TRANSPORTATION PROJECT REPORT DRAFT DESIGN REPORT / DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT / DRAFT 4(f) EVALUATION APPENDIX H Public Comments and Responses November 2016 PIN 5470.22 NYS Route 198 (Scajaquada Expressway Corridor) Grant Street Interchange to Parkside Avenue Intersection City of Buffalo Erie County DRAFT DESIGN REPORT / DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT / DRAFT 4(f) EVALUATION November 2016 Public Comments PIN 5470.22 NYS Route 198 (Scajaquada Expressway Corridor) Grant Street Interchange to Parkside Avenue Intersection City of Buffalo Erie County NYS Route 198 (Scajaquada Expressway Corridor) Project PIN 5470.22 Public Comments As of September 1, 2016 Date How Source ID Comment ID Record Affiliation Comment Received Received I think some representative of the trucking industry should be a part of the stakeholder group and mentioned it at the meeting. If the trucking group you originally invited doesn't exist anymore, you should find another representative organization. You might also want to get someone from the Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau or Advancing Arts & Culture to attend the meetings. These two organizations are investing a lot in marketing the None Delaware Park cultural institutions to out of town visitors and we want to make sure that visitors 1 1 x 6/7/2007 (Member of the E-mail from Niagara Falls find it easy to get to and from the cultural venues. I don't want the Community) stakeholder group to only represent supporters of the downgrading of the Scajaquada or you will defeat the whole purpose of having the stakeholder meetings in the first place. I know that our visitors are going to be unhappy with this change if it leads to greater wait times to get to our parking lot. That's 400,000 people a year. Though the anti-highway people may love the idea of removing a vital expressway in the center None of Buffalo, you can't turn the expressway into another Delaware Ave. without a new alternative 2 2 x 7/30/2007 (Member of the Web Site expressway. If there is no routing for a new expressway to replace the Scajaquada, then it is Community) VERY important to leave it as is, and just fix it when and where needed. I voiced concerns about the volume of traffic passing along the Scajaquada at Parkside None Avenue. I do not think the proposed roundabout at this location will work with the heavy traffic 1 3 x 10/18/2007 (Member of the E-mail loads. I also do not believe that the current width of the Scajaquada can accommodate the Community) proposed grassy/treed median, tow traffic lanes for vehicles in each direction, and a pedestrian pathway. Please reflect that in the minutes. Of the listed alternatives, I believe 3A, 3B, or 4 are the best and especially like the idea of the speed limit being reduced to between 30 and 45 mph. I do not think that the project should be undertaken unless traffic circles are inserted in order to slow down traffic (simply lowering the speed limit will not accomplish slower traffic, as evidenced by nearby Route 33) and ideally, a None larger median should be inserted so that the road becomes appropriate for its surroundings -- 3 4 x 11/14/2007 (Member of the Web Site city neighborhoods and Delaware Park. Traffic moves entirely too fast on this road, which is Community) very curvy, traverses Delaware Park (utilized by joggers, dog walkers, golfers, etc. that are endangered by high-speed traffic), and has dangerously poor drainage during heavy rainfall. I hope that DOT seriously considers advancing one of the alternatives I identified above and improves this dangerous eyesore. Ideally alternative four is the way to go, but two lanes just isn't going to cut it. 3B is the next None best solution, I just question how non-Scajaquada traffic is going to be able to enter round-a- 4 5 x 11/28/2007 (Member of the Web Site bouts during peak commuting times. I'd also suggest incorporating some of the features that Community) existed prior to the construction of the highway such as the decorative bridges near Elmwood Avenue and widening the creek if feasible. I'm glad this project is being done and advocate alternative 3B or 4, however, it should be done None within a much quicker time frame. 2016 is an absurdly long time to wait for something that has 5 6 x 11/28/2007 (Member of the Web Site long been needed in this neighborhood. And if you are aiming for 2016, it will likely take even Community) longer. DOT should set aside money in the next 1-2 years for this project and construction should start within that same time frame. This should be below grade with land bridges with grass and plantings and come out to grade None at Parkside and out to grade at approximately the museum district. If you know the BIG DIG 6 7 x 11/28/2007 (Member of the Web Site this would be the "small dig". Your proposals for this as I read are very minor. We need to Community) take back this road and create more park area, in Switzerland most highways go under the city, we need to be more creative. It is important that the new parkway corridor has a 30 mph set speed limit. Delaware Ave. (running under the current expressway) has a similar speed limit and is also a separated four Written lane parkway as was proposed and illustrated at the second public meeting. This is the original Elmwood Village 7 8 x 11/28/2007 Comment request from the City. Consider connecting the Lincoln Pkwy. bridge the rest of the way across Association Sheet the new Scajaquada Parkway to connect the two sides of the Museum District and residential neighborhoods. Possibly create another at grade intersection or traffic circle. Thank you. Now that there is talk about downgrading the 198, is there any way a study could be done to None eliminating the 33? Suburban residents could easily use the subway or the 190 for access to 8 9 x 3/11/2008 (Member of the Web Site downtown and Humboldt Parkway would still function as an artery to the city center for city Community) residents. Downgrading the 198 is a start but we should return Humboldt Parkway to its former glory as well. I hope that the "Scajaquada Expressway" could become the "Scajaquada Parkway". If you do not make the appropriate changes to the roadway, i.e. eliminating massive on/off ramps, lowering speed limits, and making the parkway more inviting for park users as well as drivers, None Written you are diminishing the fact that this road exists through one of the most beautiful parks in the 9 10 x 4/23/2008 (Member of the Comment area, if not the country. Therefore, please consider traffic data, for this is important, however Community) Sheet you must think differently about this project, start from scratch and without a doubt remember the environment. Somebody already screwed up with this plan. It's my hope that you guys can correct it. Thanks. None The highest impacted group, residents of Agassiz, Meadowview and Burbank Terr. and Dr. are 10 11 x 4/26/2008 (Member of the Web Site not represented. Community) Similar to the Buffalo Zoo, the Darwin Martin House, located on Jewett Parkway, is and will be Martin House Written visited by thousands of visitors, the majority coming from out-of-town. As a major local tourist 11 12 x 4/23/2008 Restoration Comment destination, access to the Martin House which is mid-way between the Main Street and Corporation Sheet Parkside Avenue exits, is critically important to the site. Signage and exits must be clear and "visitor friendly". 1 of 93 NYS Route 198 (Scajaquada Expressway Corridor) Project PIN 5470.22 Public Comments As of September 1, 2016 Date How Source ID Comment ID Record Affiliation Comment Received Received Just need to clarify an issue/question raised in the meeting minutes regarding the "trash rack"... Is this the rack in Delaware Park near Hoyt Lake where the Creek is diverted underground, or is this the trash rack/finger dam near Buffalo State College? If it is the former, the City of Buffalo is responsible for its maintenance/cleaning. However, Riverkeeper works with several stakeholders to coordinate a biannual cleaning of the trash rack/finger dam near Buff State. Historically, there has been some debate on who is responsible, and there are three major players: 1) Army Corps, 2) City of Buffalo, and 3) Buffalo Sewer Authority. None of which have None taken ownership or responsibility. The Corps built the rack, but it has been the City of Buffalo 12 13 x 5/13/2008 (Member of the E-mail and sometimes our volunteers that have cleaned it...usually with assistance by the City's Community) underwater recovery team. Also - you should probably add the Corps to your list of stakeholders, not just the permit guys, but either the remediation/O&M section. I'd like to suggest Margaret Wooster to your list of "Consulting Parties". She is a local expert on the history of Scajaquada (European and Native American) and would be useful to the team working on the Cultural Assessment. She is an employee of Riverkeeper and can be reached at 852-7483 or e-mail, [email protected]. Thanks for the continued opportunity for input. I'm in a hurry. But what comes to mind is: 1. Archeology - Unbeknownst to everyone is the fact that Scajaquada bears the name of the Neutral Nation, the original - primeval people.