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Correspondence » Legislators' Letter to Maggie Brooks July, 2004
Legislators' Letter to Maggie Brooks, July, 2004
Two Local Legislators Raise Concerns over the Bus Station Project
Monroe County Legislature
CALVIN LEE, JR.
Legislator - District 25
19 Shelter Street
Rochester, New York 14611
July 9, 2004
Hon. Maggie Brooks
Monroe County Executive
39 West Main Street
Rochester, NY 14614
Dear Ms. Brooks,
We are writing to share with you the questions and concerns raised by the citizens who participated in the public hearing we hosted on Thursday, June 3, 2004 regarding the proposed Renaissance Square project.
Since the public hearing we have reviewed the testimony of the 25 speakers, both private citizens and representatives of local organizations, and found that there were many concerns in common. We have compiled a list of those questions and concerns for your review.
Community Impact
- There has been inadequate public input on the Renaissance Square project. Why was only one public hearing scheduled? Why was it scheduled the week of the Thanksgiving Holiday?
- How will the Renaissance Square project promote and integrate the smaller community arts projects already being developed locally?
- When will the smaller community groups representing the arts, merchants, RTA patrons and people with disabilities be brought into the planning process?
- When will citizen representatives be named to the Main and Clinton Corporation?
- Why are project directors insisting on linking the MCC Advanced Technology education Center to th is project?
- What is RGRTA's plan to evaluate and perhaps retire the outdated "hub and spoke" transportation system? How does the Renaissance Square project address this issue?
- What local projects are being put on hold in order to move the Renaissance Square proposal forward?
Project Cost
- What are the specific financial obligations for county, state and federal government entities for the capital and operating costs of the entire proposal?
- What will the operating costs be for the underground bus station? Who will be responsible for these costs? What are the capital and operating cost differentials for a street level versus underground transit center?
- If the Auditorium Theater is abandoned due to the opening of the new performing arts center, are the city and county responsible for the debt already incurred for renovating the Auditorium? Did the city and county guarantee the RBTL's financing via the Cultural District Commission?
Environmental Impact
- How is the Renaissance Square project going to help Rochester alleviate sprawl?
- What will be done to alleviate the traffic congestion and longer bus runs forseen as side effects of the renaissance Square proposal?
- How is the Renaissance Square plan taking into consideration the Transportation Equity Act recommendations?
- How does the Renaissance Square proposal address the air quality problems associated with an underground terminal?
Business Impact
- What is the relocation plan for impacted businesses?
- RTA bus ridership has declined almost fifty percent since the 1980s. How does the Renaissance Square proposal address this issue?
- What type of needs assessment has been conducted for the Renaissance Square proposal, specifically for each of the three components (bus terminal, performing arts center, and ATEC)?
Any information you are able to provide in response to our inquiry by the August committee cycle would be greatly appreciated. In advance, thank you for your expeditious handling of this important and timely matter.
We are happy to provide you with copies of public hearing testimony upon request.
Sincerely,
(Signed)
Calvin Lee, Jr.
Legislator - District 25
and
Stephanie Polowe Aldersley
Democratic Leader
cc:
Mr. Mark Aesch, CEO, RGRTA
Hon. George Pataki
Hon. William A. Johnson, Jr.
Mr. Sean Hanna, Regional Director, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Main & Clinton Corporation
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