New York State Route 952Q
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 952Q (NY 952Q) is an unsigned reference route designation for the portion of Walden Avenue outside of the Buffalo
city limits in Erie County, New York
, in the United States. The western terminus of the 14 miles (23 km) route is at the Buffalo city line in Cheektowaga, where Walden Avenue continues west toward downtown Buffalo. Its eastern terminus is at Genesee Street in Alden
, where NY 33
and Genesee Street continue on the linear northeasterly path followed by Walden Avenue for most of its routing.
Walden Avenue is the home of the Walden Galleria
, a large shopping mall
near the street's interchange with the New York State Thruway
(Interstate 90
or I-90) in Cheektowaga. As the road heads east through the towns of Cheektowaga, Lancaster
, and Alden, it closely parallels the CSX Transportation
-owned Rochester Subdivision
rail line. NY 952Q, the longest non-parkway reference route in New York, was assigned in 1980 as part of a highway maintenance swap between the state of New York and Erie County.
city line, picking up Walden Avenue's urban, residential setting. The street heads east through the town of Cheektowaga to an intersection with Harlem Road (NY 240
), where Walden Avenue widens from two to four lanes and takes on a suburban commercial setting. Here, the homes that had lined the street are replaced with shopping centers and stores. It continues generally eastward past smaller commercial establishments to New York State Thruway
(I-90
) exit 52, where the highway widens to six lanes in advance of the sprawling Walden Galleria
shopping mall, located adjacent to the northeastern corner of the interchange. Walden Avenue remains a six-lane road for a considerable distance past the mall, meeting Union Road (NY 277
) and Dick Road while serving a continuous line of businesses.
The commercial strip ends 2.5 miles (4 km) east of the Thruway in the Depew
village limits, at which point the road narrows to four lanes as it passes under a branch line
leading from the nearby main line
of the CSX Transportation
. Walden Avenue comes close to the main line tracks here, but it gradually moves away from the railroad as it enters a commercial and residential area of Cheektowaga. Here, the road makes a slight turn to the northeast, beginning a linear 10 miles (16 km) stretch that ultimately takes Walden Avenue out of the Buffalo suburbs. The road's surroundings remain mixed through its intersection with Transit Road (NY 78
) north of Depew's village center. After Transit Road, Walden Avenue enters the town of Lancaster
and crosses the northern fringe of the village of Lancaster
, connecting to Central Avenue (County Route 57 or CR 57), the village's main north–south street.
East of the village of Lancaster, the development along Walden Avenue begins to taper off as the constant homes and businesses slowly give way to large stretches of wooded areas. Still, the highway initially passes several cul-de-sac
s leading away from the northern side of the road and a number of industrial buildings situated adjacent to the CSX mainline, here designated as the Rochester Subdivision
line. This trend changes again after just 1 miles (1.6 km) as the isolated homes on the north side are supplanted by equally isolated industrial warehouses. Walden Avenue eventually follows the CSX mainline into the town of Alden
, where development drops off even further. It passes north of the Wende Correctional Facility
and serves a small number of commercial and industrial complexes on its way to an intersection with Genesee Street (NY 33
). Walden Avenue and NY 952Q end here, while NY 33 continues onto the straight route as Genesee Street.
city line and NY 33
in Alden
was originally a county road maintained by Erie County
. On April 1, 1980, ownership and maintenance of the road was transferred to the state of New York
as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. The new, 14 miles (23 km) state highway was subsequently designated as the unsigned NY 952Q. The route is the longest reference route in the state that is not associated with a parkway.
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
city limits in Erie County, New York
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
, in the United States. The western terminus of the 14 miles (23 km) route is at the Buffalo city line in Cheektowaga, where Walden Avenue continues west toward downtown Buffalo. Its eastern terminus is at Genesee Street in Alden
Alden (town), New York
Alden is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 10,470 at the 2000 census. The town is derived from a family name known to early settlers....
, where NY 33
New York State Route 33
New York State Route 33 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. The route extends for just under from NY 5 in Buffalo in the west to NY 31 in Rochester in the east. It is, in fact, the only state highway that directly connects both cities, although...
and Genesee Street continue on the linear northeasterly path followed by Walden Avenue for most of its routing.
Walden Avenue is the home of the Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria is an enclosed shopping mall located in the town of Cheektowaga, New York. Walden Galleria comprises more than of retail space, with 250 stores on two levels, including a food court and a movie theater. Anchor stores include Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW Shoe Warehouse,...
, a large shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
near the street's interchange with the New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
(Interstate 90
Interstate 90 in New York
Interstate 90 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, I-90 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line at Canaan...
or I-90) in Cheektowaga. As the road heads east through the towns of Cheektowaga, Lancaster
Lancaster (town), New York
Lancaster is a town in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town population has 39,019 residents.The Town of Lancaster has a village also called Lancaster. The Town and Village are currently exploring consolidation of governmental functions. Both town and village are east of...
, and Alden, it closely parallels the CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
-owned Rochester Subdivision
Rochester Subdivision
The Rochester Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in the U.S. state of New York. The line runs from Syracuse west to Buffalo along the former New York Central Railroad main line. At its east end, west of downtown Syracuse, the line becomes the Mohawk Subdivision...
rail line. NY 952Q, the longest non-parkway reference route in New York, was assigned in 1980 as part of a highway maintenance swap between the state of New York and Erie County.
Route description
NY 952Q begins at the BuffaloBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
city line, picking up Walden Avenue's urban, residential setting. The street heads east through the town of Cheektowaga to an intersection with Harlem Road (NY 240
New York State Route 240
New York State Route 240 is a state highway in western New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 242 in the Ellicottville community of Ashford in northern Cattaraugus County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 324...
), where Walden Avenue widens from two to four lanes and takes on a suburban commercial setting. Here, the homes that had lined the street are replaced with shopping centers and stores. It continues generally eastward past smaller commercial establishments to New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
(I-90
Interstate 90 in New York
Interstate 90 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, I-90 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line at Canaan...
) exit 52, where the highway widens to six lanes in advance of the sprawling Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria is an enclosed shopping mall located in the town of Cheektowaga, New York. Walden Galleria comprises more than of retail space, with 250 stores on two levels, including a food court and a movie theater. Anchor stores include Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW Shoe Warehouse,...
shopping mall, located adjacent to the northeastern corner of the interchange. Walden Avenue remains a six-lane road for a considerable distance past the mall, meeting Union Road (NY 277
New York State Route 277
New York State Route 277 is a state highway in New York, USA. This highway is also called Union Road, along with other names. NY 277 is a major north–south road east of Buffalo, New York, through the middle of Erie County...
) and Dick Road while serving a continuous line of businesses.
The commercial strip ends 2.5 miles (4 km) east of the Thruway in the Depew
Depew, New York
Depew is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 16,629 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
village limits, at which point the road narrows to four lanes as it passes under a branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
leading from the nearby main line
Main line (railway)
The Mainline or Main line of a railway is a track that is used for through trains or is the principal artery of the system from which branch lines, yards, sidings and spurs are connected....
of the CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
. Walden Avenue comes close to the main line tracks here, but it gradually moves away from the railroad as it enters a commercial and residential area of Cheektowaga. Here, the road makes a slight turn to the northeast, beginning a linear 10 miles (16 km) stretch that ultimately takes Walden Avenue out of the Buffalo suburbs. The road's surroundings remain mixed through its intersection with Transit Road (NY 78
New York State Route 78
New York State Route 78 , most commonly known as Transit Road, is a state highway in Western New York, USA. While it is signed north–south, the lower portion runs in an east–west direction across Wyoming County, from its beginning north of the Village of Gainesville.NY 78 is...
) north of Depew's village center. After Transit Road, Walden Avenue enters the town of Lancaster
Lancaster (town), New York
Lancaster is a town in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town population has 39,019 residents.The Town of Lancaster has a village also called Lancaster. The Town and Village are currently exploring consolidation of governmental functions. Both town and village are east of...
and crosses the northern fringe of the village of Lancaster
Lancaster (village), New York
Lancaster is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 11,188. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, connecting to Central Avenue (County Route 57 or CR 57), the village's main north–south street.
East of the village of Lancaster, the development along Walden Avenue begins to taper off as the constant homes and businesses slowly give way to large stretches of wooded areas. Still, the highway initially passes several cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
s leading away from the northern side of the road and a number of industrial buildings situated adjacent to the CSX mainline, here designated as the Rochester Subdivision
Rochester Subdivision
The Rochester Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in the U.S. state of New York. The line runs from Syracuse west to Buffalo along the former New York Central Railroad main line. At its east end, west of downtown Syracuse, the line becomes the Mohawk Subdivision...
line. This trend changes again after just 1 miles (1.6 km) as the isolated homes on the north side are supplanted by equally isolated industrial warehouses. Walden Avenue eventually follows the CSX mainline into the town of Alden
Alden (town), New York
Alden is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 10,470 at the 2000 census. The town is derived from a family name known to early settlers....
, where development drops off even further. It passes north of the Wende Correctional Facility
Wende Correctional Facility
Wende Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison located in Town of Alden in Erie County, New York. The prison is named for this region of Alden...
and serves a small number of commercial and industrial complexes on its way to an intersection with Genesee Street (NY 33
New York State Route 33
New York State Route 33 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. The route extends for just under from NY 5 in Buffalo in the west to NY 31 in Rochester in the east. It is, in fact, the only state highway that directly connects both cities, although...
). Walden Avenue and NY 952Q end here, while NY 33 continues onto the straight route as Genesee Street.
History
The section of Walden Avenue between the BuffaloBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
city line and NY 33
New York State Route 33
New York State Route 33 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. The route extends for just under from NY 5 in Buffalo in the west to NY 31 in Rochester in the east. It is, in fact, the only state highway that directly connects both cities, although...
in Alden
Alden (town), New York
Alden is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 10,470 at the 2000 census. The town is derived from a family name known to early settlers....
was originally a county road maintained by Erie County
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
. On April 1, 1980, ownership and maintenance of the road was transferred to the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. The new, 14 miles (23 km) state highway was subsequently designated as the unsigned NY 952Q. The route is the longest reference route in the state that is not associated with a parkway.