UN MOMENTO JUSTO POR LA PAZ

PEOPLE AND PLANET COME FIRST:  MORE PUBLIC CLEAN AND  GREEN TRANSPORTATION!

Nuestras decisiones sobre el transporte determinan mucho más que dónde se construirán carreteras, puentes, túneles o líneas ferroviarias. Determinan las conexiones y barreras que las personas encontrarán en su vida diaria y, por lo tanto, qué tan difícil o fácil será para las personas llegar a donde necesitan y quieren ir. –– Elijah Cummings, congresista estadounidense y defensor de los derechos civiles.

Our decisions about transportation determine much more than where roads or bridges or tunnels or rail lines will be built. They determine the connections and barriers that people will encounter in their daily lives – and thus how hard or easy it will be for people to get where they need and want to go. –– Elijah Cummings, US congressperson and civil rights advocate.

The transportation decisions in WNY/Buffalo have been less than ideal, prompting a call for greater community involvement. Given that approximately one-third of Buffalo households are without a car, effective public transportation is a necessity. Unfortunately, it falls short. Services are notably sparse, particularly during evenings and weekends, and often require multiple transfers, even to reach key destinations like the airport. The city’s layout is fragmented by high-speed thoroughfares: the 33, or Kensington Expressway; the 190; the 90; and the 198, also known as the Scajaquada Expressway, which is somewhat distinct as its speed limit was lowered following a tragic accident involving a toddler. These roadways cater predominantly to car users, particularly those commuting from the suburbs, and they hinder the ease of access and walkability that are vital for sustainable and healthy living.

According to Citizens for Regional Transport (CRT), locally, cars contribute to roughly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions. The health disparities experienced by residents living near these high-speed routes, especially the 190 and the 33, have been well-documented. New York State is poised to reinforce Buffalo’s reliance on cars by planning to convert a section of Route 33 into a tunnel, costing $1 billion. This move could intensify the concentration of gas emissions and particulate matter, which are already impacting the health of people living nearby, leading to cancer, asthma, and other fatal diseases, with levels reported to be at the 98th percentile, among the highest in the country.

The East Side Parkways Coalition advocates for the complete restoration of Humboldt Parkway, opposing the brief and costly tunnel proposed by New York State and the Department of Transportation. The coalition recommends full parkway restoration for various reasons, such as enhancing residents’ health and safety, promoting economic and environmental justice, reducing costly maintenance, and fostering sustainability. Despite legal obligations, a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement has not been conducted.

Moreover, fully restoring Humboldt Parkway could save half a billion dollars, funds that could be redirected towards investments in sustainable public transportation, as CRT has proposed.  Those who have experienced life in this city without a car understand its car-centric nature. A path to healthier living in a sustainability-focused Buffalo/WNY involves numerous improvements for walkability, bike-ability, Clean Mobility (courtesy of Open Buffalo), and Just Streets (credit to Colored Girls Bike Too). Explore the aforementioned organizations and join forces to advocate for the necessary changes.

Vikie Ross: Peaceful Conflict Resolution Consultant and Justice Advocate, as well as the Chair of the Network of Religious Communities’ Public Issues Committee