Pathway Gets One Million Dollars
Richard Mack
Riverside Review
PHASE III of the Scajaquada Bike Pathway will pick-up here where Phase II left off, make a right hand turn, and head north over a future bridge across the inlet and eventually connect to the Riverwalk.
April 2000: Twin Span or Signature Bridge? Who's got the money for a new bridge? Apparently, we do. We're getting the money - and a new bridge! Our bridge is for a bike pathway, however, and it will cross the Scajaquada Creek, and not the Niagara River.
Last week, state and city officials announced the award of $1 million through the State of New York for completion of the third and final phase of the Scajaquada Pathway project.
The funding is from the Federal Transportation Enhancement Program, and the projects were selected as a result of a process that included priority rankings made by local officials around the state, and a statewide Transportation Advisory Committee.
The pathway project provides a "critical link" in the city's plan to interconnect a network of green-ways and bikeways to the city's major interior parks, neighborhoods and waterfront areas.
Planned in three developmental phases, the Scajaquada Pathway is a multi-use trail parallel to Scajaquada Creek that will provide an inland connection from the Erie County Riverwalk system to Delaware Park Lake.
The Pathway winds through Black Rock and Riverside and, upon completion, will allow access to 1.5 acres of historic riverfront on the Niagara River. Phases 1 and 2, already completed, extend from the park to Grant Street, then west to Niagara Street. Phase 3 will continue the pathway from the end of the west of Niagara Street to the Riverwalk.Long-time advocate for the project, Jesse Kregal, says "it will give access to a historic bit of property . . . that served as a shipyard during the 1812 War."
The money was awarded through a grant written by Wendell Design which got involved with the project at the start of Phase II. "Wendell did an excellent job . . . they got high marks (for their grant writing)," explained Kregal.
Mark Mistretta of Wendell was happy with the effort and the result. "It was an opportunity of a lifetime, we gave it our all." He explained that it helped that there was already a completed comprehensive plan designed during Phase II of the project.
"This grant will provide the financial resources for the City of Buffalo to complete a project that has been in the work for many years," Assemblymember Sam Hoyt said, "Bikers, pedestrians and nature-lovers alike will soon have the opportunity to traverse the city from our historic waterfront to beautiful Delaware Park."
Other than some city legal issues regarding land swapping which could delay the project, they should be able to hit the ground running with construction. The design and the money are in place.
Because of some difficult access issues and the need for a pedestrian bridge, Phase III turned out to be the most expensive phase of the project explained Mistretta.
This, of course, does not sit well with all lawmakers. "It's just throwing good money after bad money," said County Legislator Al DeBenedetti. The legislator feels the money for the entire project which is somewhere near $3 million could have been spent better.
However, on this day, most elected officials were applauding themselves.
"On behalf of the residents of Erie County, I personally want to thank Governor Pataki for his commitment to improving the recreational resources of our great county," said County Executive Joel Giambra.Mayor Anthony Masiello added, "I applaud Governor Pataki's continuing interest in projects that enhance and improve the quality of life for residents of Buffalo."
Hoyt added, "We are taking great strides to restore our great city to Frederick Law Olmsted's original vision for Buffalo's parks and their linkages."
The $1 million for the Scajaquada Pathway was among the $2.5 million earmarked for all of Western New York, and was the largest sum for any one project.
