About SECR
SECR, the Subway Erie Canal Revitalization Group, was originally formed in early 2005 in response to the City of Rochester's then-announced plans to entirely and permanently fill the historic Rochester Subway tunnel / Broad Street tunnel corridor with dirt.
In 2005, this was the City's preferred alternative, rather than any continued maintenance or rehabilitation of this near mile-long "bridge". The structure is technically a bridge as Broad Street, while at ground level, is built over the subway tunnel, which previously had been the orginal bed of the historic Erie Canal.
SECR was formed as a citizen-based coalition of neighborhood leaders, community stakeholders, interested parties, and supporters of Rochester's history. Early activities included outreach to local leaders and elected officials, presentations before City Council, interactions with City engineering staff, and media interviews and awareness.
SECR represents a variety of interests and articulated reuse strategies for the corridor and asset, including (but not limited to) restoring active passenger rail transportation, re-fitting the corridor for a recreated canal with navigable water, leaving the asset as-is, and/or combinations of the above options.
SECR was successful in halting the original, total fill of the Subway Tunnel, but as early as July 2007, it appears the City of Rochester is planning to fill a portion of the Subway Tunnel, the north-western-most portion, even before a complete study of the entire corridor-- and its reuse potential-- is complete.
June 2008 Update: The City of Rochester has made definite plans towards filling a major portion of the subway tunnel (click here for the handout distributed at the Public Hearing held on May 29th, 2008).
SPECIAL NEWS: The City has also scheduled a Public Visioning Session for the Broad Street Corridor and Erie Canal Aqueduct / Broad Street Bridge from 10am to 3pm on Saturday June 28th, 2008 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. All interested parties are strongly urged to attend! Please Click HERE for a PDF of the Flyer.
Archway Pillars
Inside the Broad Street Bridge / Aqueduct
Activities with SECR were quiet for several months as we waited in anticipation of participating in the City's comprehensive study of the Broad Street Corridor. On July 7th, 2007, the Democrat and Chronicle released a story written by Brian Sharp ("City looks to old subway, canal for a key connection" ) revealing the City's current plans for the tunnel corridor, including filling the northwestern-most portion of the tunnel. It is SECR's position that the entire Broad Street Corridor, and the natural connections and relationship with surrounding neighborhoods, assets and opportunities, must be studied carefully and objectively before reaching a conclusion that any portion of the tunnel is best served by a permanent fill.
In the coming days, we will be adding content to this site, including a gallery of photographs (current and historical), contacts for key elected leaders and officials, and a running tally of news updates related to the Broad Street Corridor. In the meantime, please feel free to contact SECR with comments and/or questions by e-mailing Christopher Burns, SECR's Director of Communications.