Congressman Brian Higgins is on a roll these days. He’s set on the removal of elevated highways in WNY. We recently posted on his desire to implode The Skyway. Now he’s hot on the removal of Robert Moses Parkway North in Niagara Falls, which would be a good move.
“Completion of the formal environmental review brings us one step closer to reconnecting the City of Niagara Falls with its waterfront,” said Higgins.
As explained in the Executive Summary, “The Project involves the removal of the existing RMP between Main Street and Findlay Drive, a distance of almost 2.0 miles, and the reconstruction of Third Street and Whirlpool Street which, in combination, parallel the RMP along this segment.” “These enhancements would add a total of 20.1 acres to the contiguous parkland / green space that currently exists west of the RMP. As a result, the current total of 116.7 acres of contiguous parkland / green space within the Project Study Area would increase to 136.8 acres, comprising a wide, fully-accessible green ribbon connecting Niagara Falls State Park and Whirlpool State Park.”
In 2013 Higgins set out to help the city fight to reclaim its waterfront as the Congressman outlined in a report titled: The Niagara Falls Waterfront: NYPA’s Responsibility for the Robert Moses Parkway. At the urging of Congressman Higgins, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) has committed to fund the design costs and 70% of the construction costs for the Robert Moses Parkway North removal project, formally known as the Niagara Gorge Corridor Project.
Seeing that Higgins is championing these highway/skyway removals, I implore him to conduct a study on the removal/downgrading of the 190 (Niagara Thruway) that blocks Buffalo from the Niagara River.
In all of WNY, there could not be a more worthy project, that would free the West Side from the shackles that have held it down since the filling in of the Erie Canal. Just as he has fought for a report* and environmental assessment of the removal of the Robert Moses Parkway North, Buffalo is chomping at the bit to see our own waterfront flourish. It will never reach its full potential with this Robert Moses-esque freeway standing in its way. Can you imagine the development potential, along with brilliant public spaces that could be created along the Niagara River? The timing couldn’t be more perfect, now that there are plans to downgrade the Scajaquada Expressway, which directly connects to the Niagara Thruway.
*A public hearing will also take place at the Niagara Falls Conference & Event Center at 101 Old Falls Street on Thursday, August 25, 2016 from 5:00-9:00pm, regarding the removal of the Robert Moses Parkway North