transportation to Begin Construction on Washington Street and Fairmount Avenue

New York State will be starting a $4.7 million road construction project in Jamestown.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said the project will rehabilitate State Route 430/Washington Street, from Second Street to Fluvanna Avenue, and State Route 394/Fairmount Avenue, from McDaniel Avenue to Fairmount Avenue/Sixth Street.

Dominguez said, “This project will certainly contribute to the continued revitalization of Jamestown and will provide greater mobility for the pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists in the downtown area.”

The project, which is scheduled to be completed by summer of 2023, will implement a road diet along Washington Street which will include converting four-lanes to three-lanes of traffic on Washington Street from Fluvanna Avenue to West Second Street. This will allow for the installation of a two-way left-turn lane. New bicycle lanes, separated by a buffer from vehicular traffic, will be constructed along both sides of Washington Street.

A road diet typically involves transforming a road by reducing the lanes on a road in each direction, coupled with a variety of enhancements that could include sidewalks, bike lanes, bus lanes or parking lanes. Traditionally these are low-cost projects that could be as simple as restriping the road, but that reduce speed and increase mobility and accessibility while enhancing safety for all users.

Both Washington Street and Fairmount Avenue will be resurfaced, and drainage improvements will be made.

In addition, traffic signs along Washington Street and Fluvanna Avenue will be replaced. Eleven traffic signals along both arterials will be replaced or modified, and one new traffic signal will be installed on West 6th Street at Whitley Avenue. Pedestrian facilities including curb ramps, crosswalks and pedestrians signals with countdown timers will be upgraded.

State Senator George Borrello said, “Thousands of vehicles, including school buses, travel on Washington Street and Fluvanna Avenue every day. One of the issues I’ve been most vocal about in the senate is our need to increase spending to improve our roads and bridges. I want to thank Gov. Hochul and Commissioner Dominguez for bringing this project forward. Safe roads are essential to protect the traveling public. Good roads also support the small businesses that drive our economy. Infrastructure spending is economic development. This $4.7 million project is a win-win for everyone. It will improve the safety of Washington Street and Fluvanna Avenue for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.”

Assemblyman Andy Goodell said, “I am delighted that the New York State DOT is doing improvements on these roads. It will dramatically improve the quality of two roads which are main thoroughfares in Jamestown.”

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

The Legislature also will see a local law on their desks in regards to a management salary plan for the Undersheriff, Captain, Warden, and Corrections Lieutenant. The plan raises salaries for those positions.

Inflation related costs are stated in the resolution as the reason for the fee increases at the landfill and transfer stations. If the resolution is approved, the new fees would go into effect January 1st.

The legislature also will act on accepting a $1.5 million grant from the State Department of Transportation for the CARTS program. The monies will be used for rebranding, hybrid trolleys, technology upgrades, and consultant routes. There is no local match required under the grant.

A number of resolutions also will be considered that adjust the amount of American Rescue Plan funds needed for a variety of projects. These include Emergency Services Department projects such as purchasing a new fly car and ambulance, a dive boat, do office upgrades, paving projects, and communications projects. The original cost of those projects increased by $601,500 for a total of $1.35 million dollars.

The County Legislature meets at 6:30pm tonight in the Legislative Chambers of the Gerace Office Building in Mayville. The meeting will be streamed on Chautauqua County Government’s Facebook page as well.

This work is expected to last for approximately two and a half months. All construction activities at this location are weather dependent and subject to change.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

Sundquist said that Public Works staff is still trying to finalize the summer roadwork list, especially now that there is more money coming to spend. He said the increase in funding included CHIPS being up 23%, or $1.1 million, Extreme Winter Recovery up $212,999 or 54%, and Pave New York up $304,000, or 49%,

“And we have a new category of funding that we have yet to get additional information on how it can be used. We have something called the State Touring routes fund, the City of Jamestown has been allocated by the state budget $561,000 to support state touring routes.”

DPW Director Jeff Lehman said the current touring routes in Jamestown are located on Fourth and Fifth Streets, a block of Prendergast Avenue, and North Main Street coming into Jamestown from the city line to Fifth Street.

“Which, according to the New York State DOT (Department of Transportation), average annual traffic data has 3,000 more cars a day than what Barrett has. We’ll realign Prather Avenue to have a 90 degree angle connection with Baker and the same with the very end of Barrett to make sure these intersections are 90 degrees”

DPW Director Jeff Lehman said the intersections were flagged as potential safety hazards, having been first constructed in the early 1900s for horse and carriage traffic. The project will be paid for with CHIPS funding.