Niagara Falls, N.Y. (WBEN) - Plans continue to progress towards finalizing the groundwork for a massive $1 billion project to cap the Kensington Expressway, and reconnect communities in East Buffalo.
In recent months, officials from New York State have met with the public, holding a number of public meetings to not only provide a preview of what's in store for the project along the Kensington, but also to take in public feedback on the matter.
Despite opportunities for residents to voice their thoughts and discuss the project and its impact in neighborhoods surrounding the Kensington, there are residents and activists who continue to voice some concerns and speak out against the project.
The latest movement in opposition to the Kensington Expressway project is one Humboldt Parkway resident, Terry Robinson, who has filed a lawsuit against the New York State Department of Transportation for not being compliant with the State Environmental Quality Review Act and its regulations. Robinson is asking the State D.O.T. to comply with the law, do a proper environmental study and consider the impact on the people most directly affected by the proposed project.
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is among a number of local lawmakers and others from Buffalo who have spoken very highly of this proposed project for East Buffalo. It was Gov. Hochul who helped push the project into action soon after she took over in August of 2021, and she continues to be bold in trying to piece communities back together.
"The genesis of this is, at least, 30-years-old. The ROCC [Restore Our Community Coalition] organization from the community members have been spearheading this intensely for 15 years, and I thank them and Crystal Peoples-Stokes, the [State Assembly] Majority Leader, for really bringing this to my attention right as I became the new governor," said Gov. Hochul on Monday while in Niagara Falls. "This was an important part of my first announcement of what we're doing for Western New York was $1 billion to really right the wrongs of the past, and to bring together a divided community that had no political power back in the 1950s when the decision was made to sever the artery of this vibrant community. So we're putting it back together."
Hochul admits that while she and many others do want to see this project in East Buffalo come to fruition, there is a balance when considering the daily traffic along the 33 and ensuring the health of residents along Humboldt Parkway and surrounding communities.
What Gov. Hochul does not want to see with the Kensington Expressway project is anything holding up the process, which includes lawsuits like the one filed by Robinson.
"What happens more frequently than I like, especially in Western New York, is lawsuits [that] can stop projects," she said. "I cannot comment on the specifics of the lawsuit other than the money's there, but what's important is also there's federal money behind it ($55 million). So, at some point, if this doesn't move forward, the federal money does dry up. I want to make sure everyone's aware of that. We have been known for great ideas dying on the drawing board because of resistance. I believe the majority of the community supports this, I want to support the community, which is why I brought this to bear. But we'll have to see what happens with the lawsuit."
As for Robinson, he feels the best option for the Kensington Expressway is to fill it in, believing it would cost just 1/10 of the $1 billion projected for the project. In addition, he feels the different monies could be allocated to things that need to be done to change the economic landscape in East Buffalo, and to restore the City of Buffalo to greatness
However, Peoples-Stokes reminded residents about a month ago the state money for this project is transportation money, which means if it's not invested on the Kensington Expressway, it will go somewhere else in the state. She feels that's something the people of the region who may be opposed to the project need to better understand.
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Gov. Hochul gets frustrated with projects like this when community leaders, stakeholders and others involved work hard to get the gears moving forward with progress, only for people within and also outside the communities affected deciding what's best for the neighborhood. She feels it's time to keep the progress moving in a positive direction in the months ahead.
"The neighbors there know what they want. They also know that we have a finite time period to make progress here. We've seen so many projects talked about, excited about, but then opposition comes and then you never hear about them again. This is one I want to make sure that the community knows," Hochul said. "They've been voting online, we've had over 60 community outreach events, public meetings and Zoom calls, trying to really get people's opinions. There is an opportunity now for us to launch ahead, or it stagnates and we talk about it for another 30 years. I'm in the category of let's move ahead."