Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
| Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority | |
| Company Slogan | Let Metro Take You Where You Want to Go! |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Buffalo, NY |
| Service Area | Erie & Niagara Counties, New York |
| Service Type | Public Transit |
| Fleet | Bus, Light Rail |
| Operator | NFTA Metro Bus and Rail |
| Website | Official Website |
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) is the local provider of public transportation for Erie and Niagara counties in New York.
Additionally, the semi-public authority functions as a ports authority, managing Buffalo's Small Boat Harbor, the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, and Niagara Falls International Airport.
Agency-wide, the NFTA employs 1,119 full time and part-time employees and carries 94,000 passengers per day with their NFTA Metro subsidiary, with 8.9 million miles traveled every year.
The first bus operations in Buffalo dates back to 1923 under the private operator International Railway Company. The proposed Niagara Frontier Rapid Transit Commission in 1947 gave way to the creation of the Niagara Frontier Transit System, Incorporated in 1950 and replaced by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Corp or NFTA in 1967. Today the Metro Bus fleet consist of 332 buses and 4 trolley style buses. The Metro Rail System operates daily with its fleet of 26 rail cars.
Although the agency encompasses a wide spectrum of transportation services, with the airports, Small Boat harbor and real estate, this article will primarily focus one of their most visible subsidiaries, the NFTA Metro system.
Service Area
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's Metro system serves most of the counties of Erie and Niagara in New York State.
The cities served include: Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Lockport, Lackawanna, Tonawanda and North Tonawanda.
The towns/villages include: Alden, Angola, Amherst, Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Clarence, West Seneca, Blasdell, Hamburg, Eden, East Aurora, Holland, Elma, Wheatfield, Niagara, Lewiston, Pendleton, and Sanborn, among others.
Even with this largely covered service area, the NFTA does not offer interagency transfers to other public transportation services in neighboring counties.
Bus Fleet
Current Fleet (All buses are Wheelchair-accessible 
)
- 1994 New Flyer Industries D40HF (9301-9375; to be retired in 2006-07)
- 1995 NABI (American Ikarus) 416 (9501-9564)
- 1996 NovaBus Classic TC40-102A (9601-9641)
- 1999 NovaBus LFS TL-40102 (2001-2021)
- 2001-2002 & 2005 Gillig LF Advantage T-40 (2101-2141,2201-2242 & 2501-2515)
- 2004 Gillig LF Advantage T-29 (2401-2421)
- 2006 Gillig LF Advantage Diesel-electric Hybrid T-40 (2601-2630)
- 2007 Gillig LF Advantage Diesel-electric Hybrid T-40 (2701-????)
Other Vehicles
Retired Fleet
- 1966-1969 GMC BusesT8H 5304A-(7501-7799 {except for 7754}) (102" versions 7401-??)
- 1975-76 AM General Metropolitan Bus - retired (4001-4099)
- 1975 Flxible 111CC-D5-1 (ex-RGRTA Rochester) (301-305)
- 1976 GMC Buses S8H 5304A (3051-3063)
- 1979 GMC Buses RTS 03 (5001-5065)
- 1980 GMC Buses RTS 03 (5066-5075)
- 1983 GMC Buses RTS 04 (6001-6110)
- 1977 GMC Buses RTS 01 (ex-DART Dallas) (322-365)
- 1985-90 Orion Bus Industries Orion 01.051
(601-607;701-773;801-816;851-852;861-867;901-911;921-925)
- 1991 Orion Bus Industries Orion 05.501(201-222)
- 1992 Motor Coach Industries Classic TC40-102A (401-417)
- 1993 Orion Bus Industries Orion 05.501 CNG (501-505)
The NFTA has 10 CNG (compressed natural gas) vintage style green trolley style buses are used for the USA Niagara Link route and makes approximately 17 stops in Downtown Niagara Falls, New York. Internally, Metro refers to it as Route 205, but there are no references to that number on buses. Additional service (as of Summer of 2005) operated along nearly the same route as 55-Pine Avenue buses between Downtown Niagara Falls and The Summit Transit Center. These trips were noted as "55T" trips, and ran once hourly from 7:00am - midnight, 7-days-a-week.
Bus Routes
Many of the core routes in the City of Buffalo operate almost along the same alignment of the previous International Railway Company's streetcar lines. Some adjustments in routing downtown, but nothing major.
As of present, all Metro Bus, Metro Rail and Metro Link service is wheelchair accessible.
Although not exact, most of the routes follow a certain numbering schematic.
- 1-49 Erie County routes
- 50-59 Niagara County routes
- 60-89 express routes
- 90-99 special services (Buffalo Bills, Darien Lake, etc...)
- 100-121 Buffalo Public School trips
- 200-216 Hublink routes
Current Routes
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Past/Previous Routes
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Other
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- - "#" Denotes unused signage since closure of depot.
Fares/Payments
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority operates on an "exact fare" system, in which payment is due in full at time of boarding, and drivers/operators do not make change.
Fares vary, using a zone-fare boundary, in which passengers pay a premium, once they cross each boundary. There are only four zones in the Metro system.
Fares can currently be paid upon boarding, using cash (dollar bills and coins), tokens, day passes, or monthly fare media.
The current fees charged are:
(saving and continuing after save)
Properties (Stations/Garages/Barns)
Bus and Rail Depots
All buses are stored at three depots:
- Cold Spring Terminal (Main & Michigan, Buffalo)
- Frontier Terminal (Kenmore & Military, Buffalo)
- Gisel/Wolford Terminal (Babcock nr. William, Buffalo)
Metro Rail trains are stored at one depot:
- South Park Terminal (South Park nr Main, Downtown Buffalo)
Past Depots:
- Broadway Barns (Broadway & Greene, Buffalo)
- Buffalo & 13th (Buffalo & 13th, Niagara Falls)
- Hertel & Military (Military & Hertel, Buffalo)
Transportation (Intermodal) Centers
Most buses operating to the city centers operate to or near:
- Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center Ellicott & North Division, in Downtown Buffalo - built in 1977
- Niagara Falls Transit Center on Portage near Cedar, near Downtown Niagara Falls
A plan is in the works for a new intermodal center in Downtown Buffalo, on the site of the old War Memorial Auditorium. This would tie in Metro Bus and Rail services, Greyhound and other over-the-road bus lines and Amtrak Rail services into one location. As of present, Bass Pro Shops is also interested in the War Memorial Auditorium to open up a new store, and have a unique presence that would tie in with a "lower Main Street" and "Erie Canal Harbor" revitalization.
Also, the NFTA is in the construction phase of a new Niagara Falls Transportation Center, located on Military Road near the factory outlet mall. This transportation center replaces the past one located in Downtown Niagara Falls near Niagara & 4th Street. A new parking ramp for the Seneca Niagara Casino sits on its old site.
Suburban Transit Centers
In addition, a number of transit centers were created in suburban locations to allow passengers to transfer between other routes in a coordinated location. Suburban transit centers operate with more amenities than typical loops used on many city routes. Suburban transit centers tend to be located on properties like shopping centers, and include separate shelters for each stop, pay telephones, schedule information, and possible restroom areas for drivers and agency employees.
- Appletree Business Park off of Bennett Road on south end of property
- Athol Springs on Big Tree Road @ NYS 5
- Southgate Plaza near Citibank
- Summit Mall off of Plaza Road near northeast corner of mall property
- Thruway Plaza off of Harlem Road on west end of plaza property
- Tonawanda at the southwest corner of Niagara & Main in the City of Tonawanda
- Victory at corner of South Park at Ridge Road, Lackawanna
Bus Loops and Terminals
Many loops that the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority uses as a terminal for their bus routes are properties that were originally created for the International Railway's streetcars to turn around in. The International Railway Company (IRC) was the primary predecessor to the Niagara Frontier Transit System (c. 1950), and ultimately, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (c. ~1972).
Metro Rail Stations
Stations with Bus Loops
- Utica, NE corner of Main & E Utica
- Delavan/Canisius College (previously Delavan/College), NE corner of Main & E. Delavan
- LaSalle, NW corner of Main & LaSalle Street
- University (previously South Campus), South of Main & Capen Blvd.
Stations without Bus Loops
- Erie Canal Harbor, Main Street, between Scott & Exchange, Downtown Buffalo
- Seneca, Main Street, between Seneca & Swan, Downtown Buffalo
- Church, Main Street, between Church & Eagle, Downtown Buffalo
- Lafayette Square, Main Street, between Lafayette Square & Mohawk, Downtown Buffalo
- Fountain Plaza (previously Huron), Main Street, between Huron & Chippawa, Downtown Buffalo
- Theater, Main Street, between Chippawa & Tupper, Downtown Buffalo.
- Allen-Medical Campus, Main Street, east of Allen Street
- Summer-Best, Main Street, at Northeast corner of Best Street
- Humboldt/Hospital, Main Street, at foot of Kensington Av.
- Amherst, North of Main Street, surrounder by Main on south, Parker on west, and Amherst north.
These stations use surrounding streets as boarding areas for buses.
Active Loops
- Andrews Loop northwest corner of Genesee St and Andrews, Buffalo
- Fernwood Loop at foot of Rossler at Clinton St, Buffalo
- Goethe Loop southeast corner of Lovejoy Av and Goethe St, Buffalo
- Michael Loop southeast corner of Broadway and Michael St, Sloan
- Nason Loop Nason Pkwy at South Park Av, Lackawanna
- Vulcan (Baxter) Loop northeast corner of Vulcan and Baxter St, Buffalo
- Jersey Left on exit from Main St at Bailey Av, Buffalo
- Paramount Loop on Colvin at Paramount, Tonawanda
- Huntley Loop on Kensington nr Huntley, Buffalo/Cheektowaga
- City Line (Wildwood) Loop on Seneca at Buffalo City Line
- Southside Loop northeast corner of Bailey Av. and Abbott Rd., Buffalo
- Orchard Loop on southeast corner of Delaware at Orchard, Tonawanda
- Walden/Bailey (St. Mary's) Loop on Walden, west of Bailey Av
- Ellicott Loop bounded by North Division, South Division, Ellicott and Oak, Buffalo
Inactive Loops
- Blanche Loop southwest corner of Elmwood at Kenmore buses extended to Kenmore/Military
- Coburg Loop southeast corner of Kenmore at Coburg St., Buffalo changed to on-street looping
- Delmar Loop on Oliver at Ward, North Tonawanda routing to loop changed to northern terminal
- Ensminger Loop on Esminger, near Sheridan Parkside Dr. route extended to Pearce Industrial Park
- Greenwood Loop on Abbott Road, near Greenwood, Lackawanna/Blasdell service moved to The Shops at West Seneca
- Highgate Loop on Bailey Av, near Highgate St., Buffalo service extended to University Station
- Irwin Loop at corner of Niagara Falls Boulevard and Irwin service extended to Audubon Industrial Park
- Jefferson Loop at corner of Main St. and Jefferson, Buffalo service extended to Delavan/Canisius College Station
- Pacific Loop on Hertel, east of Pacific St, Buffalo service moved to Vista Marina apartments (previously Watergate)
- Pine Hill Loop on Genesee near Pine Ridge Road, Buffalo buses serve new Andrews Loop
- Preston Loop on East Delavan, near Preston St, Buffalo buses moved to Andrews Loop
- Robbins Loop on Porter at Robbins Road, Niagara Falls buses extended to factory outlet mall
- Seabrook Loop on Kenmore Av at Vulcan, Buffalo (used by Buffalo Public Schools)service extended to Frontier Bus Station
- Virgil Loop on Kenmore at Virgil St, Buffalo service extended to different locations
- Windermere Loop on Main Street at Kenmore Ave., Buffalo/Amherst border service moved to Jersey Left Loop
- Sidenote: Windermere loop existed in a few different configurations over the course of time, in which it originally sat in the area of the current University Plaza during the streetcar era; on Kenmore Ave (before Main) next door to the FIRST location of May Jen restaurant, and again at the corner of Main & Kenmore next to the Walgreens Pharmacy. With the reconfiguration of the corner of Main and Kenmore, the new intersection cuts through the approximate area, forever removing any trace that the loop had even existed. The Jersey "Left" loop has taken over as the terminal point for routes that serviced Windermere Loop.
LRRT - Light Rail Rapid Transit (a.k.a. Metro Rail)
Light Rail
Buffalo's street railway began operations in 1832 with horse car routes on Pearl Street and Terrace (to Canada Ferry terminal). In 1860, the Buffalo Street Railway Company was established. Electric street cars began operating in Buffalo in 1889 and the last horse car retired in 1894. In Niagara Falls village, the first electric cars began in 1883, In 1902, the International Railway Company was created for the merger of the Buffalo's first street railway operator and Buffalo Street Railway Company. The trolley service end in 1950 and would not resume until the LRRT began construction in 1979, and opened on May 1, 1986.
The 6.1 mile line makes stops at: Erie Canal Harbor, Seneca, Church, Lafayette Square, Fountain Plaza, Theater, Allen-Medical Campus, Summer-Best, Utica, Delavan-Canisius College, Humboldt-Hospital (Sisters), Amherst Street, LaSalle, and University (South Campus).
Future Plans for the Metro Rail
The Citizens Regional Transit Corporation (CRTC) has pushed for extensions to the current system utilizing many abandoned track beds of old railway lines.
The proposed Airport line follows the Division Street area, cutting through to the old New York Central Terminal around Jefferson Avenue, following old track bed through the CSX line between Walden and Broadway to Thruway Plaza, Galleria Mall and Buffalo Niagara Airport.
The proposed Tonawanda line follows the old Erie RR right-of-way (ROW) from LaSalle Station through to Tonawanda.
These and many other proposals have hit various roadblocks, but the CRTC has not wavered in their support for these extensions. Lately, a number of political figures have shown their support.
The NFTA operates over fifty bus routes and a 6.1 mile LRRT (light rail rapid transit) system named Metro Rail. This system carries over 23,000 riders daily. The Operations Control Center at Oak and Eagle Streets control both the bus and rail fleet.
The light rail cars are stored at the former Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad station in the lower Main Street in Downtown Buffalo. This terminal is referred to as the South Park Station because of its location at Main & South Park.
LRV Fleet Details
- Manufacturer: Tokyu Car Corporation, Japan
- Fleet size:: 26 (one car {125} damaged in transit upon delivery in 1983)
- Fleet No.:: 101-127
- Length: 66 feet 10 inches
- Width: 8 feet 6.5 inches
- Weight: 35.5 tons
- Normal capacity: 140 (including 51 seated)
- Control: 4 chopper controlled Westinghouse motors
- Track gauge: 4.7 feet
Color Scheme
Just before the beginning of the year 2000, the NFTA's Metro system operated its vehicles using an extremely outdated color scheme using the colors of brown, yellow and orange ("Earth Tone"). This color scheme is easiest to recognize on all the 400 series and 9600 series coaches. As of 2007, this color scheme can now be found on only a handful of buses, as most of the buses featuring it have been either been re-painted in the new color scheme (see below) or retired. However, most of the Metro Rail trains still retain the old "Earth Tone" color scheme (for now).
Even further back, the Niagara Frontier Transit Metro System had worked with a yellow and black scheme (early 1970s), and a red and cream color scheme (1950-1960s). The International Railway Company, the predecessor to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Service used either an orange and black, or forest green and vermillion scheme for their vehicles.
The current color scheme (navy, grey and burgundy) first showed up on the 2000 series (Nova Bus LFS) coaches in early 2001. The color scheme was immediately met with approval on most sides.
According to a past Buffalo News article, the colors and logo were chosen to link the area's "water" image with the company. The force of the Niagara River, and Niagara Falls contribute to the idea of the "wave" design that was chosen.
Noteworthy Dates and Events
- May 18, 1985 Metro Rail officially opens for regular service between Downtown and Amherst Street Stations. Due to construction issues at LaSalle Station, LaSalle and South Campus stations opened later, in 1986.
- April 1, 1990 The NFTA had a brief but embarrassing shutdown due to budgeting issues with state and local governments.
- March 24, 1993 The "New" Metro was introduced, creating a number of new routes, and destinations.
See also
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
