Why are so many lightpoles down on 198?

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Why are so many lightpoles knocked down on the 198 in Buffalo - and who's footing the repair bills?

City of Buffalo Department of Public Works Commissioner Steven Stepniak tells News 4 that 22 street lightpoles along the 198 are down.

"It's less than a $50,000 cost, which still is significant, but again we recoup some of this from insurance claims because it goes to the driver when they strike the pole," explained Stepniak.

Almost all of them, Stepniak says, are down because of vehicles crashing into them. One might suspect it's part of the winter driving tradition in Buffalo.

Even along a stretch of the 198 near Delaware Park, our cameras counted three of the lightpoles down - in a row. This is nothing new though. We examined this same problem back in 2007. We even talked to Stepniak, then acting commissioner. He said they put them back up twice a year. The city puts them back up - and someone knocks them back down.

"It's just kind of discouraging. The poles have got to be expensive to switch back and forth," commented Jim Mendola.

Janice Marie and her mother walk in Delaware Park. Never mind the poles - they worry about getting hit.

"My concern is the safety," Marie said. "They should have a wall up so when the cars are coming around they don't come over here and cause problems."

Stepniak responded, "Until that road is reconfigured by the state, I think there's going to be issues out there."

He adds it's a dangerous place to be in the winter time, so the work to replace the lights is always done in the spring.