SKANEATELES - Started a decade ago, a project may come to fruition this year designed to make the western border of the town more inviting.

Richard Bennett, project engineer for Bergmann Associates, presented an updated version of the Western Gateway Improvement Project during a special meeting earlier this month for the section of East Genesee Street between the western town border and Fuller Street, near the edge of Skaneateles village.

The town received a state grant in 1995, but didn't act on it until a few years ago.

Budget Officer Bridgett Winkelman, who also belongs to the project committee, said other boards may not have pursued the project because getting organized with state and federal agencies is “cumbersome” and “it took many steps to keep it moving forward.”

The project, which is estimated for $447,400, requires the town to put up $105,000 of the funding. The town board still is exploring how it wants to fund its portion of the undertaking.

The town likely will put the project out to bid in June. However, the town and Rochester-based Bergmann plans to schedule a public information meeting in May before deciding on a final design.

The tentative features include adding sidewalks, installing five benches, planting trees and other landscaping, constructing medians in businesses#, drives, dedicating a section of roadway for bicycle riders and erecting entrance signs along Route 20.

“It's going to make it more inviting,” councilor Nancy Murray said.

Councilor Ellen Kulik agreed, adding the improvements will be a visual cue when people enter the town.

The sidewalks, although the Department of Transportation refers to this element as pedestrian pathways because of the feature's specifics, would run along the northern side of Route 20 throughout the stretch of road targeted for the improvement project.

The design may include a handrail in one section of the sidewalk because the hill is steeper than federal guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act. This solution of a rail requires state Department of Transportation approval.

The design also includes installing curbs and small medians along some parking lots to help define businesses#, entrances off the road. During the winter, road crews could pile snow on these islands, Bennett assured the town board in response to councilors#, questions. These medians also would have plants and can absorb some water into the ground. Excess water and flooding is an issue in the area, Councilor David Laxton pointed out.

He wanted to ensure the town wouldn't have to undo a part of the project later to resolve that trouble. Bennett said the plan includes about half a dozen storm sewer grates to help collect water along the discussed section of Route 20.

The state Department of Transportation has to approve the final proposed project before it goes to the town board for final approval. They aim to begin the work after Labor Day, when tourism season ends.

Bennett told the town board designers removed certain elements of the proposal because of engineering constrictions or cost-prohibitive estimates.

These included creating a stripped lane dedicated for bicyclists. Instead, crews will post signs warning drivers bikers may ride on the road's shoulder, which has enough room to accommodate the pedalers, Bennett said. This method is better in the sense of continuity with the village, as a bike lane would abruptly end. Also the stretch of Route 20 does not provide logical starting or stopping points.

“We'll pursue a concept called share the road for bicyclists,” Bennett said. “The shoulders are wide enough with the pavement out there to provide enough ... clear area for bicyclists.”

Another element engineers removed was the dedicated turn left lane in front of Transportation Drive and Mirbeau Inn and Spa. Among other reasons, keeping drivers turning left in the main lanes would cause the traffic flow to slow down, a main concern of town officials and residents.

Engineers looked at criteria that would cause the state to require for a dedicated middle lane.

“None of the ... criteria actually triggered the need for a left turn lane,” Bennett said. “When you look at the actual reported accident history, in a three-year span there were 15 accidents in the entire project corridor and none of them indicated accidents ... where people were trying to make a left turn and it was unsafe.”