BUFFALO (WBEN) - Robert Altman was simply passing by yesterday as Congressman Brian Higgins and State Senator Tim Kennedy held another press conference on why the Skyway should be removed, and this time, they cited safety concerns.
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"The Skyway works; people use it all the time; it's the best way to get direct access; it's the best view of the harbor; coming back, it's the best view of the city," said Altman. "There's nothing that comes even close."
Of course, the question on what to do with the Skyway is certainly controversial. People on both sides of the argument have written editorials and set up various social media pages, petitions, and demonstrations to make others aware of the issue.
Kennedy noted that there's more urgency right now to figure out the Skyway's future because of the pending massive, multi-trillion dollar federal infrastructure bill that was proposed by President Joe Biden earlier this year.
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"This is an opportunity that our community cannot let go," said Kennedy. "We have to take advantage of what is on the table right now at the federal level, and we have to be able to invest in our community the way that our community rightfully deserves. Let's take this Skyway; let's reclaim our community; let's reclaim our waterfront."
Both Higgins and Kennedy are actually in favor of several major highway projects if/when the federal infrastructure bills passes, including the removal of the 198 and 33 expressways, along with the removal of the Skyway.
"It's not just one individual thing, it's the enormity of the bill that will give us an opportunity to address a number of infrastructure replacement projects and improvement projects that have been deferred for decades," said Higgins back in April.
But that line of reasoning simply isn't good enough for Altman, saying funding shouldn't be the reason that such a drastic decision is made.
"They talked about getting this allocation of infrastructure money and almost putting the fear into people that if they don't take the money now, they might never get it again?" said Altman.
When asked if there's valid concern from community members that the push to remove the Skyway is mostly politician driven and not coming from residents, Kennedy disagreed with that assertion.
"I think there are many people that are calling for the removal of the Skyway who are forward thinking and recognize the opportunity we have as a community..."