General Information

Q. How do I contact the Director of the Department of Transportation?

Thomas J. Frys, P.E., Director of Transportation
Monroe County Department of Transportation
City Place, Suite 6100
50 West Main Street
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: 585 753-7720

Community Involvement Opportunities

Q. Who can participate in the ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY program or the MONROE COUNTY IN-BLOOM program?

Businesses, Community Service Groups, Churches, Alumni Clubs, Government Agencies, Professional Associations, Hospitals, Neighborhood Organizations, and others can all participate!

Q. What do you need to participate in the ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY or MONROE COUNTY IN-BLOOM programs?

The commitment of a minimum of ten volunteers, proof of insurance, basic yard tools, and the desire to improve your community.

Q. Why your group should join the ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY or MONROE COUNTY IN-BLOOM program?

Exposure! Monroe County DOT will install two highway signs crediting your organization for its efforts. Thousands of motorists a day see these signs. It’s a great group activity. Many participating groups use their clean-up day as an opportunity to hold a post-clean-up picnic or other event.

As you participate in helping our environment, you gain public awareness. Not only is this an environmentally positive action, but also a fun and rewarding group activity for your club, group, or business!

It’s the environmentally responsible thing to do!

Q. What does my group have to do once we sign up?

ADOPT A HIGHWAY: Attend a roadside safety training session and pick up trash from the County right-of-way.

MONROE COUNTY IN-BLOOM: Your group will be responsible for planting and maintenance of a flower bed, weed control, spreading mulch, cutting grass, and attending to the watering needs of your flowers.

Q. What do we need to participate?

• Individuals committed to the program.
• Experience on similar types programs has shown that a minimum or ten volunteers will insure success
• Proof of insurance
• Basic yard tools such as rakes, shovels, spades, work gloves, etc.
• Watering devices

Major Maintenance and Traffic Studies

Q. How do you determine which roads will be reconstructed and which road will just receive a new layer of asphalt?

Applying the "the right treatment at the right time" keeps roads in good condition and avoids costly paving and rehabilitation projects. The approximately 664 centerline miles of roads maintained by Monroe County vary in nature from rural to urban, and there are a variety of pavement preservation treatments that are utilized. By utilizing low cost pavement preservation treatments we are able to annually maintain many more lane miles of County roads to keep them in good condition. Applying low cost pavement preservation treatments on County roads that are still in good condition preserves previous investments and costs about 20% of the cost of asphalt repaving and rehabilitation. 

Transportation Engineering

Q. What is the difference between a bridge and a culvert?

A bridge is a crossing structure equal to or greater than 20' in span.

Q. Who decides the dates that the Irondequoit Bay Outlet Bridge (IBOB) is moved?

The Irondequoit Bay Outlet Bridge (IBOB) is a navigable waterway that is under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard; Ninth Coast Guard District (Cleveland, OH).

Q. Why isn't the Irondequoit Bay Outlet Bridge (IBOB) open to traffic year round?

This bridge is a seasonal swing bridge. The operation of the bridge is dictated by the Code of Federal Regulations (33FR117) and a bridge permit issued by the United States Coast Guard. The permit requires the channel to remain open to boat navigation between April 1 and November 1 annually.

Q. What is a bridge deficiency rating?

A bridge deficiency rating is a number indicative of the overall condition of a bridge structure. The bridge is rated on a scale of 1 thru 7, with 7 indicating a brand new bridge and 1 a severely deteriorated bridge, that must be closed to traffic. Any bridge with a rating that is lower than 5 is considered deficient.

Q. How often are bridges and culverts inspected? By whom?

All public bridges are inspected at least every other year by New York State DOT. Monroe County DOT also inspects all bridges and culverts owned and maintained by Monroe County every four years.

Transportation Operations

Q. Why do I call Monroe County for problems with traffic signs and traffic signals on City of Rochester streets?

The answer to this question dates back to the year 1970. In an effort to assist the City of Rochester with their financial hardships, Monroe County entered into an agreement to provide the City with select traffic engineering services in the City of Rochester. Monroe County DOT currently operates and maintain most traffic signals in the City of Rochester; other than those operated and maintained by New York State DOT. Monroe County also installs and maintains warning and regulatory traffic signs on City streets. The City of Rochester is responsible for installation and maintenance of all other signs (including parking signs) and pavement markings on City streets. Monroe County DOT also acts as the City's Traffic Engineer; reviewing and commenting on designs for all City street projects and conducting traffic engineering reviews and studies on City streets.

Q. What makes signs and pavement markings appear to glow in the dark?

The “sheeting” used on traffic signs is Retroreflective. “Retroreflectivity” means that when light strikes the surface, it is reflected back to the source. When a vehicle's headlights shine on a sign, the light is reflected back to the driver. The retroreflectivity is caused by tiny spherical glass beads embedded in the sign sheeting. The same effect for pavement markings is achieved by dropping the tiny glass beads onto the wet paint as it is applied to the surface of the road.

Traffic Signal Engineering and Operations

Q. What makes the traffic signal change as soon as I pull up to some intersections?

At many locations, inductance loops are still utilized; these are wires buried in the roadway. Loops are progressively being replaced with non-intrusive detection systems such as detection cameras and and radar detection. Non-intrusive detection systems have a variety of benefits compared to loops; they aren't milled up when a road is repaved, they are able to detect bicyclists and pedestrians, and maintenance crews do not need to be out in traffic to troubleshoot and repair them. When a vehicle approaches a traffic signal, the loops and/or non-intrusive detection system detect the presence of the vehicle and send a "call" to the signal controller. This reduces waiting times for approaching vehicles and prevents the signal from cycling without a vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian present.

Q. Where do I get traffic count information?

MCDOT utilizes New York State Department of Transportation's (NYSDOT) Traffic Data Viewer (TDV) for up-to-date traffic data information. Using the TDV, the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) and additional traffic statistics for a Traffic Station can be obtained. The data is downloadable for offline usage. The TDV data set is maintained by NYSDOT's Traffic Monitoring Section. The TDV can be accessed here: www.dot.ny.gov/tdv.

Q. How is it decided how long to make the flashing “don't walk” interval at traffic signals?

The flashing "don't walk" interval is calculated by dividing the width of the crosswalk (from curb to curb) by an assumed walking speed of 3.5 feet per second. The assumed walking speed is from the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control for Streets and Highways (MUTCD).

Q. How is it decided where traffic signals are installed?

Traffic signals are the highest level of traffic control and must be used only where they are absolutely necessary. It is important to remember that traffic signals, while a great help to many locations, also come with some disadvantages such as potential increases in intersection delays, rear end accidents, and vehiclular emissions.

The federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) publishes guidelines known as "signal warrants" which define what constitutes the need for a traffic signal. Some of the key factors considered include vehicular and pedestrian volumes, intersection delays and queues, and accident history.

If you have traffic safety concerns on a County road, please email MCDOT at [email protected]. For traffic safety concerns on City streets, please contact the City of Rochester Department of Environmental Services at 585-428-6855 or [email protected]. Another option is to submit traffic safety concerns to the Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST).