State resurfacing project could transform Monroe Avenue into safer corridor for drivers and pedestrians

Monroe County, New York – Drivers who travel Monroe Avenue in Brighton know the road’s rough condition well. The loud rattle and sudden jolt of hitting deep potholes has become a regular part of the drive for thousands of vehicles each day. Now, a major state project is set to address those long-standing issues — and potentially reshape how the corridor works for everyone who uses it.

The New York State Department of Transportation plans to resurface roughly 1.75 miles of Monroe Avenue, stretching from the Rochester city line to the Interstate 590 bridge. While fixing the damaged pavement is the starting point, state and local leaders agree that simply repaving the road is not enough.

“Anybody who’s been, you know, through this section of Monroe Avenue — or state Route 31 — in Brighton realizes that the pavement is in need of some TLC,” said Mare Millow, public information officer for the regional DOT office.

A Main Street, Not Just a Pass-Through

Monroe Avenue is more than a commuter route. It runs past restaurants, shops, and small businesses, cuts through established neighborhoods, and passes directly through Twelve Corners — the town’s central commercial hub. The area also sees heavy foot traffic, with people walking to stores, bus stops, and nearby homes.

“Monroe Avenue is not and shouldn’t function as just a thoroughfare to take people away from the city,” said Brighton Supervisor Bill Moehle. “This is our main street. We want people to stop, we want them to shop, we want them to eat, and we want everybody to be able to do that safely.”

Because of that role, the $13 million project includes design changes aimed at safety, not just smoother pavement.

Lane Changes and a Road Diet

Most of this stretch of Monroe Avenue currently has four 10-foot travel lanes. Under the state’s plan, the road would be reconfigured into two 10-foot travel lanes with a center turn lane, plus shoulders that can be used by cyclists. Right now, cyclists have little to no dedicated space.

“We’re really looking at how do we make this corridor safer and more efficient for motorists, for pedestrians and cyclists within the parameters of the pavement project,” Millow said.

Brighton officials support the lane reduction. Moehle pointed to Elmwood Avenue, where a similar redesign helped calm traffic without causing major problems. Transportation advocacy group Reconnect Rochester also backs the plan, noting that studies show road diets can reduce crashes by about 30 percent.

“The avenue doesn’t have as many trees as some streets and just that wide-open vista also tends to promote people driving faster than they should,” Moehle said. “The three-lane diet configuration slows traffic. The speed limit sign slows traffic, but organically, the structure of the lane slows traffic.”

Speed Limits and Pedestrian Safety

The DOT is not currently proposing to lower the 35 mph speed limit, but Brighton officials and Reconnect Rochester want it reduced to 30 mph. They argue that even small speed reductions greatly improve a pedestrian’s chance of surviving a crash.

Millow said a speed change is possible, but only after the project is complete.

“The fact that the speed reduction is requested means that people are traveling over the speed limit,” Millow said. “So our hope is that by narrowing the road, we’ll see people traveling at the speed limit, and then that won’t be necessary.”

Crosswalks and Visibility

The project already includes sidewalk repairs, intersection adjustments, and upgraded crosswalks. However, Brighton leaders want additional crosswalks, especially near bus stops, and are asking for rapid rectangular flashing beacons to make crossings more visible.

“Those are really important in crossing streets where there isn’t a traffic signal, so we want to see those added,” Moehle said. “We’re really looking at a multifaceted, multimodal approach to Brighton, but all with the goal of enhancing the avenue as our main street for our neighborhoods and for our neighborhood businesses.”

Twelve Corners Remains a Special Case

At Twelve Corners, where Monroe Avenue, Elmwood Avenue, and South Winton Road meet, the road layout will mostly stay the same due to the area’s complexity. No road diet is planned there, and existing turn lanes will remain.

Moehle said the town’s focus in that area is less about lane design and more about long-term land use, business growth, and neighborhood connections.

As planning continues, Monroe Avenue’s future is shaping up to be about far more than smoother pavement — it is about redefining how Brighton’s main street serves drivers, walkers, cyclists, and businesses alike.