Printed from Niagara Falls Review
Peace Bridge faces no-build option
By JOHN ROBBINS
Thursday, February 23, 2006 – 02:00
Local News –
FORT ERIE Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop says it’s too early to say whether another bridge between Fort Erie and Buffalo is warranted.
Based on declining traffic volumes across the Peace Bridge in recent years, there’s speculation an environmental review of plans to expand cross-border traffic capacity may conclude the current bridge is sufficient for the time being.
While Redekop said he still believes another span is needed for a variety of reasons, he cautioned against drawing firm conclusions until the expansion project’s draft environmental impact statement is completed later this year.
“The no-build option is one of the options being studied as part of the (environmental impact statement),” Redekop said Wednesday.
“However, I suspect there are still reasons why a new bridge is neccessary.
“It would be a shame if we’ve gone this far through the process if it turns out there’s no need to build a bridge.”
According to Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority figures, traffic volumes have been declining steadily for the past five years.
Between 2000 and 2005 the number of cars crossing the Peace Bridge declined by 17.53 per cent, trucks by 10.52 per cent and buses by 19.10 per cent.
According to PBA general manager Ron Rienas, there’s reason to believe traffic will continue to decline, at least in the short term.
Coun. Richard Shular, who served on the jury that selected a preferred design for the proposed new companion span, said improvements to the Peace Bridge’s traffic plaza, coupled with a decline in traffic, make building a new bridge less urgent than in past years.
Still, Shular said he believes the traffic volumes will rebound eventually.
“In the next 10 years it’s probably not imperative to have a new bridge, but in the long term there’ll be a need,” Shular said.
He noted the declining traffic count crossing the Peace Bridge hasn’t deterred the Ambassador Niagara Signature Bridge Group, a private company, from developing a rival plan to build a bridge in Fort Erie.
“If they (Ambassador Niagara) are still going to press on with their plans, so should the PBA,” Shular said.
Jim Thibert, general manager of the Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corporation, was more direct than either Redekop or Shular.
“The no-build option is no option at all,” said Thibert.
fenews@nfreview.com
ID- 146432
© 2006 , Osprey Media. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Niagara Falls Review acticles reprinted with permission by the authority of Joe Wallace, Managing Editor of the Niagara Falls Review.
Related posts:
- Private sector role to build border bridge applauded; Company sees boost for plans to build new bridge in Fort Erie
- Peace Bridge traffic down by 7.5 per cent this year
- Councillor wary of U.S. plans for Peace Bridge
- Peace bridge expansion shouldn’t gobble up parkland – Redekop
- Niagara Falls – Will Peace Bridge expansion ever be completed?
