Easy solution for the Peace Bridge

[sethtriggs]

Just hire more inspectors! Much cheaper in the long run and it'd put a dent in the traffic big time!

It's insane to try to invoke eminent domain and destroy even MORE neighborhoods, some of which contain the best housing stock in the city. Irreplacable mansions are included in the path of this expansion, and it makes me sick!

Haven't we learned from the Niagara Thruway? The Kensington Expressway and the destruction of Humboldt Parkway? The urban deforestation in the Ellicott District?

When are we going to see some proper planning?

-Seth

[WNYresident]

Where was Sam Hoyt when this was all taking place. This could of been headed off in the early stages.

As I said they all need to go and we need to start fresh on our terms.

[sethtriggs]

Originally posted by WNYresident
Where was Sam Hoyt when this was all taking place. This could of been headed off in the early stages.

As I said they all need to go and we need to start fresh on our terms.

If you are unsatisfied with them, vote for the challengers then. Easiest way to replace them.

-Seth

[Unregistered]

I have personally talked to the administration of the Peace Bridge, and they have admitted that all of the delays are because of lack of Federal personnel. The federal government continues to pour money in personnel for the Mexican border, but we have only a few out of about 21 booths open, due to lack of personnel. Meanwhile, the trucks, and cars, idle, and sicken the West side residents needlessly. I am part of the population there that now is saddled with some of the highest asthma rates. And I don't see the federal government or the Peace Bridge authority paying my medical bills. It is an absolute outrage that our officials would even consider granting such a government authority to a NON-government agency like the Peace Bridge authority, who does not have the "public good" in mind, as our constitution says the GOVERNMENT officials must, in order to invoke it. They probably have our waterfront parks in mind as they push for this. Give us asthma and then take our waterfront recreation. By the way, the Brooklyn Bridge is 120 years old, and our Peace Bridge is 75 years old. What's wrong with this picture? They're celebrating a birthday, and we're planning to replace ours?

[Unregistered]

I'd say 10 years of inaction is enough. The Ambassador Bridge Co. has plans to build their own private span (like the one they own in detroit) and they intend to open it as a for-profit toll bridge to commercial traffic only. A wonderful example of private enterprise at work! No one penny of taxpayer money spent as well!!!
The real fun begins when the govenment interests try to obstruct it (Peace bridge auth, labor unions, etc...). Hopefully the ambassador Co will prevail and actually do something. Build it big and build it now, I say.

[azsumme2003]

>>>>>>>>>>The federal government continues to pour money in personnel for the Mexican border, but we have only a few out of about 21 booths open, due to lack of personnel>>>>>>>>>>>

I had to respond to this because I live in Arizona now. Quite frankly, the border here is a mess. Arizona has a "posse" of volunteers that now helps to patrol the borders. You know, it's that community action thing going on............

[WNYresident]

wouldn't you agree in this case some money should be spent to open more booths up versus building a new bridge? I mean if the case is there's not enough employees why get a new bridge? There won't be enough employees there too... Or is this a case of a developer trying to milk the tax payer once again?

[azsumme2003]

I can't believe you said this:
>>>>>wouldn't you agree in this case some money should be spent to open more booths up versus building a new bridge? I mean if the case is there's not enough employees why get a new bridge? There won't be enough employees there too... Or is this a case of a developer trying to milk the tax payer once again>>>>>>>>>>

You know I love you man, but...............
common sense will dictate that there is no room for more lanes/booths to be opened up. I just spent two weeks in Canada and traveled back and forth everyday so I'd say I have a little fresh firsthand knowledge to go on.

Where are the cars going to go?

When we traveled the July 4th weekend, the worst traffic jams were those made from people having to weed their way through the other lanes to get to the proper entrance to whatever freeway they needed to travel on. There is NO WAY to tear up that area without causing tremendous stress on an already crowded situation. There is no other way -- another bridge is needed. maybe 1/2 mile down the road from the Peace Bridge. But the streets can't handle anymore traffic as it is now.

[sethtriggs]

Actually, advance signage could help that situation, and it would cut down on the weaving traffic. For example, on the bridge you could direct people into proper lanes (or even when they first start out on the bridge, like:)

Keep right for I-190

Keep left for Porter Ave, Niagara Street and Local Traffic.

It's as simple as that. Additionally, you could direct buses to Keep Right, as well as trucks, direct them to go smoothly into the processing area. And if all the booths are open, that helps process the vehicles faster.

-Seth

[WNYresident]

Well you know where i'm coming from. If you build a new bridge but still only have 3 employyes to man it what's the point. I mean look at what our planners do, I wouldn't be surprized.

I still think we should make a dam and generate electric and have a roadway on top of the dam. Even is it's a small dam that just feeds into the grid to offset WNY's electric bill for lights and heating etc..

We have to start thinking about what will help our area and stop helping NYC and downstate.

[azsumme2003]

to unregistered: <<<<<By the way, the Brooklyn Bridge is 120 years old, and our Peace Bridge is 75 years old. What's wrong with this picture? They're celebrating a birthday, and we're planning to replace ours?>>>>>>>>>>

I have not heard that they are to "replace" the Peace Bridge to to build another one. Is the plan to tear down the original Peace Bridge once the other is built? That would not be cost effective IMO.

to sethtriggs:
>>>>>>>Actually, advance signage could help that situation, and it would cut down on the weaving traffic. For example, on the bridge you could direct people into proper lanes (or even when they first start out on the bridge, like

Keep right for I-190>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Unfortunately, I do not believe that would help much. Fist of all, there are too many non-local people driving over the bridge on a one-time basis. They would not know which lane they need to be in beforehand. I have seen the border authority trying to "direct" traffic when it is crowded and because they cannot anticipate where evryone needs to go, they just point them in the direction that has the least amount of traffic. There just is not enough time nor space to make that an effective remedy.

to WNYresident:
<<<<<<<<<<<<I still think we should make a dam and generate electric and have a roadway on top of the dam. Even is it's a small dam that just feeds into the grid to offset WNY's electric bill for lights and heating etc..

We have to start thinking about what will help our area and stop helping NYC and downstate.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

That is an interesting idea. I have never thought about it. It is true that it seems Buffalo's electric bills are way out of whack with the rest of the country. Could that have anything to do it Buffalo being ona smaller grid site? But the idea of utilizing our natural resorces to BENEFIT the local community is just the sort of thing that would help make Buffalo shine. WHat a great idea!

[Unregistered]

We have to start thinking about what will help our area...

this isn't your area AZ summe 2003

[WNYresident]

HIs area or not he's making valid points. If there was someone in brazil that said "If you do this all your politicians will go away" I would have to test thier theory :) Sometimes looking in from the outside unclouds your sight.

Look at how the local politicians think what they are doing is good. But when you look from the outside you see how they are destroying WNY. A little harsh on the word destroying but the more i think about it the more the words fits.

[Unregistered]

the word fits like a glove...

yet sometimes the ones not from here often hinder change by bringing us down with
"it should be like this...
"it should be like that....
"it doesn't have to...
and blah, blah blah.

It's okay to give advice but it's another to stand behind us an sweat about everything that's wrong in WNY, then make declaration of themselves moving away from all our crap.

[Curmudgeon]

<<<yet sometimes the ones not from here often hinder change by bringing us down with >>>

Don't even try to tell me that the problems of this region are brought on by the opinions of people who have fled the area. That's absurd...

<<<It's okay to give advice but it's another to stand behind us an sweat about everything that's wrong in WNY, then make declaration of themselves moving away from all our crap.>>>

So I guess all those cubans in Miami have no business badmouthing Fidel Castro, because they no longer live in Cuba???

I think you are saying that you don't mind expatriots complaining about WNY, as long as they don't do it too forcefully or too truthfully... ????? Huh?

[Unregistered]

didn't say >>brought on.


>>>sometimes the ones not from here often hinder change by bringing us down by what's said

[Curmudgeon]

>>>sometimes the ones not from here often hinder change by bringing us down by what's said

I don't know what that means. Sounds like an alcoholic complaining that people telling him he's an alcoholic make him want to drink more....

[Unregistered]

your the one that needs a drink if you don't understand that sometimes the ones not from here often hinder change by bringing us down by what's said.

um, like alcoholic remark insted of asking what a person means.

hindering from the outside, you just proved my point by saying what you said above.

[azsumme2003]

<<<<<<<<
this isn't your area AZ summe 2003>>>>>>>>

unregistered: Oh please, quit trying to intimidate me. If you have read any of my prior posts, you will have discovered I staunchly support Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs. I have repeatedly said that I LOVE buffalo, but I found it impossible to raise my standard of living there.
As I have stated before, I still have several family members residing in the area and I return several times a year. Because my $$ helps stimulate "your" economy I would think you'd be interested in what I have to say.
I grew up in Cheektowaga, and found it extremely difficult to "move up" (even with an advanced degree) and decided after several years and 2 houses later to move out of state. It was the smartest thing I ever did! But, it was also the hardest thing I ever did. Leaving behind beloved family members is an extraordinarily difficult thing to do.
If I felt Buffalo held any hope of a promising future to myself and my children I would return in a heartbeat. But I don't see that happening in my lifetime. Sorry.
Buffalo has not completely drowned, there is still hope, but the key to saving it is the overhaul of the local government. Too much padding of the pockets of "friends" and too many duplicate positions. If the government streamlined itself, policed itself and let up on the nepotism a bit, plenty of money could be utilized in ways to help stimulate the local community.
Now, back to the purpose of this original post. It was my understanding that there was to be ANOTHER bridge built to help move traffic between the US and Canada. I was under the impression that they were going to KEEP the Peace Bridge but build another one near the existing Peace bridge. I think that is the most logical solution to the traffic build ups.
I do not feel opening more lanes would help the situation, because the way it is now, if you are in the left lane and you need to get into the far right lane to accesss the 90, you're screwed. It doesn't seem to me that there is enough room to adequately move traffic through. From what I remember (since my last visit in July) I don't think there is even enough room to extend the entrances to make it possible for the motorist to scoot over to the other side.
It is probably cost efficient to just build another bridge alongside the Peace Bridge. Building another bridge would kill two birds with one stone.
Firstly, it would elleviate the traffic pressures we are seeing now with the stalled movement of cars on the bridge.
Secondly, it would help stimulate the economy by bringing in jobs to build the bridge, and it would be a step in the right direction toward a long term plan in the rebuilding of the city. (Meaning, if Buffalo does ever come out of the current doom and gloom, and people begin to return to the area (even if only to visit), it will already have the infrastructure in place to handle the onslaught of cars coming into the area as opposed to the traffic nightmare it could be if Buffalo doesn't adopt a long term plan. (IMO, if people find it easy to navigate they will return, if it is too difficult, people will steer away from the area. At this time, Buffalo lacks the resources to keep people in the area. Again, Long term goals.........)

[WNYresident]

Plans for new Peace Bridge officially abandoned


Plans for a new Peace Bridge and larger inspections plaza on the Buffalo side of the Canadian border were officially scrapped today, formalizing what bridge officials announced last summer.

The move by the Federal Highway Administration — canceling the environmental review for the project, which began Oct. 9, 2001 — officially puts to bed what were lofty plans subject to a decade of fierce public debate.

Today's move was procedural, with the agency filing a notice in the Federal Register.

Go Read the Full Story in Buffalo's #1 News Paper the Buffalo News (http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article703730.ece)

[WNYresident]

I looked for about the oldest thread on the Peace Bridge and found this one.

[Frank Broughton]

I wonder how much money was wasted in the process? Another joke on us for sure I would imagine.