This morning, the Waterfront Coalition stepped up the battle to have the Route 5 highway barrier removed. The press conference saw the unveiling of a public marketing tool in the form of a billboard– quite simple and to the point. The group also announced its intention to meet tomorrow with Torontonian experts (officials who have been working on removing the Gardiner Expressway) who see the value in these types of expressway downgrades.
The entire time that the press conference was engaged, cars and trucks raced by at high speeds causing an audio drowning effect as speakers raised their voices to be heard. The gathering was aimed at the DOT and Governor Spitzer to reconsider building another wall along our city’s great waterfront. Speakers questioned the plan and demanded that the waterfront be given back to the people of Buffalo… not squandered by the traffic that has dominated it for the past fifty years.
It was broadcasted today that Seattle has just made a crucial decision to do the exact opposite that the DOT has planned for our city. They are downgrading their choking expressway… as a matter of fact, cityies all over the world have learned that there are boulevard alternatives that have the ability to breath life back into languishing neighborhoods. The Waterfront Coalition made it clear that it is going to continue to step up their efforts in order to see the ‘best plan’ for Route 5 and Furhmann Boulevard.
There is also an impending lawsuit by members of the Waterfront Coalition, being led by the Riverkeeper. It is not clear which members will be signing on, though it looks like all members are supporting the impending suit. Higgins has finally met with the Waterfront Coalition (the results of that meeting are also unclear)… he certainly has some influence on the issue… but it is Spitzer who is the ultimate decision maker, and it is he who has remained totally silent on the issue.
The billboard unveiled this morning reads, “Mr. Spitzer, Tear Down This Wall”. It then urges those concerned who support a Waterfront Boulevard, to call 518.474.8390.
Or if you want to stick with the on-line route, sign Jason Cozza’s petition.
If you want to see what happens when these major roadways are re-examined, check out EB Blue’s posts on SF’s Embarcadero.
Video Part 1
Video Part 2
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