Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It was a busy Friday for the vocal parties in the ongoing debate over the Kensington Expressway project.
Both lawmakers and Restore Our Community Coalition reacted to the state's decision to not appeal a court decision that would force the completion of an Environmental Impact Study on the $1.5 billion project.
Chair of Restore Our Community Coalition (ROCC), Sydney Brown says they're not surprised, but the community can't keep waiting around for something to happen.
"We are somewhat disappointed about it. We were anticipating an appeal, but we are not opposed to an environmental impact study. We do stand to say that we are not broadening this project for it to be delayed for 10 or 20 years from now, as a community, we cannot afford that, so we are asking and appealing to the DOT to make sure that in doing this EIS, we remain laser focused on a community that has been most harmed from this," stated Brown.
Assembly majority leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes says it's fine if they have to wait a little longer for the project, but the fight won't stop.
"I know that this battle has been for at least 30 years that we've been trying to do this. If it's going to take two more, then we just have to keep going. And that's exactly what we'll do. How the EIS study, the new one will turn out, how it will look, whether it's going to change traffic patterns in totality, or whether it's going to add value to the project as it already is been decided to happen. I'm not sure, but I know that these are the folks I came with. These are the folks I'm going to stay with. The next two, four years, or whatever it takes, we're going to keep this battle going," stated Peoples-Stokes.
Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart says she doesn't have an issue with the Environmental Impact Statement, but says the promises made to ROCC and the Humboldt Parkway neighborhood must be kept.
"That commitment was a tunnel project and funding for the neighborhood, the streets, the business districts and the homeowners in that neighborhood. That is what I want to see stay in this plan. I don't care how it shakes out later down the road, but what I want to see happen is the commitments that were made."