Mayor Sean M. Ryan announced on April 13 the City of Buffalo’s paving list for 2026 and introduced a new method for evaluating and prioritizing street repairs. The city will use real-time roadway data to guide future investments, marking a shift toward a needs-based model.
The announcement is part of Mayor Ryan’s focus on improving core city services by investing in infrastructure and enhancing supporting systems. He said, “This investment is part of a larger emphasis we are putting on prioritizing areas of need and doing the work the right way the first time.” He added, “For too long, residents have been left with streets in poor condition that went unaddressed. By using technology and focusing on need, we can make smarter investments, stretch taxpayer dollars further, and deliver better results for residents.”
A key component of this change is a partnership with CYVL, a company that uses advanced lidar technology to assess roadway conditions. During the announcement, officials showcased a demonstration vehicle equipped with this technology to illustrate how Buffalo will collect detailed data about street conditions for future planning.
The city plans to use information gathered by CYVL to create its paving list from 2027 onward. This approach will also help update Buffalo’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan for the first time in twelve years.
Nolan Skipper, Commissioner of Public Works, described how streets were chosen for next year’s paving projects and explained tools that will keep residents informed about upcoming work. “We’re working to make this process more transparent than ever before,” Skipper said.”Residents will be able to view the paving list on our website, understand how streets are ranked, see a timeline for repair, and receive advance notice before work begins through paving cards and BUFFALERT notifications.”
Daniel Pelaez, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of CYVL said,”Not every mayor would commit to this level of transparency and accountability. Mayor Ryan did. This partnership will put objective data behind every paving and sidewalk decision, giving residents across the city confidence that their infrastructure is being managed fairly. Buffalo is joining a growing network of forward-thinking cities that have invested in CYVL’s infrastructure intelligence including Boston Atlanta Green Bay Nashville and hundreds of towns and cities across the US. Buffalo is leading with innovation that other cities should take notice of.”
The city also previewed enhancements to its online resources such as GIS-based mapping tools so residents can track planned work in their neighborhoods.
Residents can access Buffalo’s full paving list at www.buffalony.gov/paving.
