New York State Department of Transportation—State Route 5S and North Genesee Street Multi-Modal Safety and Connections Enhancements

To reduce the crash rate in the community of Utica and make all residents and visitors safer, New York State DOT used a safety strategy known as a “road–diet” to replace outdated roadways with appropriately scaled, modern intersections and a roundabout in the city of Utica. This major redesign of two significant corridors improved traffic flows, reduced vehicle speeds, and dramatically cut crashes.

The City of Utica has one of the higher poverty rates in the state and a large refugee population, resulting in a higher number of people walk or bike as their primary source of transportation. This $23 million project used a balanced approach and improved all modes of transportation—including infrastructure for those who do not have a vehicle—and improved safety for all.