PRESENTATION TO THE PEACE BRIDGE
PUBLIC CONSENSUS REVIEW PANEL
MARCH 7, 2000
HONORABLE MAYOR ANTHONY M. MASIELLO
CITY OF BUFFALO

Good evening to members of the panel, the consulting team and the public. I appreciate being allowed to lead off this final public participation phase of the independent analysis process for the Peace Bridge system expansion. I'm sure that the next two nights will be very insightful for the consultants and the panel, as they move into the final days of their recommendation and consensus building process. I don't mean to add any further pressure to your deliberations, but you truly will be making a monumental (and dare I say) signature decision based on the facts you have garnered.

Not quite one year ago, the City of Buffalo, the County of Erie, the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo decided to take the controversy surrounding the Peace Bridge capacity expansion into the hands of the people, the hundreds of thousands of us in the Niagara region who really are the authority regarding our public bridge. Former County Executive Dennis Gorski should be recognized for his foresight in bringing this group together.

Though the job is not yet complete, there already is a bushel full of thanks to be dolled out to those who have participated in this very unique open process. The four funding partners structured a Steering Committee which faced the daunting task of keeping the process together amidst an array of pressures. Under Gail Johnstone's consistent and persistent leadership, Joe Ryan, Rich Tobe, Maria Lehman, and Bob Kresse have met on a weekly basis over the last year. The people of the Niagara region thank you for your leadership.

The Steering Committee's initial task was to assemble the Public Consensus Review Panel (PCRP) to represent the numerous constituencies on both sides of the border, including the Public Bridge Authority. As in any party, some invitations went unanswered and some invitees came late, but a solid group was there from the beginning. Sister Denise Roche of D'Youville College and Mr. Randy Marks volunteered their time, wisdom and facilities as co-chairs of the panel. The people of the Niagara region thank the PCRP members for your dedication.

We also owe gratitude to those members of the public who throughout this Peace Bridge capacity expansion process have stepped forward and said "What If". You know the names, they include (Cullen, Brown, Freschi, Lin, Biniskiewicz, Mander and the New Millenium Group); and thousands of others who haven't become household names, who have let their voices be heard. The people of the Niagara region thank you for your perseverance and insight.

In October of last year, the Public Bridge Authority Board of Directors proposed an agreement to the PCRP Steering Committee, which enabled bi-national participation in the review process. The signing of this agreement signified the willingness of the PBA to work within the process, for the good of the Niagara region and the communities on both sides of the border. The people of the Niagara region thank the PBA for their participation and cooperation.

The firms of Ammann & Whitney, The Louis Berger Group, Buckland & Taylor, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Waterfront Regeneration Trust should be commended for bringing their international expertise and professionalism to our area.

WNED has shown us the true meaning of "public" radio and television by devoting countless hours of airtime to this effort, and they should also be recognized.

A special thanks must go out though to the people of the west side of Buffalo. For the betterment of our region, you have allowed all of us to play chess with your community, a community that is as near to my family's heart, as it is to all of yours. Thank you for your trust and patience.

I pledge to you that whatever new bridge system is finally recommended, it will be the capstone of a revitalization of the west side of Buffalo.

On February 24th, I drove HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo through the neighborhoods adjacent to the Peace Bridge, explaining the unique synergism therein, and the enormous potential of the area. He listened, and I believe he understood our needs. I will push forward in seeking critical federal financial support for the revitalization of the west side.

I understand that this evening's session is designed to allow the public an opportunity to comment on the consultant's "draft" recommendations that were presented last week. Their first recommendation was that a partnership be formed between Buffalo, Fort Erie and the Public Bridge Authority as soon as possible. I can tell you tonight that the initial stages of that mission have already been accomplished. I have spoken to my friend Mayor Wayne Redekop of Fort Erie and PBA Chairman Vic Martucci since the "draft" recommendation was released, and I can assure you that we are already thinking about the "get it done and get it right" mentality that a majority of the citizens of the Niagara region are echoing.

The consultant's second recommendation was that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should immediately be initiated for the proposed northern plaza "E". They said that a northern plaza location best satisfies the criteria expressed by the PCRP for the City of Buffalo.

Now listen carefully, the "status quo" and "settle for mediocrity" theories are about to be thrown out the window. The consultants feel that the potential for future economic development and jobs related to a northern plaza site is greater than the potential at the existing plaza site. And so do I. The consultants feel that the potential for a symbolic signature gateway starting at a northern plaza site is greater than the potential at the existing plaza site. And so do I. The consultants feel that the restoration of Front Park and the reclamation of Fort Porter can be significant for the future of Buffalo. And so do I. The consultants feel that a northern plaza is consistent with our vision for the future of the west side of Buffalo. And so do I. The consultants feel that we are better served by a properly sized, environmentally sound plaza that can accommodate future expansion and investment. And so do I.
I am supporting the northern plaza recommendation because I believe it gives the Niagara region and the City of Buffalo a better opportunity to concentrate our collective energies on three specific areas; economic development, plus signature gateway development, plus community revitalization, which equals J.O.B.S. - jobs.

Let's talk about signature gateway development first. In October of 1998, the Waterfront Regeneration Trust of Toronto debuted the Buffalo-Fort Erie International Waterfront Gateway Strategy. The strategy emphasized that we need to "provide visitors with a warm and gracious welcome as they cross the bridge, and then by guiding them to the waterfront, neighborhoods, business centers and attractions, encourage them to stay." "Significant as it is commercially, the bridge is located at a place that is also important culturally, socially and environmentally." By considering a northern plaza, we have provided an opportunity to recapture the lost spiritual quality of the special place that Olmsted called The Front.

I believe that the creation of signature gateways is not only the responsibilty of the communities at each end of the bridge, it is a function of the Public Bridge Authority to "provide the best possible links to its host communities, in an environmentally sensitive manner."

Our new signature gateway must be a destination in itself. It must be an interactive, interpretive place where visitors and tourists can clearly see our links to the past, but also share our vision for the future. "It is not enough to create a signature gateway, we must connect that signature gateway to the assets, attractions, events, activities, neighborhoods and business districts; thus creating a signature gateway that we all can be proud of."

The Niagara Region of the Province of Ontario has put together an extensive plan to capture tourism dollars that stream into Toronto and Niagara Falls. The potential for job growth in this sector is enourmous. We are currently working with the same consultants to develop a plan to funnel some of these dollars acrossthe Peace Bridge into Western New York.

I am also supporting the northern plaza recommendation because I believe it gives the Niagara region and the City of Buffalo a better opportunity for economic development related to commerce that crosses the Peace Bridge.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has increased trade between the U.S. and Canada by approximately 15% annually. By the end of this decade, it is estimated that two trillion dollars in trade will cross the northern
U.S. border annually. We need to make sure that we get our fair share of that enormous pie. We need to continue to diversify our economy.

Our opportunities lie in our proximity to Niagara Falls and our position at the mid-point of the "Golden Horseshoe" that stretches between Toronto and Rochester. The Golden Horseshoe is recognized as one of the fastest growing regions in North America. The Golden Horseshoe is the northern terminus for Continental One, the north/south trade corridor that is rapidly developing between Toronto and Miami, with Buffalo as the border epicenter. Need I remind you that Buffalo has a rich history as a trade corridor epicenter.

This past Sunday, in an article in the Buffalo News, it was pointed out that rail shippers are focusing in on Buffalo as a perfect location for rail/truck inter-modal facilities. In addition, Federal Express has recently purchased the Tower Group customs brokerage firm. Major international companies are beginning to realize that this bi-national region is rapidly becoming a hub for trade, distribution and logistics firms.

It is no coincidence that Ciminelli Development's International Centre on Niagara Street has just leased space to its first major tenant, A.N. Deringer customs brokers; and that a northern plaza provides an immediate adjacency to the Niagara Street commercial and industrial spine that stretches up through the Tonawanda Street Industrial Corridor.

Let's not forget that the Niagara Street spine will also connect a northern plaza with Porter Avenue and the lower west side's International Gateway Business District, leading all the way to Niagara Square. On a smaller scale, but just as importantly, this will provide job opportunities related to the entrepreneurial spirit which once made lower Niagara Street so vibrant, and can once again.

I am also supporting the northern plaza recommendation because I believe it gives the west side of Buffalo the best stab at what our urban planners accurately refer to as "social justice". A renaissance of the west side must include an "urban fabric" which knits together housing development (new and restored), adjacent parkland, neighborhood business districts, waterfront accessibilityand jobs! No other plaza alternative offers the opportunities and potential that the northern site does!
And now let's discuss the consultants' recommendation to proceed with the companion span and replacement of the Parker Truss. The consultant's conclusion is sensitive to the bi-national nature of the project. It is a conclusion that, when linked to the northern plaza recommendation, offers the best opportunity for a consensus based on compromise.

The Public Consensus Review Panel, at its February 26, 2000 workshop, agreed that the following criteria were deemed most critical: Economic Development Potential; Restoration of Front Park and Fort Porter; creation of a Gateway as entrance to Buffalo, Western New York and the United States; the aesthetic quality of the bridge; and sufficient space in the plaza area to accommodate present operations with room for expansion. Four of these five criteria have been met within the consultant's draft recommendation.

As representatives of the community, if you feel the "signature" bridge issue is most important, and the recommended bridge does not pass the "signature" litmus test, then you must not ratify the final recommendations .

On the other hand, if you feel economic development, a signature gateway, the restoration of Front Park and Fort Porter, the revitalization of the West Side community are most important, and this recommendation provides a unique opportunity for economic development dollars and jobs to flow into the region as soon as possible, then you must ratify the final recommendations conditioned upon the building of the northern plaza. Your job over the next few days is not an easy one.

Irrespective of the eventual solution, there truly are no losers in this process, both philosophically and practically. I encourage anyone who is disgruntled by the ultimate outcome, to refocus your energies and continue to work with all of us to rebuild our region.

As long as I am Mayor, this new bridge system is what we are collectively going to work on. This is a symbol of our renaissance! This is a symbol of our rebirth! The significance of the symbol is the community effort we put forth; what we do together towards reaching our goal, should be what we are remembered for in making it happen.

In World War II, Winston Churchill challenged the entire English population by asking, "How far will England go?" So I ask all of you, "How far will our Niagara region and the City of Buffalo go?"

To make this new bridge system work, we need to be more inclusive than ever before. We need everyone to step up to the plate, like they've never stepped up before. We need both federal governments to provide additional dollars and more customs and immigration agents. Tomorrow morning, I will be in Washington to meet with the Acting Deputy Commissioner of Customs, to personally define for him the cause of our Peace Bridge plaza "bottleneck". So, Misters Moynihan, Schumer, LaFalce and Maloney, we need your continued support.

We need the State government to provide additional dollars for an Interactive Visitor's Center and an International Trade Advocacy Center. Mr. Pataki, we need your continued support.

We need the New York State Legislature, the Erie County Legislature, the Common Council, the labor unions, the business community and the advocacy groups to all step up to the plate.

We need the Public Bridge Authority to be our trustworthy partner. Mr. Martucci, it is our mutual responsibility to make this new bridge system work, and it is our mutual responsibility to find the money to do it right. Once a recommendation is ratified, we will seek a binding legal agreement for the entire project among all three partners, in order to proceed.

The Masiello administration is geared up to respond quickly to a ratified recommendation. Various signature gateway related items are already in the City's capital budget for next year. The planning department has already done extensive investigation into the proposed northern plaza site. Consultants are updating the Front Park Master Plan, with possible inclusion of the Fort Porter site; and meetings have been held to discuss the possible relocation of the Episcopal Church Home to a new location in the west side.

Assuming a consensus is reached and immediately pursued, the consultants have noted a date of July 1st, 2000 for the beginning of work on our new bridge system. Based on that date, I believe that we should set a goal of July 1st, 2008 for the official dedication.

Once again, I wish the panel a spirit of "peace" in their deliberations, and thank each of you for your dedication to this panel. You should be proud of the fact that this process gave us a chance to create our signature gateway, when none before it had.

Again, thank you for your dedication, hard work and perseverance.