BUFFALO, N.Y. — Last month’s ruling for the New York State Department of Transportation to conduct an enviornmental impact statement on the Kensington Expressway project feels like a small win for those in opposition to the $1.5 billion project.

“We don’t think that this current project is the best project for the community,” said Candice Moppins, co-founder of the East Side Parkways Coalition. 

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Kathy Hochul, NYSDOT and U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration have backed a project to cover part of the Kensington Expressway in the City of Buffalo.

  • Last month, New York State Supreme Court judge Emilio Colaiacovo ruled that NYSDOT must conduct an environmental impact statement for the Kensington Expressway project, putting the project on indefinte pause

  • Members of Buffalo's East Side and Humboldt Parkway communities gathered on Saturday to present alternatives

The goal of the Kensington Expressway Project is to build a tunnel for a portion of the expressway, which has separated communities on Buffalo’s East Side and the Humboldt Parkway community for decades. However those opposed to the project argue that it would bring more problems than solutions.

“The current project requires it to remain as it was. And just putting a small green cap a quarter of a mile on top. That frankly I’m concerned about the continued health of the neighborhood and community,” Moppins said.

Which is why community organizations like the East Side Parkways Coalition believe in the importance of bringing community members to the table to come up with solutions for the people who live in those neighborhoods.

“The project currently does not address the health disparities in the neighborhood and the community. People are still dying, people are still having lung issues,” Moppins said.

“It’s vital that we have everyone at the table because as it has been for decades, politicians have been making decisions for their constituents without their will, without their approval,” said Tendaji Ya’Ukuu, founder of East Side Stories. 

The community discussion brought in community members to talk about solutions in every aspect.

“For air quality, someone to speak about even traffic. How this project or any project like this affects communities and affects people,” Moppins said.

Since the state Supreme Court ruled the project to be put on pause until an impact statement is conducted, members of the East Side hope to find alternatives answers in the meantime.  

“We’re on the ground, we’re organizing with the people. We’re not sitting in board meetings talking about what we’re planning to do for community, but we’re actually asking them what they want,” Ya’Ukuu said.