At the end of June 2025, homeowners on and along Thomas Avenue were notified via mail of proposed road construction, with earliest "improvements" starting Fall 2026. This notice did not detail any proposed plans, and residents are just now learning of the plans which will have detrimental impacts on the neighborhood such as tearing down many trees to make room for a paved shoulder on the west side of the street.

Please consider signing this petition with a strong opposition for this proposed construction. Our trees tell stories - we have legacy oak trees that have been around for many generations - and they still have so much life left in them. Our largest legacy oak is 94" in diameter but is slated for removal as part of this project. This is unacceptable.

The trees proposed for removal provide significant benefits to our community, including our mental/physical health as well as the overall ecosystem health. Mature oak trees are known to absorb up to 50 lbs of carbon dioxide each year, producing up to 260 lbs of oxygen in the same timeframe. These trees provide shade to many houses, allowing for proper cooling throughout a hot Rochester summer. Removing such trees will greatly reduce health benefits for current and future residents. Additionally, removing these trees will result in loss of curb appeal and property values will diminish in what has been named in the top "hottest zip codes" of the US.

These trees provide other benefits, including reducing noise pollution and protecting people and their homes from aggressive or distracted drivers. This includes our children as this area is in a school zone. A paved shoulder would only invite more erratic driving and the trees provide a natural barrier of protection from this. Protect our neighbors - adults and children alike - from potential harm by opposing this project. There have been numerous occasions where neighbors have heard a loud bang and come outside to a crash right outside their homes - each time, our neighbors were kept safe because these trees act as a protective barrier from these erratic drivers. 

Removing these trees would result in increased energy consumption, increased noise pollution, and potential injury or death to our neighbors. Keep our neighborhood healthy and safe by preserving these trees!

The budget for this proposed construction is $9.1 MILLION. Monroe County should allocate resources for more effective ways to maintain safe traffic patterns along Thomas Ave. Motorists taking Thomas Ave speed despite being in school zones, tending to speed to the traffic lights on either end of Thomas Ave, further putting our neighborhood at risk. Creating more room via paved shoulder will only increase these unsafe driving habits. There are much less destructive ways to maintain safety such as increased police presence or different light patterns to ensure safer driving. We also believe that these resources could be used to prioritize other areas in the Greater Rochester Area that would actually benefit from an added shoulder (such as those with highly trafficked bicycle routes). 

As residents of the area immediately impacted, we are extremely disappointed with the lack of transparency by Monroe County's DOT provided in the initial notice. This notice did not detail these plans and it was difficult to search for on the county website. In this notice, residents were given one date to "hear more" and provide comment on this proposal, which we believe was not done in good faith by being so vague. Similar petitions have been made to protect and preserve trees from similar construction plans and have been victorious. We hope that our local government will amend these plans to preserve our neighborhood character as we strongly believe that our tax dollars can be used more effectively.

Please sign this petition if you believe that:

1. Monroe County should preserve our legacy trees along Thomas Ave
2. The DOT plan to remove these trees should be reconsidered, taking into account significant benefits listed, including shade and minimal energy consumption
3. Alternative solutions must be explored to ensure safe traffic patterns along Thomas Ave
   

You may also consider expressing your concerns directly to:

• Samuel Giovani, Monroe County Project Manager: samuelgiovino@monroecounty.gov; (585) 753-7733
• Thomas Frys, Monroe County Director of Transporation: TFrys@monroecounty.gov; (585) 753-7733
• Adam Bello, County Executive: countyexecutive@monroecounty.gov; (585) 753-1000  
• Dave Long, County Legislator for Irondequoit: legislatorlong@gmail.com; (585) 753-1940

Lastly, I'd like to add a short blurb explaining the historic and cultural value these legacy trees also provide. This was included in my letter to various Monroe County officials:
"Irondequoit is a historic neighborhood rooted in community and connection. Much of this connection is felt through exploring and enjoying natural areas preserved throughout. The name “Irondequoit” has Onöndowaʼga:ʼ (Seneca) origins, translating to “where the land and water meet.” Additionally, the area impacted is part of the Nowadoga neighborhood, which is an Onöndowaʼga:ʼ (Seneca) name roughly translating to “a beautiful and expansive view”. These names are just two examples of our community’s connection to history, culture, and nature. We should respect this relationship and preserve our historic trees. Updating and expanding the sidewalk on the other side of the street is meaningless without the surrounding beauty provided by these legacy trees."

We must maintain the character of Irondequoit, which is defined by its accessible natural areas. Improving the sidewalk on the other side of the street is a wonderful idea and will allow us to maintain charm and accessibility to nature for our neighbors on and around Thomas Ave. Please sign and share this petition if you oppose the west-side construction plans and feel passionate about preserving the legacy trees of Thomas Ave which benefit the community in many ways.

Thank you for your support!