Text · page 46 of 154
Read the whole document on one page (all 154 pages, each with its own heading)
46 Town of Aurora What We Heard Throughout the planning process, residents and stakeholders of Aurora were continuously engaged to ensure the plan reflects their desires and vision for the community. Engagement opportunities included a public survey, stakeholder interviews and focus groups, and two public workshops. Regarding Transportation Systems, residents emphasized the need for safer, more accessible transportation options beyond personal vehicles, with a strong focus on walkability, biking, and road maintenance. • Support for Trail Connectivity: Expanding trail networks, including the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT), was widely supported to improve recreation, access to parks, and connections between throughout the town. • Expand Sidewalks and Bike Infrastructure: Residents called for more sidewalks and bike lanes—especially along Center Street and Mill Road, in the hamlet centers, and routes to the high school, and Knox Farm Park. These improvements were seen as essential for safety, accessibility, and community connectivity. • Improve Transit Access and Options: There was notable demand for enhanced public transit, including shuttles to Buffalo, service to events, and options for seniors and low-income residents. Several participants suggested exploring on-demand services or expanded bus routes • Enhance Road Maintenance and Conditions: Many survey respondents expressed dissatisfaction with road conditions and requested more consistent maintenance, particularly on rural roads and bike lanes Key Issues & opportunities “Opportunities” represent existing “Issues” represent either existing needs strengths or assets in the Town that can or gaps in the Town that limits to future be further leveraged and supports the development or the Town from achieving potential for new development, business the plan’s vision statement and goals. creation, or achieving the plan’s vision statement and goals. Enhance Trail Systems and Park Linkages: Rail Safety Vulnerability: The 2020 derailment near Completing the 27-mile ECRT multi-use trail will Main Street in East Aurora highlights potential risks connect Aurora to Orchard Park and Colden, posed by freight rail lines transporting hazardous promoting recreation, healthy living, and potential materials, emphasizing the importance of local economic spin-offs (e.g., local cafés, bike rentals) emergency preparedness and communication. near trail heads. Trail connections at Majors Park, Knox Farm State Park, and JP Nicely Park can be High-Crash Locations on Major Corridors: NYS further integrated with future sidewalks or bike Route 20A near the 400 ramps, Davis Road (NYS paths, increasing accessibility and encouraging 240), and other intersections experience notably eco-tourism and alternative mobility around higher crash rates, suggesting the need for better Aurora’s natural assets. signage, turning lanes, or traffic-calming measures. Opportunities for Complete Street Initiatives: Speeding and Cut-Through Traffic on Secondary Many roads already have 12-foot travel lanes that Roads: Local roads like Center Street and Mill may be suitable for re-striping or adding bike Road sometimes serve as cut-throughs for drivers lanes, traffic calming, or pedestrian crossings to avoiding main arteries, leading to higher speeds, improve safety for non-drivers. noise, and safety concerns for residents. On-Demand or Microtransit Pilot Projects: Building on NFTA’s express routes and existing senior transit, Aurora could explore phone-app- based or reservation-driven shuttles to expand service hours or coverage areas, benefiting young workers and older adults alike.