The city is planning major changes for the Routes 5 and 20 corridor.

GENEVA — Downtown Geneva is about to undergo a major transformation toward being a more walkable community.

The city wants to draw more people to its lakefront areas and in order to do so, it’s planning major changes to the Routes 5 and 20 corridor.

Right now, Routes 5 and 20 come down a hill into Geneva as a multiple lane thoroughfare. That makes it dangerous for people who are on the lakeside to get across and head toward downtown.

This $9 million project, which includes state funding for about half of it, aims to change that.

Meghan Paulette used to go to college in Geneva, so she wanted to bring her husband and daughter back to show them around. They started with a walk along the lake but when they tried to cross over Routes 5 and 20 to get to the downtown area, they faced some issues.

"We went under the tunnel, which looks like a good start but then there were railroad tracks, some parking lots, construction zones and high-speed traffic," said Paulette.

The city manager said it's a problem Geneva has been dealing with for a long time.

"We have this gorgeous lakefront and this vibrant downtown and through the decades, or almost a century, there have been so many changes that have kind of widened that gap," said Sage Gerling, Geneva city manager.

Now, they're trying to close it.

Renderings of this transformation plan call for Routes 5 and 20 in the area to be reduced to one lane in each direction with landscaped center medians installed between them. The city would also add a bike lane and more areas for pedestrians to cross.

"I definitely like that they're working on that just because there's been a lot of sketchy areas. It's really nice that they're trying to make it a better place," said Mackenzie Wood of Geneva.

Local businesses like the idea too.

"It's hard for people to cross, it really is, so any type of bridge or easy access would be beneficial," said Jeff Kovac, owner of Geneva Gelato.

Once the "road diet" is done, the plan calls for Castle Street into the downtown area to become one way and that seems to be where the most concern is from the community.

Kovac thinks that once people get the hang of it, they'll embrace it.

"I think it's going to be a win-win situation for everybody,” Kovac said.

The city manager said the city also would like to add a public marina and beach but that is in the study stages.

Gerling said the city is looking at 2020 for the 5 and 20 work; and 2021 for the rest of the streets included in the project.