Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Plans and preparation continue to progress with the massive $1 billion project from New York State to cap the Kensington Expressway in East Buffalo, reconnecting communities that were split by the highway decades ago.
While the project has seen a wide range of support from the community, local leaders and others, there are the others that continue to voice concerns and opposition to the upcoming project, which is projected to commence by the end of 2024.
The latest gathering seeing residents of Humboldt Parkway and its surrounding communities took place on Thursday with a public meeting held at the Buffalo Museum of Science, hosted by the Calvary Baptist Church for those who wished to voice their opposition to the project.
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These continued meetings for residents to express their concerns about the project is encouraging for Buffalo Common Councilman Ulysses Wingo, as people ensure their voices are being heard.
"I'm particularly pleased with the level of engagement that we've seen so far with Humboldt Parkway, and ensuring that their voices are heard," said Wingo in an interview with WBEN. "My personal opinion would reflect that of the community, as long as I'm occupying the Masten District councilmanic seat."
Living just down the block from Humboldt Parkway, Wingo has certainly heard many of the concerns from residents in the communities that will be directly affected by the upcoming construction for the project.
"There are some concerns about the Earth movers, the Earth shakers, and some of the explosions that will have to happen to ensure that things are done properly. And there are some other concerns as well related to traffic, and where would the traffic then be rerouted," Wingo said. "Of course, those folks who live directly on Humboldt, what routes would be provided for them to ensure they have access to their property while all of this is happening? So there are some legitimate concerns, and I'm sure the engineers are very, very eager to hear some of the solutions from the community, and also some of the concerns of the community. Other than that, those are some of the things that we're hearing: The traffic, the noise concerns, the dust concerns, foundations being [affected] by the Earth movers and things of that nature."
While the State Department of Transportation has been working closely with the community and hosting meetings to provide opportunity for public feedback on the project, could there be some concern that the residents' voices aren't being heard in the matter? How much of their opposition to certain aspects of the project are being taken into consideration?
Wingo is certainly hopeful that the State will be receptive of the concerns or criticism with the project, and look to make some adjustments during the continued planning phase of the project.
"I cannot see a scenario unfolding where they are not considering the concerns of people, especially when one of the people who lives directly off of Humboldt is a council member. And even if I'm not a council member next year, which I will not be, I still can't see them ignoring the influence that this neighborhood has both in MLK Park and Hamlin Park and Cold Springs," Wingo said. "I can't see how they can ignore the sentiments of those communities who will be directly impacted. I just can't see a scenario where they're not considering, and that's why I believe they're having these hearings so that they can consider.
"I can't say that everything they're going to hear from the community will be acted upon, because I don't think that's something that's even feasible to try to address every concern, but I'm pretty sure most of the concerns will be addressed."
What about the project itself? Does Wingo believe the public really wants to see the Kensington capped, especially when it comes to spending $1 billion to do so? Wingo believes there are a thousand ways to spend a billion dollars in the community, but it will take community members coming together to express what they believe.
Regardless, Wingo does have some concerns with the health quality of the region once this project commences.
"With the rates of cancer in that area due to the air quality, I think, warrants some solution to ensure the air is filtered and cleaned to mitigate the effects of the emissions of all of these vehicles traveling through the 33 on a daily basis. I think that something needs to be done based on the health concerns of the community," Wingo said.
"At the end of the day, I'm really, really, really concerned with the air quality and the health implications from the 33 being over there, after it bisected a community, that had been thriving for a century. Now the community has been divided, and people are concerned with the quality of life, on how the lifestyle of the folks living on Humboldt used to be, and they want to restore that."
As for his thoughts on the Kensington project, Wingo admits he won't share his personal opinion on the matter until his term as Masten District Councilman ends on Jan. 1, 2024.