The city and National Grid have begun installing 14 replacement poles on Memorial Drive near the Buffalo Central Terminal traffic circle — the opening move in a new partnership aimed at turning the lights back on across Buffalo.
Mayor Sean Ryan and National Grid last week announced the “City of Light” initiative to replace a citywide backlog of approximately 525 downed streetlight poles, with the bulk of work set to accelerate beginning April 1, 2027.
The key change is who does what. Under the old arrangement, the city had to replace a fallen pole before National Grid could reconnect electrical service and attach the light fixture — a two-step handoff that could leave blocks dark for months…