Kensington Project To Move Forward Despite Neighbors Objections

The nearly $1 billion public works project that would have a lasting impact on several generations of Buffalonians has taken one large leap forward after a major government agency gave its thumbs up.

Now, the Kensington Expressway Tunnel project is one more step closer to reality, which is sad news for many in the surrounding neighborhood who oppose the project.

What Is The Kensington Expressway Project?

The New York State Department of Transportation, with the support of the Federal Highway Administration, has a plan to reconstruct a section of New York State Route 33, which runs through the city of Buffalo; the stretch of route in question is colloquially known as the Kensington Expressway.

Read More: More Buffalonians Disapprove of Kensington Expressway Project

The original Kensington Expressway was built in 1958, and the Kensington Expressway project would cost taxpayers around $1 billion to build. It reconstructs a 3/4 mile section of the highway into a six-lane tunnel between Dodge Street and Sidney Street. It also creates a 90-foot-wide, tree-lined median on top of the tunnel, which would provide around 11 acres of new publicly accessible green space.

Federal Highway Administration Issues Important Decision About Kensington Expressway Project

During the press conference that was held at the Edward Saunders Community Center on Buffalo's east side, Governor Hochul gathered with political leaders and members of the community to announce that the Federal Highway Administration issued a key finding that would allow this project to move forward.

From the very beginning, the Kensington Expressway Project has been a community-driven effort to restore the greenspace and quality of life wrongfully taken from East Buffalo with the highway’s initial construction... Today's decision by the Federal Highway Administration allows us to move ahead on this transformational project to right the wrongs of the past and start construction later this year. But we are not done yet and will continue to rely on the project’s most important architects — local community members — to share their vision and partner with us as we study opportunities to reconnect the East Buffalo community in a way that makes residents proud.
-Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York

The FHWA has issued the Kensington Expressway Project a FONSI, or what's called a Finding of No Significant Impact. According to New York State officials, this FONSI was issued by the FHWA after reviewing the Environmental Assessment and other documents complied by the New York State Department of Transportation.

This ruling, which helps clear another hurdle on the way for this project to move forward, has many community residents unhappy as they oppose the project.

State officials are optimistic that construction on the project could begin as soon as Fall 2024.