Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York State Senator Tim Kennedy announced $47.5 million dollars is coming to aid in the preservation and safety as well as build parkways for Tifft Street and Louisiana.
"Welcome to the foot of Tifft Street and the home of what will become the new Parkway along Tift street, a new connection here in South Buffalo to the Outer Harbor and coinciding with new development connecting Louisiana Street to the Outer Harbor as well. Creating new connectivity for our neighborhoods in the City of Buffalo," said Senator Tim Kennedy.
"This year, we were able to put forward a five-year capital plan for the first time in many years. With the leadership of Governor Hochul and the partnership of Governor Hochul and the Department of Transportation working with Congressman Brian Higgins, Mayor Byron Brown and Councilmember Chris Scanlon, we prioritized these streets in our community to create that connectivity for our neighbors, and everyone in Buffalo in the surrounding community to access our Outer Harbor with ease and safety," Senator Kennedy said.
$23.5 million dollars will be allocated for Tifft and $24 million will go to Louisiana Street. The design phase should conclude at the end of this year and construction is on track to commence next year.
"Right now, South Buffalo, Lackawanna and West Seneca consists of about 91,000 people. They don't have safe access to the waterfront. The speed limit is posted at 30 miles an hour. New York State Department of Transportation estimates that cars travel here at a rate of speed above 57 miles an hour. There are no protected bike lanes. There are no aesthetic improvements. This is not inviting right now. It serves exclusively as a roadway for cars and trucks, that's going to change," said Congressman Brian Higgins.
This section of roadway, Tifft between Rt. 5 and Hopkins is a no-brainer for a road diet. It's four lanes wide, the traffic volume that exists does not necessitate that. We can narrow that down to a single lane in each direction and use that extra space for pedestrians and bicyclists, a really walkable and bikable separated space that will improve the access for everyone," said Department of Public Works Commissioner, Michael Finn.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says there are a lot of infrastructure projects ongoing and coming to the City of Buffalo in every district due to the unprecedented amount of funds coming from the federal and state levels.
"They're gonna be street improvements in every single section of the City of Buffalo. We're going to continue the car sharing Main Street project. We're going to be continuing the very successful Niagara Street project on on the West Side. We will have a major Jefferson Avenue streetscape project that has not been announced yet, but you're hearing about it today. That we will be announcing soon," said Mayor Byron Brown.
"There is a unprecedented level of funding that's coming in. There are going to be many more announcements to come all throughout the City of Buffalo and Western New York," added Senator Kennedy.
To listen to the full announcement, see the player below: