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* 1966-1969 [[GMC Buses]]T8H 5304A-(7501-7799 {except for 7754})(102" versions 7401-??)
* 1966-1969 [[GMC Buses]]T8H 5304A-(7501-7799 {except for 7754})(102" versions 7401-??)
* 1975-76 [[AM General]] Metropolitan Bus - retired (4001-4099)
* 1975-76 [[AM General]] Metropolitan Bus - retired (4001-4099)
* 1975 [[Flxible]] 111CC-D5-1 (ex-[[Rochester-Genessee Regional Transit Authority|RGRTA Rochester]])(301-305)
* 1975 [[Flxible]] 111CC-D5-1 (ex-[[Rochester-Genessee Regional Transportation Authority|RGRTA Rochester]]) (301-305)
* 1976 [[GMC Buses]] S8H 5304A (3051-3063)
* 1976 [[GMC Buses]] S8H 5304A (3051-3063)
* 1979 [[GMC Buses]] RTS 03 (5001-5075)
* 1979 [[GMC Buses]] RTS 03 (5001-5075)
* 1983 [[GMC Buses]] RTS 04 (6001-6110)
* 1983 [[GMC Buses]] RTS 04 (6001-6110)
* 1977 [[GMC Buses]] RTS 01 (ex-[[Dallas Area Rapid Transit|DART Dallas]])(322-365)
* 1977 [[GMC Buses]] RTS 01 (ex-[[Dallas Area Rapid Transit|DART Dallas]]) (322-365)
* 1985-91 [[Orion Bus Industries]] Orion I-currently being retired (601-607;701-773;801-816;851-852;861-867;901-911;921-925;latter orders [[Image:Wheelchair.png|15px]])
* 1985-91 [[Orion Bus Industries]] Orion I-currently being retired (601-607;701-773;801-816;851-852;861-867;901-911;921-925;latter orders [[Image:Wheelchair.png|15px]])
* 1991-92 [[Orion Bus Industries]] Orion V-currently being retired (201-222);CNG powered-Retired (501-505)[[Image:Wheelchair.png|15px]]
* 1991-92 [[Orion Bus Industries]] Orion V-currently being retired (201-222);CNG powered-Retired (501-505)[[Image:Wheelchair.png|15px]]

Revision as of 03:33, 22 June 2006

Overview

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 harbor Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Niagara Falls International Airport.

NFTA employees 1,119 full time and part-time employees and carries 94,000 passengers per day 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 bus fleet consist of 332 bus and 4 trolley buses.

A list of vehicles operated by the NFTA:

Bus Fleet

Current Fleet (All buses are Wheelchair-accessible )

  • 1992 Motor Coach Industries Classic TC40-102A (401-417)
  • 1993 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 (2101-2242 & 2501-2517)
  • 2004 Gillig LF Advantage T-29 (2401-2417)
  • 2006 Gillig LF Advantage Diesel-electric Hybrid T-40 (2601-2630)

Other Vehicles

  • Ford vans for Metro Paratransit - 25
  • Ford vans for Metrolink - 10

Retired Fleet

The NFTA has 10 CNG 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.

  • 1 William
  • 2 Clinton
  • 3 Grant
  • 4 Broadway
  • 5 Niagara Street
  • 6 Sycamore
  • 7 Baynes - Richmond
  • 8 Main - City
  • 11 Colvin
  • 12 Utica
  • 13 Kensington
  • 14 Abbott
  • 15 Seneca
  • 16 South Park
  • 18 Jefferson
  • 19 Bailey
  • 20 Elmwood
  • 22 Porter - Best
  • 23 Fillmore - Hertel
  • 24 Genesee
  • 25 Delaware
  • 26 Delavan
  • 29 Wohlers
  • 30 Kenmore - Airport
  • 32 Amherst Street
  • 34 Niagara Falls Blvd
  • 36 Hamburg - South Park
  • 40 Grand Island - Niagara Falls
  • 42 Lackawanna
  • 44 Lockport
  • 45 Metro Rail (internal number)
  • 48 Williamsville
  • 49 Hopkins Road
  • 50 University
  • 51 Military North
  • 52 Hyde Park
  • 53 Niagara Street
  • 54 Military
  • 55 Pine Avenue
  • 56 River Road
  • 60 Niagara Falls Express
  • 61 North Tonawanda Express
  • 62 Parker Express
  • 63 Riverside Express
  • 64 Lockport Express
  • 65 Amherst (Twnship) Express
  • 66 Williamsville Express
  • 67 Cleveland Hill Express
  • 68 George Urban Express
  • 69 Alden Express
  • 70 East Aurora Express
  • 72 Orchard Park Express
  • 74 Boston Express
  • 75 West Seneca Express
  • 76 Lotus Bay Express
  • 79 Tonawanda Express
  • 81 Eastside Express

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)
  • South Park Terminal (South Park nr Main, Downtown 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

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.

  • Summit Mall off of Plaza Road near northeast corner of mall property
  • Thruway Plaza off of Harlem Road on west end of plaza property
  • Appletree Business Park off of Bennett Road on south end of property
  • Southgate Plaza near Citibank
  • Athol Springs on Big Tree Road @ NYS 5

Light Rail

Light Rail

Buffalo's street railway began operations in 1832 with horsecar 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 horsecar 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 was created 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).

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 details:

  • Manufacturer: Tokyu Car Corporation, Japan
  • Fleet size:: 26 (one car {125} damaged in transit upon delivery in 1983)
  • Fleet No.:: 101-127
  • Length: 20.37 metre
  • Width: 2.61 metres
  • Weight: 32.2 tonnes
  • Normal capacity: 140 (including 51 seated)
  • Control: 4 chopper controlled Westinghouse motors
  • Track gauge: 1 435mm

See also