The courts ruled that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. An EIS requires the Department to start from the beginning to obtain updated current data.

It is estimated that a Record of Decision will be issued two years after the filing of the Notice of Intent (NOI). We estimate one year of preparation work before filing the NOI to allow for extensive public outreach and internal review.

Queen City Forward will be a fresh look at all options for the NYS Route 33 Expressway. The new project is not limited to options considered in previous studies and all options are on the table for discussion. The new project is distinct from the previous Kensington Expressway tunnel project in several ways, including a broader regional lens and the opportunity to develop a new purpose statement. Specific project limits will be defined taking into account public input, but may include consideration of a larger portion of NYS Route 33. Consistent with this regional framework, a new traffic study will be undertaken upfront and early engagement efforts over the next year will help the Department define a purpose and need statement for the new project, which in turn will influence the alternatives considered.