On July 31, 2007, the Minority Caucus of the Erie County Legislature announced plans to fund road improvements in Erie County.
Recently, two Republicans introduced legislation to cut $12.5 million in sales tax distribution to local governments and dedicate the money to road and bridge repairs.
Ranzenhofer told the Buffalo News, “The question is whether we are going to help governments or help people.”*
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| Legislator Michael Ranzenhofer, District 15 Candidate Ed Rath III (R), District 5 Candidate Tom Ulbrich (R), Legislator John Mills, District 14 Candidate Brad Rowles (R), and Legislator Barry Weinstein MD. Announce Republican Highway Plan |
In their July 31st announcement, the Legislators wrote:
Erie County Legislators John J. Mills, Michael H. Ranzenhofer, and Barry A. Weinstein, MD announced their support for an annual dedication of existing county funds towards infrastructure improvements throughout Erie County. “The roads, bridges, and drainage outlets in Erie County are in serious need of repair,” said Legislator Mills. County roads face a variety of problems including erosion, potholes, poor drainage, and a lack of proper maintenance caused by a lack of proper funding.
Mills, Ranzenhofer and Weinstein will join local town administration and highways officials to propose dedicating a portion of the county’s general operating fund to increase the amount currently spent on maintaining roads. Legislator Ranzenhofer clarified that “an increase in road spending does not mean an increase in taxes or new taxes; it means county government will re-prioritize the way it spends in the future.” The Legislature recently began their summer recess, and Legislators promise to introduce a local law, that will annually dedicate existing county funds towards road, bridge, and drainage outlet construction and maintenance, by the time they return in September.
Although county owned road conditions are poor in every legislative district, one of the most shocking scenes is in Legislator Mills’ district. Mills’ district is home to a county road that has entirely collapsed into a creek bed, making the roadway impassable.
In Legislator Mill’s district, in the town of Concord, Zoar Valley Road has been entirely shut down to motorists. “Zoar Valley Road is a dangerous road to travel from start to finish, and it’s a shame, because it’s probably the most scenic roadway in all of Erie County,” said Legislator John J. Mills. Recently, 1400 acres of land in the Zoar Valley region was protected by the State of New York as a scenic area that cannot be developed. Legislator Mills says “it would be nice if residents could safely access this new scenic area to appreciate its beauty.”
Legislator Barry A. Weinstein, MD has no total road closures in his district, however, he may not be that far off from it, he says. “Hopkins Road, in the Town of Amherst, gets worse every year. The road is sliding into the drainage ditch, and safe travel is down to one lane in one area,” said Weinstein.
On average, without borrowing, the County of Erie spends approximately $1.6 million annually to provide road maintenance in the forms of patching potholes, chipping and oiling, and repaving. Legislators Mills, Ranzenhofer, and Weinstein feel that to appropriately maintain an infrastructure of its size, the county needs to look at a number closer to $10 million annually. “Providing for a safe and reliable infrastructure is one of the most important things government can do for the taxpayers,” said Legislator Ranzenhofer. Legislator Mills added to Ranzenhofer’s comments by saying “government also must keep the public safe, and road conditions in Erie County have deteriorated to the point where some have become public safety hazards
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* Fund for Roads, Bridges Proposed , by Phil Fairbanks, The Buffalo News, Thursday, August 23, 2007
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