BUFFALO, N.Y. -- New York state is planning on starting a multi-year estimated $1 billion project in 2024 to cover part of the Kensington Expressway in the city of Buffalo, creating a tunnel roughly three-fourths of a mile with green space above.

As part of the process, the Department of Transportation collected public comment between Sept. 13 and Nov. 10 last year and reported 48% of respondents were in favor of the project, 41% opposed and 11% neutral. However, a group of private citizens called the East Side Parkways Coalition reviewed more than 1,300 comments independently and found inconsistencies, including by its analysis that at least by a small margin, more respondents oppose than are in favor.

"We're talking about a truly transformative thing that's going to happen to the city and I don't think we can just sit by and rely on this very murky result," coalition member Jeff Carballada said.

The coalition said, on its face, its analysis does not disqualify the project but further inspection raises more concerns. For instance, researcher Morgan Baker said the vast majority of comments in favor of the project came from already written templates, essentially only signed by citizens.

"We don't want to discount those comments because these pre-filled comments are an incredibly versatile and common way of making sure people's voices get heard," Baker said.

In fact, the coalition distributed its own pre-filled comments but also showed the vast majority of opposing comments were unique. Furthermore, the researchers claimed many in favor cite aspects of the project not included under the current scope.

Finally, they pointed out if comments from trade union members are removed, the results skew significantly toward the opposition.

"From the public comments, we see a lot of concern that this project doesn't serve the needs of this generation or the next," Baker said.

The coalition said the analysis is ultimately up to DOT but a timeline of comments submitted and and an extension of the deadline appear to show a concerted effort by state interests to solicit more positive response.

"We haven't heard any elected officials really stand up for the residents and community members who are frustrated that they're not being heard," Baker said.

In response, the DOT noted it has been working on a project along the Kensington Expressway for nearly 15 years with talk of transportation solutions for the past three decades. 

"What we have presented to the public is 100 percent based on community engagement and we continue to listen to feedback from the community," spokesperson Joe Morrissey said. "Governor Hochul, the State Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration have backed this project with $1 billion, and there won’t be a better opportunity to move this project forward than right now."

Meanwhile, state Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo, defended its solicitation of positive comments noting her office has been a vocal advocate for 15 years. She said she is concerned with a necessary upcoming approval from the Federal Highway Administration, not the coalition's independent analysis.

"Form letters in support or opposition of a project or policy initiative are not uncommon. Unions and professional trades will definitely be involved on the project, why would they not be supportive of additional work opportunities? We look forward to this community having access to its fair share of apprenticeship, workforce development, and training opportunities on the project," her office responded by email.

Her office also pushed back against the suggestion people who commented in favor were referring to a project larger than the current scope. It sent a copy of the letter, which while referring to a "phase 1" did not appear to mention any aspects of the project outside of what is currently proposed.

The coalition is presenting its data to the community Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Delavan Grider Community Center in Buffalo.