City eyes $1M study to remove remainder of the Inner Loop

Brian Sharp | Democrat and Chronicle

Show Caption Hide Caption The Inner Loop becomes a neighborhood The city's Inner Loop project is helping build a neighborhood and elevate business on the east side.

Remaining area is twice the length of the portion already filled in

15 acres could be freed up for development

Area extends from East Main to State Street

Decision for full or partial removal still not determined

A $1 million study to assess how to remove the remaining stretch of the sunken Inner Loop could begin this fall.

The northern stretch of the expressway has more bridges and is twice the length of the Inner Loop East portion that recently was filled in and readied for development. And it adjoins a more challenged and varied area of the city.

What's left of the expressway, and the area to be studied, extends roughly from East Main to State Street. Mayor Lovely Warren is seeking City Council approval to accept state funding, secured by Assemblyman David Gantt, D-Rochester, that would cover study expenses.

There is, as yet, no indication who will do the study or how long it might take.

A preliminary concept appears to redirect traffic onto University Avenue between East Main and North streets, then create an arterial roadway in place of the sunken highway. If it is done similar to the Inner Loop East project, the sunken highway will be filled in, creating an at-grade roadway. The concept shows nearly 15 acres of developable land could be created, along with several acres of green space.

This is no easy undertaking.

The city started seriously studying the Inner Loop East fill back in 2002-03, under then-Mayor William A. Johnson Jr. It wasn't until 2013 that then-Mayor Thomas Richards secured the funding. Mayor Lovely Warren oversaw the $22 million fill and reconfiguration, as well as the selection of the development projects, with construction now underway.

"What ultimately will drive and dictate how that (Inner Loop North) project will potentially look and move forward will be the end result of what the study brings us," said city spokesman James Smith. "Even then, that would only be a guide because we will need extensive public input."

"Hopefully it is something we can move more quickly on," Smith said, while also acknowledging the complexity. "This is why you need to take a smart reasoned look at it, and you use data, and you use other measures."

Another difference is the development pressure, as the Inner Loop East slices through the bustling East End whereas the northern Loop area has seen minimal investment save for the new train and bus terminals. The goal, however, is "to bring the rebirth that is happening in our city to every corner of our city," Smith said, expecting the investment could unlock similar potential as is seen on the eastside.

This is one of the first projects that Michael Patterson advocated for when he joined City Council, representing the northeast district. He echoed Smith, saying neighbors' input will be needed "to determine what development best serves community needs and knits this area back with the downtown."

Whether the Inner Loop North is removed fully or partially, or at all, is yet to be determined. In a memo to City Council members, Warren wrote that the project would "evaluate alternatives for removing the expressway and/or minimizing its negative impact on the surrounding area ... identifying preferred alternatives, detailed cost estimates, and a thorough benefit-cost analysis."

Construction could proceed in a single project or series of projects, she wrote.

BDSHARP@Gannett.com