Q: What are the street names of the proposed route?

A: in Buffalo, the proposed corridor is Niagara Street to West/ East Huron Street to Genesee Street o Michigan Avenue (Tubman Way) to Main Street (NY-5)

Q: When will residences/ buildings be relocated?

A: No residences or buildings will be relocated as part of the corridor designation. In fact, the preservation of sites and landscapes is part of the byway stewardship plan.

Q: Will this include how the underground railroad and Erie Canal were related?

A:  Yes.

Q: Are we familiar with the almanacs from the 1800s that enslaved people used to reach freedom?

A: We will ask the Advisory Council about these almanacs for their investigation/reference.

Q: The current proposed route does not include many Black businesses. How will they receive attention?

A: The Corridor Management Plan can recommend that Black businesses be recognized and visited as part of the tourism plan/ economic development strategy.

Q: As we identify the byway, how can technology be used?

A: A Corridor Management Plan traditionally includes several technology uses, particularly in the byway marketing and tourism plans.  Additionally, the byway management plan will also recommend technology for communicating with corridor stakeholders or communities. These individual strategies and uses will be identified and described as the various plan segments are developed (and implemented.)

Q: Will Freedom Park be included?

A: Yes, it is one of the sites currently included.

Q: By having the byway so far north, are we limiting participation and recognition of these places?

A: The state-designated byway provides a foundation for other spurs and routes to build on. The Corridor Management Plan can also identify ways for individual jurisdictions to create or market their collection of Harriet Tubman/Underground Railroad assets.

Q: What is the consideration of current billboards?

A: Current billboards will be grandfathered into the designated byway.

Q: Timeline for corridor (designation)?
A: The goal is to have the NY State DOT approve the CMP in Fall 2025 and introduce legislation in January 2026

Q: After the plan/recommendations are made, what are the next steps toward realizing (designation)?

A: Once the Corridor Management Plan is finalized (proposed June 2025 completion date), the plan must be submitted to the New York State Byway Advisory Board for approval. When it is approved, a state representative must introduce a bill for it to be approved by the New York State legislature and the designation officially signed into law.

Q: What is the timeline of the byway? Does it include only abolitionists of a certain period or current abolitionists (of the civil rights era)?

A: This is to be decided during the planning process. However, in keeping with the timeline of other designated byways, the focus is on Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.

Q: Does the corridor route include the Austin Street Black Rock Launch segment connection to the Freedom Park Underground RR? Embarkment of enslaved to Canada?

A: Yes. It is hoped that the route, after designation, can extend into Canada.

Q: Is there a way to get an updated list of (byway) designations?

A: Here is a link to the current New York State Byways list.

C: Need to help younger generations with opportunities for economic development/growth

C: Ask local stakeholders what younger individuals/ entrepreneurs need

C: We want black businesses represented and young people who are doing good things

C: Refer to education – retired educator present who brought in Harriet Tubman relatives to talk to school classes

C: Include the Erie Canal and the fight for freedom

C: I want to make sure my property isn’t going to be taken

C: Make sure the CMP does not allow for the taking of homes or businesses

C: Use Technology -make information available in real-time and list of businesses as part of the process and continual engagement

C: Include Buffalo in a big way

C: Make sure the corridor connects to Canada and stress what happened to Blacks on the other side of the border in Canada and how they fared – outcomes

C: Access virtual tour/ live access point

C: The URR went through Williamsville and other locations

C: The story of the corridor is about Freedom, and Buffalo brought that to NY – make sure that it brings focus to Blacks

C: Need provisions for grandfathered billboards to include Black businesses to level the playing field

C: Clarify that this is beyond Harriet Tubman and include abolitionists, other freedom seekers’ stories