Half a Billion to Widen Country Road

Proposal and Savings
Deny funding for the proposed U.S. Route 219 Freeway project. Estimated total project costs are $500 million — 80 percent federally funded.

Background
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has proposed expanding a 28-mile portion of U.S. Route 219 between the towns of Springville and Salamanca into a four-lane freeway. NYSDOT plans that the proposed freeway will be incorporated into a larger project known as Continental One which, if built, would run from Toronto to Miami. Continental One boosters claim that the project will increase local and international commerce by offering truck traffic a new north-south route.

Status
While the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been released for the project, a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has yet to be produced. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) included $700 million for the entire Continental One corridor.

Problems with the project

Taxpayer Concerns
The expenditure of half a billion dollars to widen and expand a country road on the basis of questionable future commerce and arbitrary traffic growth projections is not justifiable. The Continental One highway may never be built, and would not be completed until approximately 2019. This is especially true because the state of Pennsylvania is not interested in expanding its segment of U.S. Route 219.

Local Community
Concerns Area residents are concerned that the project and its related sprawl will disturb or demolish 20 farms that are eligible for the National Historic Registry, and cut off the commercial center of Ellicotville.

The Seneca Nation of Indians, from whom land was taken for Route 17 and the Kinzua Reservoir, face losing more. They demand land in lieu of any lost to U.S. Route 219. Such land would likely come from New York’s renowned Allegany State Park.

Environmental Concerns
The project would cut a 28-mile, 500-foot wide swath through farmland, wetlands, and forest, as well as clear cut 1.2 square miles of timber.

Besides increasing auto travel and resultant air, water and noise pollution, this project would cut off a thousand acres of black bear habitat, penetrate important deer wintering yards, and disrupt habitat known to contain osprey and bald eagles without conducting a proper field study. Several trout streams would be compromised and scenic Cattaragus Creek would be bridged unnecessarily. No mitigation has been offered for lost forest or farmland.

Contacts
Walter Simpson, (716) 839-0062; Laurence Beahan, Sierra Club Niagara Group, (716) 839-3112, larry_beahan@adelphia.net .