NYCLU on Court Ruling Pausing Buffalo’s Kensington Expressway Project
BUFFALO – Today, a state judge granted a temporary restraining order to pause work on the Kensington Expressway project in Buffalo following a lawsuit by the East Side Parkways Coalition. In June 2024, the New York Civil Liberties Union filed its own lawsuit against the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) over its decision to proceed with the project without conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). In response, the New York Civil Liberties Union released the following statement attributable to Racial Justice Center Director Lanessa Owens-Chaplin:
“Today’s court decision is a major win for the Humboldt Park neighborhood, the predominately Black community living near the project site. It sends a loud and clear message that this community should not be treated as an afterthought by the NYSDOT and the Federal Highway Administration.
“Pausing the construction now is the best way to ensure that the needs and concerns of impacted residents are included while litigation continues. Make no mistake: this project will only meet the moment if air quality protections and mitigation measures for impacted residents are provided without delay.”