City Hall, Room 303
Phone - 716-286-4410 FAX - 716-286-4348

City Engineer
Robert T. Buzzelli, Civil Engineer III
Mark Abramaitys, Civil Engineer
Michael P. DeSantis, Sr. Project Designer
Howard Skivington, Construction Inspector
Michael Kroening, Construction Inspector
Richard Golden, Engineering Technician II
Christopher Valint, Survey Instrument Technician
Paul LoCurto, Engineering Aide
Victoria Gemuend, Principal Clerk
Angel Alexis, Account Clerk 

Office Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:00AM TO 12:00 NOON & 1:00 PM TO 4:00 PM

The ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT’S goal

is to manage the City’s right-of-way in a manner that ensures safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles as they travel through the City for business and leisure activities. Our functions include developing and implementing plans for maintenance and construction of the City’s infrastructure including 219.1 miles of streets, sidewalks, alleys, water mains, storm and sanitary sewers, bridges and municipal buildings .

RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMITTING 

The City’s right-of-way includes the street as well as the sidewalk that is parallel with the street, the grass margin (where applicable), the curb, and driveway apron on the front portion of the property.

Any work performed in the City’s right-of-way must be completed by an insured and bonded contractor registered to work in the City Of Niagara Falls. A list of current approved contractors is available in the Engineering Department.

Listed below are the types of work typically performed in the City’s right-of-way that requires an Engineering Permit and the corresponding permit fee:

Type of Work (Permit Fee)
Sidewalk installation or replacement ($40.00)
New driveway apron installation, curb cut, or apron replacement ($40.00)
Water line installations and repairs ($80.00)
Storm or Sanitary Sewer installations and repairs ($80.00)

(Utility companies such as gas, electric, telephone and cable are required to obtain an Engineering Permit for any work performed in the City’s right-of-way at a fee of $80.00)

Sidewalk Repairs

City Ordinance 731.01 - Sidewalks to Be Kept Clean and in Repair

“It shall be the duty of every owner of premises fronting on a public street to keep the sidewalk in front of same unobstructed, clean and in good order and repair.”

Any sidewalk damages including cracks, shalling, or up-heaval, occurring on the sidewalk parallel to the street, is the responsibility of the property owner per the noted City Ordinance. A right-of-way permit must be obtained by a registered, insured and bonded contractor to perform the work according to City Standard Construction Specifications.

The City will replace sidewalks that have been uprooted by a tree located specifically in the City’s right-of-way. Additionally, any sidewalks removed by the Niagara Falls Water Board Crews related to water or sewer work will be replaced, in kind, under the City’s Annual Sidewalk Replacement Contract.

New driveway apron installation, curb cut, or apron replacement

City Ordinance 501.09 – Prohibited Parking Places- Section b

“No vehicle shall be parked on any portion of the open space of a lot that is bounded by the line formed by the front wall of the building, side lot lines and the curb in residential districts…”

New driveway apron installations requiring a curb cut must be approved by Engineering as well as the Traffic Planner to insure compliance to all City Ordinances. A right-of-way permit must be obtained by a registered, insured and bonded contractor to perform the work according to City Standard Construction Specifications.

Water and Sewer Installations or Repairs

All Water and Sewer installations must be performed by a master plumber, registered, insured, and bonded with the City Of Niagara Falls to perform the work according to City Standard Construction Specifications.

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS 

These projects begin with the Engineering Department’s survey and design services that lend to the preparation of contract documents for the procurement of construction contractors. While the project is underway, Construction Inspectors supervise the project to completion.

Engineering also coordinates the funding of projects with Community Development, (federal funds), New York State Department of Transportation (state funds) and acts as an alternate representative of the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Committee. Additionally, the Engineering Department coordinates efforts with the Niagara Falls Water Board in surveying, designing and bidding contracts to service water main and sewer replacements and repairs.

CURRENT PROJECTS

2008 Street Projects

Paving Projects:

LaSalle Library Elevator Intallation

Resurfacing Projects:

Department of Public Works In-House Resurfacing Project will resurface streets at various locations

Bridge Projects:

Demolition of 88th Street Bridge over Cayuga Creek
Lockport Street Bridge Rehabilitation

Sidewalk Replacements:
C.H.I.P.S Sidewalk Contract 2007 will replace sidewalks at various locations
Casino Sidewalk Contract 2007 will replace sidewalks at various locations

Sewer Projects:
None Available at this time

Water Main Replacements:
Lewiston Road Water main replacement
90th Street and 91st Street Watermain Replacement

FUTURE PROJECTS

John B. Daly Boulevard Extension from Niagara Street to Pine Avenue
Main Street/Lewiston Road (Rt 104) Repaving from Ontario Avenue to City Line
10th Street from Pine Avenue to Niagara Street
Buffalo Avenue Phase I from I-190 to 10th Street
Traffic Signals Replacement at various locations
Buffalo Avenue (Phase 2) from 1-90 Niagara Expressway to Cayuga Drive