NYSDOT Hits Reset Button On Kensington 33 Project

By Betty Jean Grant

This writer believes it is safe to say that most Buffalo residents (unless they just moved to the area) know about the Kensington 33 and Humboldt Parkway project and how the people who wanted a tunnel are digging their heels in. Even the people who don’t want the tunnel are holding on to their belief that the Kensington 33 Expressway should be removed and that the trees that were removed should be restored.

Betty Jean Grant

For two long and continuous years, citizens on both sides of the issue have held meetings, marched in protest, wrote letters to the newspapers and held tabling events at summer festivals. Members of the two dominant groups, ROCC and the East Side Parkways Coalition walked door to door on Humboldt Parkway to inform and mobilize the residents about what was about to happen in their own front. yards.

When the members of the East Side Parkways Coalition used surveys and polling material to gather information to gauge how informed the home owners were regarding the NYSDOT initiative, they were shocked to discover the low number of residents who knew hardly anything about what the state transportation department was proposing for the parkway. The ESPC group was also concerned about the large number of residents who lived on or near the park way who had cancer, lung disease, kidney or heart problem or who had loved ones who have died from many of the diseases listed above.

When it was discovered that NYSDOT could not provide that information because the agency had failed to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the East Sides Parkway Coalition went to court to demand that, according to current laws, an EIS had to be done. The Judge, who presided over the case, ruled in favor that an EIS needed to be conducted.

The NYSDOT and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office will honor the judge’s decision and will take all options off the table and start over.

Whether the tunnel, full restoration of the parkway or leaving the expressway as it is, with repair of the three bridges, is being decided by the majority of participants or by a consensus from the people who attend the public meetings. The only difference in this Reset is people from outside of Buffalo can decide which of the three or more choices will be selected. I don’t agree with outsiders or out of this city’s residents deciding for the residents of Humboldt Parkway which option is going to be in front of their houses.

The NYSDOT sched uled a meeting on Tuesday, Dec.16th, 5-7 PM, Ed. Saun ders Community Center, 2777 Bailey Ave., Buffalo, NY. These meetings are held every two weeks in different parts of the city.