NFTA is also conducting a study to develop and evaluate alternatives for enhancing transit access in the Canalside and Cobblestone districts in Downtown Buffalo and the reuse of the DL&W as a Metro rail Station.
Join us on October 15, 5 to 7 p.m. to learn more about the study and to provide your input on which alternative should move forward.
Linking communities and our future . . .
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority and its partners have embarked on a study of public transportation options for the corridor connecting Buffalo and Amherst. This could include an extension of Metro Rail, improvements to current bus service or something else altogether, like bus rapid transit. We do not know where the study is headed. We do know that together we can make getting around the region safer, more environmentally friendly and cost effective. So join us. The discussion starts here and now.

Friday, October 2, 2015
Friday, September 11, 2015
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Warning: This Post Contains Technical Documents!

Tier 2 Screening Results
Tech Memo Revising the Recommendation
Friday, August 14, 2015
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
A BIG THANK YOU...
to everyone who stopped by our table today at the Downtown Farmers Market!
Thank you for your interest and your many great questions and comments.
Thank you for your interest and your many great questions and comments.
Monday, August 3, 2015
FAQs
We've added an FAQ tab.
This is our attempt to answer all the questions we've gotten so far. Let us know if you still have more.
This is our attempt to answer all the questions we've gotten so far. Let us know if you still have more.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Some Recent Changes
Based on what we've heard from you at our two June Public Open Houses, comments you've posted to this site, and the discussions we've had with our Project Steering Committee and Project Advisory Committee, we've revised the alternatives moving forward into Tier 3 for further analysis. Tom George, Director of Public Transportation gave a detailed presentation to our Board of Commissioners you can watch which outlines the results of our outreach efforts and the reasons for the revised alternatives.
A very sincere thank you to everyone who took the time to attend the meetings, review the project materials and provide us with your thoughtful comments! We are quickly moving forward towards a Locally Preferred Alternative and want to encourage you to continue to stay engaged.
We went from this:
A very sincere thank you to everyone who took the time to attend the meetings, review the project materials and provide us with your thoughtful comments! We are quickly moving forward towards a Locally Preferred Alternative and want to encourage you to continue to stay engaged.
We went from this:
To this:

Here's what changed:
We're no longer advancing a Bailey Avenue BRT and have added an LRT alternative to Millersport Highway for further evaluation. This leaves us with LRT and BRT options on Niagara Falls Blvd. and Millersport Highway as well as Enhanced Bus and Preferential Bus.
Why?
Well, here's a summary of the comments that provided a basis for the change:
- LRT is the preferred mode over BRT
- Most commenters who favor LRT also favor the Niagara Falls Blvd. alignment - citing more opportunities for Transit Oriented Development as one of those reasons
- LRT is perceived to have a faster travel time, fewer environmental impacts and more convenient with a one seat ride
- BRT is perceived to be too slow, especially in mixed traffic
- BRT alternatives moving forward should also have the technical feasibility to support an LRT investment in the future
- Consideration should be given for project phasing
- Connectivity to existing bus system, pedestrian and bicycle amenities is important
- Important to improve transit service for the community, especially for the transit dependent populations
Based on what we heard from you, the revisions were made because of these considerations:
- Bailey Avenue Considerations -
- Constrained right-of-way - BRT would operate in mixed traffic
- Limited set backs and high impacts to private property
- Similar ridership capture area as the Niagara Falls Blvd. alternatives
- Greater impacts to residential (North Bailey)
- No additional ridership benefits
- Millersport Highway Considerations -
- BRT alignment meets the condition to support future consideration of LRT
- Provides the shortest travel time
- Provides a more equitable balance of modes
Next Steps:
Over the next few months the study team will take these four remaining alternatives and evaluative them further in Tier 3. This will include:
- More detailed definition of the remaining alternatives including additional engineering
- Capital cost estimates
- Operating service plan for each alternative
- Development of operating and maintenance costs
- Refined ridership forecasts
- Cost effectiveness (cost per rider)
- Land use and economic development analysis
- Evaluation of community and environmental effects
- Financial feasibility plan with financing options
After the leg work is complete, we'll present the results to you - look for our meeting notifications in the Fall.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Next Public Meeting
In case you missed the last meeting, we're having another public open house on June 23rd at the Museum of disABILITY History. Come anytime between 6-8p.m. to hear about the progress of the study and provide your feedback.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Are We On the Right Track (pun intended)?
You tell us.
This evening is our public open house at UB Allen Hall. Stop in anytime from 4-8pm to learn about the 4 recommended alternatives and provide your input.
Here's a teaser - we're looking at LRT on Niagara Falls Blvd. and BRT on Niagara Falls Blvd., Bailey Ave., and Millersport Highway.
If you can't make it tonight but want to be able to provide comments, no worries. We're having another meeting on June 23rd from 6-8pm at the Museum of disABILITY History.
You can also leave your feedback here.
This evening is our public open house at UB Allen Hall. Stop in anytime from 4-8pm to learn about the 4 recommended alternatives and provide your input.
Here's a teaser - we're looking at LRT on Niagara Falls Blvd. and BRT on Niagara Falls Blvd., Bailey Ave., and Millersport Highway.
If you can't make it tonight but want to be able to provide comments, no worries. We're having another meeting on June 23rd from 6-8pm at the Museum of disABILITY History.
You can also leave your feedback here.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Public Open House
We’ve
completed the Tier 2 analysis and the results are in! We’d like to get your feedback to make sure
we’re going in the right direction towards a Locally Preferred Alternative we
can all get behind.
We're hosting an event on June 11, 2015, from 4 pm - 8pm at the University at Buffalo South Campus Allen Hall.
This meeting will be an open
house format and everyone is free to drop in any time to learn about the
study, view presentation boards about remaining alternatives being recommended for further analysis, and most
importantly, provide your comments to members of the study team.
We would be
delighted if you can join us! If you can’t attend please continue to follow the process here and be sure to leave your comments for the team.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Save the Date
The Tier 2 results are in and we want your feedback on the recommendations. We'll be hosting a public review on Thursday, June 11, 4 p.m. 'till 8 p.m., Allen Hall, Room 100, University at Buffalo South Campus, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo. Stop in any time. There is no formal presentation.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Transit as a Must-Have
Transit as a must-have economic development tool? Here's an example of a traditional suburban community that's rethinking transit.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Quick Update
Sorry everyone, it’s been a while since our last post. We’ve been hard at work refining and evaluating the 15 alternatives as part of the Tier 2 evaluation.
Remember, Tier 2 will look at order of magnitude capital costs, forecasted ridership and right-of-way impacts. The result will be a handful of alternatives to evaluate in even more detail in Tier 3. We’re pretty close to wrapping up Tier 2 and will likely have a presentation for you in June.
In the meantime, since we’re still not sure about the mode, here's an article that summarizes a couple of studies about LRT and BRT. What’s your opinion?
Remember, Tier 2 will look at order of magnitude capital costs, forecasted ridership and right-of-way impacts. The result will be a handful of alternatives to evaluate in even more detail in Tier 3. We’re pretty close to wrapping up Tier 2 and will likely have a presentation for you in June.
In the meantime, since we’re still not sure about the mode, here's an article that summarizes a couple of studies about LRT and BRT. What’s your opinion?
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