Roundabouts with sculptures for an Upstate NY village

Construction is expected to start this spring on a project to install four modern roundabouts, each with a sculpture in its center, on Routes 62 and 391 in Hamburg, New York, south of Buffalo. The village, the state Department of Transportation, and an organization called “Imagine: Hamburg” received the 2005 Livable Community Award from Partners for a Livable Western New York for working together on the project, described as a model for other communities.
Hamburg, a long-settled village of 10,000 people, wanted thoroughfare improvements that would fit the community, so in 2002 the village hired Dan Burden of Walkable Communities to conduct a six-day charrette on how to make the Rt. 62/391 corridor and the adjacent village streets more accommodating for pedestrians while also aiding the flow of vehicular traffic. The plan that emerged called for narrow lanes, bike lanes, curb extensions, additional on-street parking, lower-speed traffic, and five roundabouts.
DOT eliminated one roundabout, at the intersection of Routes 62 and 75, because the state had recently reconstructed Rt. 75. It would have been a major design faux pas to tear up what DOT had just built, Pauley says.
Each of the four roundabouts that were agreed upon is to feature a sculpture — a first for New York DOT, according to Village Administrator Rob Pauley. The initial two sculptures, scheduled for installation this year, will be created by western New York artist Larry Griffis III. The second two roundabouts are currently going through a public involvement process. The four sculptures are expected to cost a total of $230,000. Whatever portion of that cost is not recovered through grants, donations, and other sources will be paid for by the village.
The cost of the thoroughfare project, excluding the sculptures, was forecast to be approximately $24.2 million. Pauley says DOT’s share has been estimated at $12.2 million and the Village’s share (for improvements to water and storm sewer lines) at $3.7 million, with other portions being paid for by utility companies and county water and sewer agencies. The project will be carried out over three construction seasons.
The plan produced by Burden and the community promised motorists a Level of Service B in 20 years. Rt. 62 had been rated “C” in 1998 and was expected to decline to level “D” (failing) if nothing was done.