The Dangerous Road In Buffalo That You'll Want To Avoid At All Costs
By Lea Monroe|Published October 19, 2018
×
Lea Monroe
Author
Writer for Only In Your State. Scribbling about all things New York and Buffalo related while also keeping you updated on the latest travel news! Inquiries: Lmonroe@onlyinyourstate.com
There are a variety of scenic drives to take in and around Buffalo, especially around this time of year. However, if you’ve kept an eye on the news, then you may have heard about the ongoing discussion about one of Western New York’s nearby roadways. Questions of safety have led to demands for changes, so here are a few things you should know about how Niagara Falls Boulevard become one of the region’s most dangerous roads.
Lawmakers have continued to call on the Department of Transportation to make changes to a three-mile-long stretch of Niagara Falls Boulevard.
Since 2011, at least 11 pedestrians have been killed or seriously injured on Niagara Falls Boulevard - not counting an unknown number of car accidents that have also occurred.
The deadly stretch is known for its heavy traffic and is surrounded by residential areas and lined with businesses. Many of the pedestrians killed along Niagara Falls Boulevard were locals that were on their way to work.
Over the summer, town leaders of both Amherst and Tonawanda conducted a walking audit on the stretch of roadway. They found potential safety hazards included faded crosswalks, confusing signage, a lack of middle medians, and poor lighting along the road.
Aside from what was determined potentially hazardous during the audit, many people think there are other factors contributing to the danger of this roadway.
On Niagara Falls Boulevard the speed limit is 45MPH, one that many locals believe is far too high. The Amherst Police even conducted a study that's data showed nearly 20% of drivers on the road were exceeding the speed limit. Other locals believe that the boulevard's bus stops are placed in poor locations that lack crosswalks and other safety measures.
While towns like Amherst and Tonawanda are doing all that they can to put a plan into action, the only work that can be done to the boulevard is through the Department of Transportation due to the fact that it is a state road.
Over the last several years, Amherst and Tonawanda have worked to formulate plans for how they can make Niagara Falls Boulevard safer. Recently the towns drew up a $1 million project to add street lighting to the three-mile stretch identified as the most dangerous portion - something they hope to have completed by the end of 2019 if all goes as expected.
With more than 35,000 vehicles driving along Niagara Falls Boulevard each day, we can all agree that we hope to soon see changes and improvements.
