Norquist reloaded
Urbanist Idol John Norquist came to town. Again. In a press conference that shocked nobody, he claimed the skyway should come down. But now, in his post mayoral, ineffective years, he’s calling people out. Like, former bosom buddy Congressman Higgins and, of course, Governor Spitzer.
“I doubt the governor has really looked at this issue,†Norquist said. “But if New York State goes ahead with a highway project that hinders development along Buffalo’s waterfront, Spitzer will be the one responsible for that.â€
Once the Skyway comes down and is replaced with a fantastic new “Boulevard” and results in what he himself admits will slow down everyone’s commute, will we be able to hold him responsible? Or will Norquist have moved on to studying other important urban issues, such as traffic congestion?
(Be sure to check out the BUFFALOg’s poignant commentary on the subject as well.)
Punaro, the state’s own EIS suggests a downgraded urban boulevard will have sufficient capacity to absorb diverted traffic after the Skyway is removed. The delayed commute will be about two minutes, not something to worry your little congestion-fearing heart. The Skyway accomodates only about twice as much traffic as Elmwood Avenue – a narrow, two-lane street.
The point of this project is to create economic development by taking down a barrier to community life and creating something that will add value to the city. All that vacant land on the Outer Harbor could become something if the appropriate infrastructure is in place. The state’s plan would dash harbor development potential by constructing a high-speed, four lane freeway on the Furhmann Boulevard site that will hinder development and delay the deconstruction of the Skyway. Our city deserves better.
I’ve never been a fan of Norquist and his Utopian ideals. Before anything as radical as tearing down the skyway is even considered, work should be done on the outerharbor property. There is plenty that can be accomplished while leaving the skyway in place. If the time comes whereby the skyway is an actual impediment to using that area, evaluation of viable alternatives could be done. One possibility would be to transform Ohio Street into an expressway, possibly connected to the skyway. Even that is many years down the road. The first thing that needs to be done is making the existing land available and suitable for development.
“The state’s plan would dash harbor development potential by constructing a high-speed, four lane freeway on the Furhmann Boulevard site that will hinder development and delay the deconstruction of the Skyway.”
Simply not true. The plan will rationalize the existing maze and make it navigable. Fuhrmann Blvd will continue to be 30 mph just like every other city street. The 4 lane high speed highway already exists, obviates the need for another “Southtowns Connector” and keeps high speed, high volume commuter and truck traffic away from the boulevard that will serve the recreational (and possibly residential) needs of the harbor waterfront.
The Skyway did/does not prevent development of the harbor; a toxic waste dump and the NFTA did. Both are out of the way now. The Coast Guard occupies THE prime spot on the waterfront, but no one mentions making them move to free up developable land.
There is too much disinformation and uninformed dogma about this project!