Another Voice / Peace Bridge
Authority has examined conservancy’s proposals
In the Nov. 20 Another Voice column titled “Authority ignores conservancy’s efforts on plaza design,” the chairman of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, David J. Colligan, states: “None of our recommendations or suggestions for improving the Peace Bridge Authority’s plan for the historic Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Front Park and its surrounding neighborhood has been taken seriously.”
He threatens to bring a lawsuit to stop the project because the Peace Bridge Authority is not acting on these recommendations. So let us look at these conservancy recommendations:
• Recommendation 1: A 100-foot-wide pedestrian bridge/linear park over Interestate 190 at a cost of $35 million. This structure itself would block the very vista from Front Park that Colligan speaks of. Further, this is related to the impact of I-190 on Front Park, not the Peace Bridge.
• Recommendation 2: Construct a roof over the commercial secondary area of the Customs plaza and re-create Fort Porter green space at a cost of $10 million to $35 million. Notwithstanding that this would also obstruct views and has technical difficulties, this is not for the authority to decide but rather the General Services Administration, which will be determining the design of the plaza and be paying for it.
• Recommendation 3: Redesign the plaza as sketched by a former conservancy board member. This was jointly reviewed by a Bridge Authority engineer and an engineer engaged by the conservancy and found not to be operationally feasible.
• Recommendation 4: Tunnel the existing ramp from the Peace Bridge to the I-190 to improve the view from Front Park at a cost in excess of $11 million. This was extensively reviewed by engineers and determined not feasible due to constructability issues and long-term detours onto local streets.
• Recommendation 5: Expansion of Porter Avenue into a parkway from La- Salle Park to Richmond Avenue. This is outside the purpose and need of the Peace Bridge project and requires its own set of approvals.
Now let us look at how the Peace Bridge project enhances Front Park. All roads and bridge traffic from Front Park and the neighborhood are removed. Front Park is expanded. The ramp from I-190 to the bridge is lowered and landscaped so it is no longer seen from Front Park. Connectivity between Front Park and the neighborhood is improved. The area devoted exclusively to trucks is 5.6 acres of the total 38-acre project area, compared to 10.8 acres of parkland and buffer area.
What is also not mentioned is that the Bridge Authority has already contributed close to $2.5 million for the improvements recently undertaken in Front Park and the immediate vicinity.
Facts are stubborn things. While the conservancy says it wants a new bridge and spectacular gateway, its actions may very well result in the status quo for Front Park.
Ron Rienas is general manager of the Peace Bridge Authority.
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