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| Cuomo and Canada Reach Deal on Peace Bridge | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Wednesday declared an end to his administration’s war of words with Canada. | Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Wednesday declared an end to his administration’s war of words with Canada. |
| Mr. Cuomo and Canadian officials, who had been sparring over the Peace Bridge, which connects Buffalo to Fort Erie in Canada, announced an agreement that laid out a plan to improve the American side. | Mr. Cuomo and Canadian officials, who had been sparring over the Peace Bridge, which connects Buffalo to Fort Erie in Canada, announced an agreement that laid out a plan to improve the American side. |
| The plan reinforced projects already in various stages of development, and imposed quicker timetables for their completion. It did not, however, change the composition of the binational authority that has run the Peace Bridge, known as the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, which had been challenged by the Cuomo administration. | The plan reinforced projects already in various stages of development, and imposed quicker timetables for their completion. It did not, however, change the composition of the binational authority that has run the Peace Bridge, known as the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, which had been challenged by the Cuomo administration. |
| The four-page agreement lays out a plan for conducting a study and then taking concrete steps aimed at improving traffic flow on the American side of the bridge. It also seeks to expedite other projects, including a plan to begin inspecting United States-bound trucks on the Canadian side of the bridge, and a gateway ramp project. | The four-page agreement lays out a plan for conducting a study and then taking concrete steps aimed at improving traffic flow on the American side of the bridge. It also seeks to expedite other projects, including a plan to begin inspecting United States-bound trucks on the Canadian side of the bridge, and a gateway ramp project. |
| “A bridge only works when it works on both ends, and that’s basically the metaphor for today,” Mr. Cuomo said. “The Peace Bridge works best when it works for Canada and when it works for Buffalo.” | “A bridge only works when it works on both ends, and that’s basically the metaphor for today,” Mr. Cuomo said. “The Peace Bridge works best when it works for Canada and when it works for Buffalo.” |
| Mr. Cuomo also pledged not to sign legislation, approved last week by the New York Legislature, aimed at dissolving the Peace Bridge authority. | Mr. Cuomo also pledged not to sign legislation, approved last week by the New York Legislature, aimed at dissolving the Peace Bridge authority. |
| The dispute started after Canadian officials at the authority raised questions last year about why the Cuomo administration wanted to spend far more than the appraised value for a strip of land near the American side of the bridge. | The dispute started after Canadian officials at the authority raised questions last year about why the Cuomo administration wanted to spend far more than the appraised value for a strip of land near the American side of the bridge. |
| The Cuomo administration sought the removal of the authority’s general manager and excoriated its chairman, both of whom are Canadian. And a Cuomo administration official on the board leveled a barrage of personal attacks against the Canadians, a move that shocked Canadian officials and led to an impasse on the board. | The Cuomo administration sought the removal of the authority’s general manager and excoriated its chairman, both of whom are Canadian. And a Cuomo administration official on the board leveled a barrage of personal attacks against the Canadians, a move that shocked Canadian officials and led to an impasse on the board. |
| Cuomo aides said their Canadian counterparts had also behaved inappropriately and had neglected the needs of the New York side of the bridge. | Cuomo aides said their Canadian counterparts had also behaved inappropriately and had neglected the needs of the New York side of the bridge. |
| The dispute over the bridge was seen by many as evidence of the Cuomo administration’s penchant for picking fights, and it turned into an unusually public controversy because it involved a foreign government. | The dispute over the bridge was seen by many as evidence of the Cuomo administration’s penchant for picking fights, and it turned into an unusually public controversy because it involved a foreign government. |
| Ambassadors on both sides of the border helped restore order. Gary Doer, the Canadian ambassador to the United States, and David Jacobson, the departing United States ambassador to Canada, appeared with Mr. Cuomo at a news conference in Buffalo on Wednesday. | Ambassadors on both sides of the border helped restore order. Gary Doer, the Canadian ambassador to the United States, and David Jacobson, the departing United States ambassador to Canada, appeared with Mr. Cuomo at a news conference in Buffalo on Wednesday. |
| “We prefer partnership over litigation; we prefer action over congestion,” said Mr. Doer, adding that the deal “respects the board’s fiduciary responsibility.” | “We prefer partnership over litigation; we prefer action over congestion,” said Mr. Doer, adding that the deal “respects the board’s fiduciary responsibility.” |
| “We think this is going to be great for trade and travel,” he added. | “We think this is going to be great for trade and travel,” he added. |