New York Advances Kensington Expressway Project

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Image source: Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul

On Friday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a major step forward for the Kensington Expressway Project. The project has successfully completed the environmental assessment by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), allowing it to progress to the final design stages. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2024.

“The Kensington Expressway Project has been a community-driven effort to restore the greenspace and quality of life that was taken away from East Buffalo during the initial construction of the highway,” said Gov. Hochul. “Today’s decision by the FHWA marks an important milestone in our mission to right the wrongs of the past and start construction later this year. However, our work is not finished. We will continue to collaborate with the local community to explore opportunities for reconnecting East Buffalo in a way that brings pride to its residents.”

The Kensington Expressway Project aims to reconnect neighborhoods in East Buffalo that have been separated for generations while introducing new greenspace to the area. Gov. Hochul has also instructed the New York Department of Transportation to conduct a study this year on additional elements for community reconnection, including the reimagining of the Scajaquada Expressway and Humboldt Parkway.

“For decades, the East Buffalo community has discussed the Kensington Expressway project, and under Governor Hochul’s leadership, their vision is now becoming a reality,” expressed Marie Therese Dominguez, New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner. “The stars have aligned for this transformative project, and there has never been a better opportunity than now to heal the wounds inflicted by the original Kensington Expressway construction.”

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The project, with a budget of $1 billion, includes the replacement of the below-grade expressway with a 4,150-foot-long tunnel, the reconstruction of Humboldt Parkway, the rehabilitation of nine miles of local streets, the replacement of the Best Street Bridge, and the creation of 11 acres of greenspace. Funding for the project, totaling more than $55 million, will be provided by the federal government through the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, a component of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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