It would be foolish to grant eminent domain

8/12/2003

I am writing in response to Assemblyman Robin Schimminger's letter urging that we grant the Peace Bridge Authority the power of eminent domain to expand the bridge plazas. Such authority is inappropriate and premature, given that the draft environmental impact study has just begun.

The New York State environmental review process balances the detriments and benefits of any project along with alternatives including the impacts of no construction. The study already has turned up signs that twinning the bridge and expanding the plazas on the American side have questionable benefits to Buffalo.

On the economic side, there are questions whether the Buffalo business climate will tangibly improve based on Peace Bridge traffic. Many people question whether the traffic fumes and associated impacts on human health warrant any bridge at all.

The study group acknowledges but has not yet endorsed a medical study linking asthma and Peace Bridge traffic on Buffalo's West Side. If the study becomes part of the EIS, one outcome could result in a decision to have only one bridge, to keep the current plaza and to allow truck traffic only when it is bound for or from Western New York.

I wish our legislators would use their positions to foster job and business growth rather than change the very structured pace of established environmental reviews. Trying to achieve economic benefit through north/south traffic conduits like the Peace Bridge and Route 219 are detached from reality and one of the reasons we find ourselves where we are.

We have an articulate, energetic population and great water and waterfronts. But we spend too much of our time finding ways to speed widgets through the region.

ART KLEIN
Tonawanda