Sorrento offers to pay for traffic study
Tensions have been rising between Sorrento Cheese in South Buffalo and the City of Lackawanna, over the cheese company's delivery trucks that rumble through the city. After a judge ruled a city ordinance preventing truck traffic on South Park or Ridge Road unconstitutional, YNN's Nicki Mayo tells us why Sorrento hopes paying for a traffic study could serve as a peace offering.
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
LACKAWANNA, NY -- Lackawanna resident Don says South Park Avenue at Ridge Road is a traffic nightmare.
"They should all get God damned tickets. They should know better," Don said pointing out cars and trucks illegally parked at the interception.
Lackawanna city officials want to limit the number of tractor tailors passing through the intersection.
"A big truck that comes by here and turns is taking up four lanes of traffic and blocking up everything," said Lackawanna Council President Chuck Jaworski.
A State Supreme Court judge ruled against an ordinance that allowed Lackawanna police to ticket trucks over five tons from using Ridge Road and South Park. This is an area frequented by Sorrento delivery trucks.
"The law was passed, not to pick on Sorrento cheese it was a law that was passed for every truck," said Jaworski.
"There are other trucks that go up and down South Park and make that turn, but I think the majority of them come here to Sorrento," said Sorrento Lactalis Plant Manager William Senay.
Sorrento Lactalis is ready to put up $10,000 to fund a traffic study to safety around the intersection.
"Let’s get the professionals in here. Let’s help and assist and pay for a study. And so what’s best for everybody," said Senay.
Back in December, Lackawanna officials suggested using Dorrance Avenue as an alternative truck route. The street connects Lackawanna to South Buffalo. But residents on both sides of the street said they were not having it.
Don says once the city clears up the truck congestion, they can get to work on the funeral traffic around the Our Lady of Victory Basilica.
"You come all the way around the corner. And you go all the way down to the end of the school. And you’re cutting off one lane," Don said.