Peace Bridge Expansion Project

Key Issues

Why the International Railway Corridor was not Chosen

The International Railway Corridor was extensively studied during the scoping process and was not chosen for the following reasons:

  • Proposed highway connections, while technically feasible, would be long, expensive and have very large potential environmental impacts;
  • Diverting traffic to this new location would have negative traffic impacts on regional roadways, particularly I-190 and NY198 in the US. The I-190 from NY198 south to the Peace Bridge is a two-lane section The I-190 from NY198 south to the Peace Bridge is a two-lane section, is highly constrained by the Black Rock Canal, rail lines, and the geography, and currently functions at Level of Service (LOS) of F during peak traffic periods. About 90% of the diverted truck traffic would travel south from the new crossing on this constrained section of the I-190. Negative traffic impacts on I-190 would require widening or some other form of mitigation. The costs and associated environmental effects of this I-190 traffic impact mitigation would be significant and are not included in the cost estimate;
  • Project cost estimates are excessive in comparison to alternatives recommended to be retained, totaling more than $US 700 million, with no reasonable likelihood that it could be funded;
  • Unlike the alternatives that are recommended to be retained that only require private property acquisition in the US, this alternative also requires extensive private property acquisition in Canada.
  • It would have an excessively long implementation schedule, nearly 15 years, with a great degree of uncertainty;
  • It would significantly extend the Environmental Process by an estimated 3 years (New CEAA process, Ontario Provincial EA) with an uncertain outcome;
  • The anticipated schedule seriously delays the start of needed improvements at the existing Peace Bridge;
  • It does not have a reasonable likelihood of obtaining the necessary cooperation and approvals due to negative potential social, economic and/or environmental impacts. While the US Army Corps of Engineers believes alternatives here may be viable, the Niagara Parks Commission and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation have both expressed a preference for alternatives at the existing Peace Bridge location, and the NYSDEC has expressed serious reservations about potential environmental impacts in the International Railroad location;
  • Both the City of Buffalo and Town of Fort Erie do not support the railway corridor.

Since 1999, the Ambassador-Niagara Signature Bridge Group (owned by the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit) has been advocating the construction of a bridge within the corridor.  If it was possible and preferable to construct a bridge within this corridor, the PBA would do so given that the Peace Bridge has an exclusive franchise granted by the Canadian government within six miles of the existing Peace Bridge.

Visit www.peacebridge.com to learn more.