When the Kensington Expressway was built, it separated east and west Buffalonians and created results that are eerily like the disparities that were revealed to the world when the Berlin Wall came down.
Thanks you for your comments. I try my best to honor those who came before us and their work of helping to shape America’s national identity. The Olmstead Parkway is a manifestation of idealists who dared to dream the impossible dream. It is part of the American Family Scrapbook. It is our collective inheritance, and we are obligated to preserve the treasures we inherit and pass them on.
The fact that our infrastructure, which is also a part of our inheritance has become so neglected, is an indication that we have allowed leaders to drive the poverty mentality of taking from Peter to pay Paul. It is a mentality that is promoted so that our leaders are free to use our money for agendas that are not aligned with our best interest locally or nationally.
To this day many bad decisions continue to impact us. Driving the Expressway through Olmsted Parkway is just one of them. The fact we were pushed away from being strong producers and towards reliance on countries who envy us – for manufacturing life-saving medicines amongst other things, is not a dream.
Wonderful argument. This should be submitted to the Buffalo News. There is an eerie disenfranchisement of many who would be affected by this plan and that's not acceptable. Also concerned that the real aim isn't to correct past decisions but rather to limit everyone's freedom of movement, just as with the lowering of the Scajaquada speed limit (wouldn't barrier fencing have sufficed?) and the oft-proposed teardown of the Skyway. They don't like highways or free travel and there is an obsession with corralling us into smaller, more controllable, less free spaces.
From what I understand, the Kensington was built to accommodate the traffic into and out of the downtown Buffalo area, and (along with the Scajaquada expressway on one side and the Elm/Oak arterial on the other) it makes a convenient connection between the mainline (90) thruway and the Niagara section (190) along the river near downtown. It also facilitates a connection via the named arterial and a few turns to the Skyway.
Basically the Kensington is part of the system of expressways that make it very easy to get to and from Buffalo and nearby destinations with ease and efficiency. I also understand that the demographics of the area were different at the time of its construction than they are now.
With all that in mind, I think the proposed covering of the expressway to make it a tunnel and to “reunite” both sides is a waste of money. Tunnels are also more vulnerable to a coordinated terrorist attack that could claim more victims than an open expressway. You don’t need a tunnel to help connect communities. That’s what bridges are for.
Turning the road into a parkway is not that useful, either. Traffic still needs to go from point A to point B in the most expeditious manner.
I think the best use of available money to help a community is to build community centers, enhance existing outdated infrastructure, and foster harmony among all individuals as equals.
Spending available money in a wasteful way to help perpetuate a false narrative is not kind or useful to anyone.
Thanks you for your comments. I try my best to honor those who came before us and their work of helping to shape America’s national identity. The Olmstead Parkway is a manifestation of idealists who dared to dream the impossible dream. It is part of the American Family Scrapbook. It is our collective inheritance, and we are obligated to preserve the treasures we inherit and pass them on.
The fact that our infrastructure, which is also a part of our inheritance has become so neglected, is an indication that we have allowed leaders to drive the poverty mentality of taking from Peter to pay Paul. It is a mentality that is promoted so that our leaders are free to use our money for agendas that are not aligned with our best interest locally or nationally.
To this day many bad decisions continue to impact us. Driving the Expressway through Olmsted Parkway is just one of them. The fact we were pushed away from being strong producers and towards reliance on countries who envy us – for manufacturing life-saving medicines amongst other things, is not a dream.
Wonderful argument. This should be submitted to the Buffalo News. There is an eerie disenfranchisement of many who would be affected by this plan and that's not acceptable. Also concerned that the real aim isn't to correct past decisions but rather to limit everyone's freedom of movement, just as with the lowering of the Scajaquada speed limit (wouldn't barrier fencing have sufficed?) and the oft-proposed teardown of the Skyway. They don't like highways or free travel and there is an obsession with corralling us into smaller, more controllable, less free spaces.
From what I understand, the Kensington was built to accommodate the traffic into and out of the downtown Buffalo area, and (along with the Scajaquada expressway on one side and the Elm/Oak arterial on the other) it makes a convenient connection between the mainline (90) thruway and the Niagara section (190) along the river near downtown. It also facilitates a connection via the named arterial and a few turns to the Skyway.
Basically the Kensington is part of the system of expressways that make it very easy to get to and from Buffalo and nearby destinations with ease and efficiency. I also understand that the demographics of the area were different at the time of its construction than they are now.
With all that in mind, I think the proposed covering of the expressway to make it a tunnel and to “reunite” both sides is a waste of money. Tunnels are also more vulnerable to a coordinated terrorist attack that could claim more victims than an open expressway. You don’t need a tunnel to help connect communities. That’s what bridges are for.
Turning the road into a parkway is not that useful, either. Traffic still needs to go from point A to point B in the most expeditious manner.
I think the best use of available money to help a community is to build community centers, enhance existing outdated infrastructure, and foster harmony among all individuals as equals.
Spending available money in a wasteful way to help perpetuate a false narrative is not kind or useful to anyone.