Earlier today, Assemblyman Sean Ryan, who has been a leading proponent of downgrading The Scajaquada Expressway, made an announcement that additional traffic calming measures would commence soon enough.

After meeting with Phil Eng, the Chief Engineer at the Department of Transportation (DOT), it was decided that the 30mph speed limit would remain permanently in place. Along with the change in speed, Ryan has proposed that the classification of the roadway be changed from a Principal Arterial Expressway to an Urban Minor Arterial. The change must be met with Federal approval.

In the meantime, the DOT will be moving forward with interim traffic calming measures and studies that include the addition of traffic lights, crosswalks, speed bumps, and re-painting of the roadway. These will all help to contribute to the permanent downgrading, from a high speed thoroughfare into a slower moving boulevard. The DOT will be looking into commencing additional traffic studies this summer.

Assemblyman Sean Ryan said “While our goal is to see the Scajaquada downgraded to a parkway, we must first take interim steps to adjust traffic to the new 30mph speed limit. The DOT understands this issue, will move expeditiously to implement these traffic calming measures. I thank the DOT for agreeing to move forward and study where the traffic calming measures will be placed, in order to maximize their effectiveness. After we are done with the interim actions, we must devote our attention to converting the expressway into a parkway. The DOT will need to present a plan to make that happen, and I will stay on top of this to ensure that a plan is presented to the community as quickly as possible. Once again, I would like to thank Governor Cuomo and his team for working so diligently to improve safety on the Scajaquada.”

A traffic circle was taken off the table where Parkside meets the 190. It would be great to see the DOT reexamine the possibility of bringing the circle back into play now that so many other traffic calming measures are in place. The traffic circle could be dedicated to the memory of the young boy who lost his life, and the family that suffered such a tremendous loss.

Lead image: Ryan was joined by Buffalo Common Council Member Michael LoCurto, Justin Booth, Executive Director of GOBike Buffalo, Amber Small, Executive Director of the Parkside Community Association, Michael DeLuca, Chair of the Parkside Community Association Traffic Committee, Kerri Machemer, founder of Parents for a Safe Delaware Park Community, Stephanie Crockatt, Executive Director of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, and Brian Dold, Landscape Designer at the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.