ALBANY — More than $112 million will be spent on four major transportation projects in Western New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office announced on Wednesday.
The transportation projects include $30 million to convert the Scajaquada Expressway into a low-speed urban boulevard, $6 million for an environmental and design assessment on the Kensington Expressway, $22.3 million for Buffalo’s Cars on Main Street initiative, and $54.1 million for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. Additionally, the governor announced $10.5 million for improvements and enhancements to Allegany, Niagara Falls & Midway state parks. Together, these projects are expected to create nearly 1,000 well-paying jobs and accelerate economic growth in the region.
“The state is investing heavily in Western New York – taking a new approach to transform this region’s transportation network into a 21st century model for progress, and revitalize our state parks to meet the needs of the next generation,” Gov. Cuomo said. “These remarkable investments will leverage the natural beauty of Buffalo, while rethinking travel and restoring the visionary design of our parks and roads that was lost decades ago. By listening to local leaders and hearing from residents, we are reuniting our communities to create a world-class transportation network and parks system deserving of Western New York.”
The 2016-17 New York State Budget includes the largest transportation plan ever approved, with over $55 billion in transportation investments statewide, including $27.14 billion for State Department of Transportation and Thruway programs. The Scajaquada, Kensington, Cars on Main Street and NFTA projects will leverage these investments to continue moving the region forward, building on the tremendous growth we have seen in Western New York over the last five years.
“With attention to the Kensington, Scajaquada, and Main Street in Buffalo, this $58 million investment covers roads that are used by thousands of motorists every day,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. “The planned improvements will put a dramatic new face on these essential roadways while enhancing safety and creating jobs.”
“Scajaquada Boulevard”
The state budget provides $30 million to expedite the initial construction phase of converting the “Scajaquada Expressway” into an urban boulevard. The New York State Department of Transportation, which is administering this project, is evaluating alternatives for transforming the existing expressway into a low-speed, urban boulevard with two lanes in each direction. The new roadway will enhance bicycle and pedestrian amenities and be consistent with the context of the historic Delaware Park.
NYSDOT has already implemented a number of short-term safety measures on the corridor including lowering the speed limit to 30 miles per hour, narrowing travels lanes, replacing “merge” signs with “stop signs,” installing electronic speed notification signs, and installing guiderail along sections of Delaware Park.
Additionally, NYSDOT is working with the community to add additional traffic calming measures in the transition zones to Delaware Park; including installing temporary gateway signs, narrowing lanes on the east end, installing rumble strips on west end, and adding more electronic signage to reinforce the speed limit.
Major work on the project is expected to begin in 2018 to further enhance the safety of the Scajaquada Corridor, working with the community to ensure the roadway fits the natural look and feel of the historic park it traverses through. The Scajaquada project is expected to create 420 jobs.
Kensington Expressway-Humboldt Parkway
The budget also provides $6 million for NYSDOT to conduct an environmental and design assessment covering the Kensington Expressway (State Route 33). The original Humboldt Parkway, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, was a grand tree-lined boulevard that connected Humboldt Park (now Martin Luther King, Jr. Park) with Delaware Park.
The construction of the Kensington Expressway in the 1950s and 1960s resulted in the removal of the historic Olmsted-designed parkway. NYSDOT will immediately begin the thorough environmental review required of a transformative project of this nature.
Cars on Main Street
The state is also committing $4 million, in addition to $18.3 million in federal funding previously secured for this project, to support a $22.3 million City of Buffalo project that will design and construct infrastructure improvements along an additional segment of the Main Street Transit Mall in downtown Buffalo.
The project will re-open the Main Street section between Exchange Street and Scott Street to two-way vehicular traffic. Project improvements also include restoring two-way traffic to Lower Main Street, replacing dated track bed and rails, modifying existing light rail crossover location, adding on-street parking, reconnecting city streets, and improving the overall pedestrian experience.
This project will combine with earlier and future project phases until the entire portion of Main Street, from Tupper Street to Scott Street, is converted to multi-modal travel. This project is expected to create 312 jobs.
Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
The 2016-17 state budget provides more than $51.4 million in Statewide Mass Transportation Operating Assistance (STOA) funding, an increase of $2.6 million or 5.3 percent over the prior year to maintain and enhance bus and rail service operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. As public transportation provides mobility that significantly contributes to the region’s economic competitiveness, energy independence, and environmental sustainability, this funding will further boost NFTA capacity and drive growth throughout the region.
Allegany, Niagara Falls & Midway State Parks
The state has committed $4.4 million for wetland and beach enhancement projects at Allegany State Park, continuation of the Niagara Falls State Park revitalization initiative and various park improvements at Midway State Park. This funding is part of the state’s overall investment of $10.5 million in Western New York parks in the 2016-17 State Budget. This funding builds on the Governor’s NY Parks 2020 program, a multi-year commitment to leverage $900 million in private and public funding for State Parks from 2011 to 2020.
