New Proposal for Light Rail Transit in Buffalo, NY

15 May 2024, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

(Doors open at 5:30)

St Philips Episcopal Church Parish
15 Fernhill Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14215
(See below for remote access)

University at Buffalo and Citizens for Regional Transit unveil a plan for three new transit lines with stations!

A new proposal for light rail transit in Buffalo, NY, will be unveiled on May 15, 2024, at 6
pm (doors open at 5:30), at St. Philip's Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 15 Fernhill across
from ECMC. The proposal, developed by the University at Buffalo Small Built Works
Program in conjunction with Citizens for Regional Transit, offers three new transit lines
with stations that will connect the city's Central Business District, and the Buffalo airport.
The proposal addresses the long-term transportation needs of the Buffalo region, which
suffers from low transit ridership, high car dependency, and limited access to jobs and
services. The proposal seeks to promote economic development, environmental
sustainability, and social equity by providing fast, reliable, and affordable transit options
for residents and visitors. It significantly expands the existing Buffalo Metro system
including near-term planned extensions.

Three new transit lines are envisioned:

  • The “Belt Line”, which will run along the existing railroad corridor that circles the
    city, connecting neighborhoods, universities, hospitals, and cultural attractions.
  • The Airport Line, which will run from the Central Business District to the Buffalo
    airport, serving the Main Street corridor, Larkinville, Walden Galleria Mall, Central
    Terminal, the Buffalo-Niagara Airport and Transit Road in Lancaster.
  • The Kensington Line, which will run from the “Belt Line” to the airport, serving the
    ECMC, the Olmsted at Kensington High School, the Martha Mitchell Community Center, and the Buffalo-Niagara Airport. It will serve the Trinidad/Humboldt neighborhood along the current alignment of the Kensington Expressway.

The proposal is based on research, analysis, and community engagement conducted by
the University at Buffalo Small Built Works Program, a design-build studio that has
worked since 2001 designing community benefit projects. The proposal is also
supported by Citizens for Regional Transit, a grassroots organization that advocates for
improved transit in the Buffalo region.

The unveiling of the proposal will be open to the public and will include a presentation of
the plan, a question-and-answer session, and a display of maps and station renderings.
The event will also be available on Microsoft Teams (see below) for those who cannot
attend in person.

For more information, please contact:

  • Doug Funke, President, Citizens for Regional Transit, at
    president@citizenstransit.org or (716) 440-1291.
  • Brad Wales, Clinical Assistant Professor, UB Dept. of Architecture Small Built
    Works Program, at bawales@buffalo.edu or (716) 866-9665.

You can also join remotely:

Microsoft Teams

Click Here to Join the Meeting

Meeting ID: 248 501 692 823 Passcode: 4pjejC