The Kensington Expressway reconnection project began under the original construction of the expressway in the 1950s and 1960s, which replaced the then historic, tree-lined Humboldt Parkway with a highway. The construction of this highway displaced communities and separated neighborhoods, creating a long-lasting negative impact. The current reconnection project is an effort to rectify these historical injustices by rebuilding the parkway by creating green space and reconnecting the community, utilizing funding from state and federal sources.
In 2024 and 2025 lawsuits were filed against the NYS Route 33, Kensington Expressway Project. These lawsuits were brought by community groups and residents in the city of Buffalo, such as the East Side Parkways Coalition and the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), both alleging the New York State Department of Transportation failed to properly study the project’s environmental impact and violated the State Environmental Quality Review Act and the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. In response, a judge temporarily halted the project, demanding a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be conducted. In response, the Department of Transportation launched a new initiative, Queen City Forward, which aims to address residents’ health concerns, gather community input, and explore alternative transportation solutions for a reimagined roadway. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several health organizations have documented the significant health damage suffered by residents living near the expressway. These findings underscore the long-term consequences of the expressway’s construction on public health and quality of life in the surrounding neighborhoods. Senator Baskin believes it is essential that all members of the community have a voice in this process. Leaders at every level of government must collaborate to develop a realistic, equitable solution that prioritizes both the health and aesthetics of these historic neighborhoods.