Harbor Bridge Choices: Two Down, One to Go

Can we have both?

I'm trying to imagine the bridges without the skyway there (i know i'm dreaming but long run it is a possibility). But when i do, it seems like we should have both. They are trying to envision this as a new district, why not have two ways of access? Yes it will be more $, but I think it would ease traffic.

If I had to choose one it would be the Main Street one, just because i dont see the area where the Erie Bridge being more popular than the Main area anytime soon, thats just a preliminary opinion.

Main Street makes the most sense. It would be less intrusive as there is currently more foot traffic on erie st that will make for a slow drive thrugh there I think. I'm curious to know how they plan to deal with sailboats? I know this will be a draw bridge but as a sailor myself I thnk that will cause a bit of a problem for the 1000 or so sailboats in the outerharbor slips during the summer. I guess it would be a small price to pay for better access. It's also nice to see that someone had the common sense to plan this meeting in the evening so the working force can actually attend.

yeay!! a bridge to nowhere! 87 mil would get light rail pretty close or UB North. you know, where people live/go to school/work?

*sigh*

Time for a bridge design competition. This is a chance to do something really beautiful.

I live in New Rochelle and there is Glen Island park. It is a county park with a draw bridge out to the sound. There a a decent amount of car and boat traffic during the summer months. Bridge goes up an down every 15 mins or so. Not much of a problem, bridge is smaller though.

I hope that the planners are thinking about what would happen should a developer want to build a high rise residental building there, which I believe is planned long term.

I'd hate to hinder further development because a bridge is too cumbersome.

In the long term if the community aspires to have a dense active downtown and active outer harbor area hopefully with TOD type dense housing and employment centers I feel the city needs at least two or three crossings to really effectively and efficiently connect the two areas. The benefit of a grid street pattern is that it diffuses traffic and offers a number of options for transportation rather than funneling all traffic one way. the same should be said for bridge planning. Especially if the city hopes to one day rid itself of the skyway!!!

Am I the only one who doesn't think the Main Street option is so great? If the ride line indicates just where the bridge entrance begins...would'nt that block off the new development plans for the Inner Harbor around those blocks including the Mero Rail Events Station and entrance to HSBC Arena? So why is this such a good idea? It looks great if all you do is drive, but how will the pedestrian navigate on and around the entrance on Main? Please, someone explane and give more details on this.

First let me remind everyone that the Ohio Bridge needs to be reconstructed and it wouldnt hurt if its location was reconsidered because there does need to be a return bridge that reconnects the south end of the Outer Harbor to the First Ward.

I have heard a few people make a big picture plea when looking at whether it should be a lift bridge at Erie Street or Main Street.

Neither a trolley nor a light rail can make a right angle turn onto Ganson or Furhmann Boulevard so Main Street wont fit that purpose.

The bigger picture people are talking about is the possibility of uniting the Peace Bridge, Buffalo State Marine and Great Lakes Center, Ward Pumping Museum, LaSalle Park, Ojibwa Waterfront Residential, Canalside, the DL&W, the Buffalo Creek Casino and a new Convention and Conference Center into some MASTER PLAN. Plus if an offshoot could be built then there would be a straight line path for a trolley or light rail to Furhmann Boulevard from Erie Street...and even a connecting loop along Ohio or South Park.

We cant just think of a lift bridge only in terms of Canalside.

I just love looking at Sean's map and dreaming - I've had it bookmarked for awhile, but like a good movie, it's a worldstopper for me - I'll still click on it when he links to it. I enjoy it that much.
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Not to demean in any way or form, but some of his ideas are just so dang obvious, especially from the La Salle station to NT and through Parkside and North Park - with all the ROWs we have why is this not moving forward? The thought he put into the less obvious stations and lines is broad and exciting.
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Oh, if this really were our Metro system...

Let Ron Reinas have this bridge project instead of the Peace Bridge. He could even move a couple poles on Kelly Island for a "truck plaza".

Take the South Park lift bridge (near Lee) and move it down here. It is not needed anymore since Republic and Mobil are no longer up river. Float it down the river and reinstall it. Create a cheap standard bridge at the south park location. Could save a few bucks?