BUFFALO (WBEN) - After years of collaboration, members of the Scajaquada Corridor Coalition unveiled their vision for a re-imagined Scajaquada corridor, which includes the removal of the 198 expressway.
"We have an incredible opportunity to prioritize our community members, safe access, and quality of life over motor vehicle speed in the redesign of the Scajaquada Corridor," said Justin Booth, executive director of GObike. "By repairing this corridor, we can start to reduce the deleterious impacts of our urban highways, to instead support resilient, sustainable transportation options reflective of our community's current values and needs, and build a city that's ready for the future instead of stuck in the past."
While the group wants to consider the undertaking as one project, their vision actually depicts what they believe to be considerable improvements in communities such as Black Rock Harbor, Scajaquada Creek, Humboldt Parkway, and Delaware Park.
The renderings are intended to be used as a "starting point" for community engagement to discuss what is possible for the Scajaquada Corridor.
"Defining moments don't come around very often, but here we are," began Jill Jedlicka, the executive director of the Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. "Many decisions are on the horizon for infrastructure policies in our region, particularly the Scajaquada Creek corridor and closely related to the 198 redesign effort. We can either seize the opportunity now, or get left behind."
Congressman Brian Higgins and State Senator Sean Ryan also attended the unveiling event, as they both noted their intentions and desire to systematically remove expressways such as the 198, 33, 190, and Skyway out of urban planning.
"Expressway building in the 1950's and 1960's devastated neighborhoods and destroyed parkland," said Higgins. "There is a renewed focus nationally on repairing, restoring and reviving these corridors."
