By Bill Wolcott<br><a href="mailto:wolcottb@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Bill</a>
May 10, 2008 11:56 pm
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The Lincoln Corridor Project was declared dead Saturday morning — and the residents, who nearly filled council chambers at City Hall, cheered the news.
“It’s dead in the water,” Mayor Michael Tucker said after several residents stood up and voiced anger over the project that primarily targeted the Lincoln and Locust streets intersection.
“I took it off the table,” Fourth Ward Alderman Patrick W. Schrader said.
Schrader gave in to neighbors who objected to the $4 million plan that would have realigned the streets, provided turning lanes, coordinated traffic signals and affected the storm sewer system.
The city sought a feasibility study but found out recently it was much more than that. And, if the city backed out, the taxpayers would have to pay $650,000 for the state’s perusal.
The project was planned through the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council.
Homeowner George Muscato was instrumental is alerting residents to the plan and faulted Schrader for furthering the proposal and not keeping residents informed.
“The community doesn’t want the project,” Muscato said. “We’re opposed to any reconstruction of the Lincoln corridor.”
Residents were upset because they weren’t informed of the project and no public meetings were held.
“It wasn’t until fairly recently that we learned that the project was more than a feasibility study,” the mayor said. “If we had known a year ago, we probably wouldn’t be here today.”
Tucker was informed of the ramifications from Corporation Council John Ottaviano about a month ago after the city lawyer was alerted by Muscato.
“This was a straight-forward construction project,” Muscato said. “I told him (Schrader) that two years ago. This was not a study, even though he was in the paper saying it was just a study. It was not a study. It was a comprehensive project, more than just a study. It was taking property.”
Muscato looked at Schrader and said, “I told you about this over two years ago, and you never bothered to inform anybody about it ... Don’t tell us you thought it was only a study.”
The mayor felt that during the process the city would hold several public hearings and people would give their input.
“We were under the impression that if we didn’t like it, we could get out of it,” he said. “We could have said no to the state, but we would have been on the hook for that money. When we found that out, it kind of changed things.”
Muscato also argued the project was in violation of the city’s city comprehensive plan, which dictates that traffic would be diverted out of the residential neighborhood. The Lockport bypass should be properly utilized.
Schrader said he was not pushing the project. “I’m not pushing it. I believed I was only promoting a study to start with and go forward from there. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong.”
Neighbors said the traffic at Lincoln and Locust is not a major issue.
“I have to wait a little while, but it’s not a problem. In the last 30 years, I haven’t seen the traffic change all that drastically,” said Brian Bower, who lives on Lincoln, two doors east of high school “If it wasn’t for George Muscato, I wouldn’t have know this project existed. Thank God for him. I think this whole thing would have gone through and residents wouldn’t have had a clue about it and then it would have been too late.
Amy Grout and Lucy Pencille, who each have three children, attended the meeting.
“I was concerned about keeping the sidewalks and the trees and the traffic down on Lincoln,” Grout said. “I was aware of the project, but was not aware it was coming in as close as it was.”
“I am very happy,” Pencille said. “I’ve lived in house for four years and I’ve never had a problem getting in or out of my driveway. It (the project) may have caused increased traffic and I’m concerned with safety of my children.”
A resident requested that the city council pass a resolution saying it opposed the project as written. Schrader agreed.
Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, ext. 6246.
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