Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced on Wednesday it is starting the process over with the Kensington Expressway project.
Rich Fontana, special assistant to the NYSDOT commissioner, says its Queen City Forward initiative is geared to grow the project from the ground up.
"It's emblematic of what we want to achieve here with this project along the 33, and truly brings the Queen City forward," said Fontana during Wednesday's announcement in Downtown Buffalo. "We want the entire city to be seen, heard and understood. The people of the city must have their say."
Fontana says NYSDOT will be conducting a nationwide search for a new project director. The goal is to find someone who has driven innovative projects with innovative design, and delivery and knowledge of major project delivery requirements.
"This won't be an easy task, but we will give it our best to do so," Fontana added.
An outreach and listening tour with the community for the future of the project will likely begin this October.
"We want to hear from as many people as possible before we formulate a new plan for the project along the 33," Fontana said. "After we hear from the community, we will develop a scope for a new environmental impact study, and will include a traffic study on a potential fill-in option."
NYSDOT intends to do an in-depth analysis of where 75,000 cars a day would go if the Kensington Expressway is filled in, and what the air quality impacts will be if traffic is diverted to other parts of the city.
"Federal law requires us to start from the beginning of this, meaning the EIS will likely take up to three or more years of work to complete before construction can even begin," Fontana noted.
Fontana also brought up the future of any potential Scajaquada Expressway project.
"We have not forgotten about the Scajaquada, but at this point, our priority right now is the Kensington Expressway," he said. "Unfortunately, the legal proceedings surrounding the Kensington Expressway have impacted our plans related to the Scajaquada. Instead of beginning a study of the Scajaquada corridor this year, as we originally intended to do, our focus is now starting on a new EIS for the 33. In closing, the Scajaquada study and corridor improvement project will remain on the Regional Transportation Improvement Plan, as you know, the tip, as a future potential project."