Spring is just one month away, which means the road construction season will soon be here. Erie County maintains 2,400 lane miles, more miles of road than any other county in New York State. These roads are our responsibility. Maintaining them is necessary for the safety of our traveling public. Unfortunately, many of those roads are in poor condition, which is due not only to the challenging Western New York weather and salt on the roads, but also because of a failure to stay current with road repairs and address issues when they first arise.
Conner Road in Clarence is a perfect example of what happens when the roads are neglected. Despite assurances that this road would be addressed, it hasn’t been, and that has led to further deterioration of the road, which then becomes a safety concern. The Administration advised me one year ago that the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Safety Council (GBNRTC) gave Conner Road a score of 5, which meant it was in poor condition and had been showing signs of distress for several years. In that correspondence the Administration also acknowledged the road needed complete resurfacing. Since that time, Conner Road has fallen into further disrepair. It is increasingly dangerous to travel, is falling apart, and has major flooding issues due to poor drainage and ditching. The list is now out for 2024 road work, and it indicates mill and overlay work will be completed on Conner Road. To be clear, this is a short-term fix, but not a long-term solution. The drainage issues and road base must be properly addressed to ensure the long-term safety and stability of Conner Road.
I am also concerned about the proper maintenance of other county-owned roads. Portions of Maple Road, Wehrle Drive between Transit Road and Harris Hill, and Goodrich Road between Greiner and Clarence Center roads also have significant issues, as does all of Thompson Road north of Greiner. As taxpayers you should expect the proper maintenance of roads. This needs to be a top priority of this Administration.
I recently attended a leadership briefing hosted by the Buffalo Jewish Federation. The briefing brought together local government leaders and community stakeholders to discuss the rise in anti-Semitism, and more broadly, the general hostilities occurring on college campuses, on social media and in our cities and towns. The message was clear; our differences are our strengths. What we do for one, we do for all. We are stronger together. In times of unrest and uncertainty it is so important to find common ground, to reach out and find ways to build bridges in order to gain an understanding of the challenges faced by others, and to work together to find solutions and bring peace. It is clear there are many community partners working toward that end.
As always, if you have a county related issue, please feel free to contact my office at 716-858-8676, or by email, Christopher.Greene@erie.gov Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
