$3.5 Million Project Adds Traffic Circle to West Side Campus
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27), New York State Senator Tim Kennedy, City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and City Councilman David Rivera joined D’Youville College President Sister Denise A. Roche to mark completion of the Fargo Avenue traffic circle at D’Youville College’s Campus on Buffalo’s West Side.
“This transportation infrastructure investment not only provides a safer, user-friendly traffic flow for vehicles and pedestrians, it serves as the foundation and center point for a growing center for education and dynamic West Side neighborhood,” said Congressman Higgins.
“Over the years, D’Youville College has helped strengthen our economy by training workers for careers in critical fields while also providing increased stability for the West Side neighborhood,” said State Senator Tim Kennedy, a graduate of D’Youville College’s Occupational Therapy program. “The Fargo Avenue reconstruction improves the safety and walkability of the campus and provides a significant enhancement to the surrounding community.”
“The City of Buffalo contributed $90,000 to the reconstruction of Fargo Avenue to create an aesthetically improved, safer, greener and more efficient traffic area,” said Mayor Byron Brown. “Our Department of Public Works held several public meetings to obtain input for the project. We have addressed safety concerns and implemented street-side amenities to develop a more pedestrian-friendly college campus and residents of the surrounding area.”
"The circle not only gives a sense of campus to the college buildings but provides a safer, less congested area of transit. It improves the sense of community by including all the neighbors on both sides of Fargo who reside in this vicinity,” said Sister Denise A. Roche, D’Youville president. “We are grateful to Mayor Brown, Congressman Higgins, Councilman Rivera and all those political leaders and neighbors who participated in this collaborative project which will enhance the West Side of Buffalo.”
The $3.5 million project includes $1.6 million in federal transportation funding requested by D’Youville and secured by Congressman Higgins, as well as city and state dollars. The new roundabout is located between Porter Avenue and Connecticut providing direct central access to many D’Youville campus buildings including the new Academic Center.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Intersection crashes account for more than 45 percent, or 2.7 million crashes nationwide. Numerous studies have shown that roundabouts are a proven to provide a safer flow of traffic. One study suggests traffic circles can reduce total crashes by 35%, injury crashes by 76 percent, and nearly eliminate fatal crashes.
Fargo Avenue is named for William G. Fargo, who served as mayor of Buffalo from 1862 to 1866 and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Fargo was also a founder of Wells Fargo and an early president of American Express.
