BUFFALO, N.Y. — More than a week after the New York State Department of Transportation floated the idea that the funding for the Kensington Expressway project could be used elsewhere if the tunnel project isn't supported, Governor Hochul's office is also being non-committal about the funding.
Amid growing public opposition to the DOT's plan to tunnel a 4,100 foot section of the Kensington Express way, 2 On Your Side asked if the Governor will direct the DOT to guarantee the money not be moved to other DOT projects in the state.
WGRZ also asked if the Governor will direct the DOT to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement regarding the project that, if started in 2024, wouldn't be completely until sometime in 2028.
A spokesperson for the Governor provided the following statement:
"As Governor Hochul has said before, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to correct one of the most damaging planning injustices of the 20th Century and help reunite communities in East Buffalo. Community engagement is key to the success of this project, and as the public comment period for the Environmental Assessment remains ongoing, we look forward to all community members and stakeholders being heard."
2 On Your Side followed up with the Governor's office again and directly asked if Hochul will instruct the money stay in Buffalo, but a spokesperson sent the same statement again.
New York State Senator Tim Kennedy is the chairman of the transportation committee, and his office says that funding going elsewhere in the state is a "serious concern of his."
"The funding behind this project is part of the DOT's 5-year capital plan, so if this isn't used for this project, it will inevitably go somewhere else," Kennedy's office said in a statement.
Kennedy's office further stated that the Senator "continues to listen to both the concerns of some members of the community as well as the many people who have galvanized and spearheaded this project for decades and he encourages everyone to submit feedback to the DOT during the extended comment period."
A growing number of Humboldt residents, block clubs and organizations with a vested interest in the project say the proposal by the NYSDOT will cause damage to the community for another generation.
The East Side Parkways Coalition is holding information session and letter writing event at 6 P.M. on Wednesday at the Delevan Grider Community Center, ahead of the November 10th deadline to submit comments to the DOT.
"As a life long resident of this community, I've taken a strong interest in this project," said Candace Moppins from the ESP Coalition. "I've attended the hearings and several community meetings, and there is no community wide consensus in support of the DOT's currently proposed option."
Terrance Robinson, a Humboldt Parkway resident has also been campaigning for more time and more options to be considered by the DOT.
"When I've talked to people, they just want the brakes to get pumped, and allow for more time here, and versus what we all know, is probably going to happen, in the coming weeks now that they've hit their legal obligation of allowing a comment period," Robinson said. " they're just going to release what they they've always been planning on releasing.
The growing conversation within the community regarding the Kensington Project has caused a rift between some organizations.
When the Olmsted Parks Conservancy declared they were opposed to the project, members of the Restoring Our Communities Coalition called the stance "out of line."
Members of the community that 2 On Your Side spoke with understand the difficult position ROCC has been put in by the state.
ROCC has worked for decades to restore the Humboldt Parkway, but also improve the health of the neighborhood.
"Everything we're doing at ESP is in support of what ROCC's initial goals were," said Brad Wales.
Wales is an architect, teaches at UB and a member of the ESP Coalition.
ROCC's initial goals were to improve the health of the people in the neighborhood, that's the number one main thing," Wales said. "This tunnel right now is going to cement in place, for the next 60 years, this tunnel is going to poison the neighborhood at either end."
As stated in the DOT's draft design report and environmental assessment (page 201), pollution at either end of the proposed tunnel would increase by 6%.
According to EPA's environmental justice screening and map tool, the neighborhoods adjacent to the Kensington expressway range between the 80th-100th percentile for asthma, heart disease, and low life expectancy - among the worst in the nation.
"Our ESP Coalition, 100% is just trying to say ROCC can can we help you out here?" Wales said. "Because this tunnel isn't right, let's work together."
The public has until Friday, November 10 to submit comments to the NYSDOT regarding the Kensington Expressway project.