PUBLIC MEETING: New Multimodal Transit Station Downtown

PUBLIC MEETING: State and County Funding for Local Transit

~ CITIZENS FOR REGIONAL TRANSIT QUARTERLY MEETING ~

STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING FOR TRANSIT:

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday, April 15, 5:30–6:30pm  ~  Doors open at 5:00pm
United Way, 742 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo

Free and Open to All

  
Panel Speakers:

• State Assemblyman Sean Ryan
• Erie County Legislator Patrick Burke
• Lynda Stephens, Subsidy Action Committee, Coalition for Economic Justice

President Doug Funke will moderate a panel discussion on the need for increased state and local funding for the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority and its impact in sustaining and growing Western New York’s economic renaissance. This discussion will consist of brief talks on the need to increase transit funding from New York State and Erie County and the role of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency’s tax exemptions, followed by a question and answer component. The impetus for this needed increase is to address a $10 million shortfall in the NFTA’s current budget. 

Assemblyman Ryan has been leading the recent charge in Albany to address this need. His plan recognizes the positive economic impact of encouraging increased ridership on public transportation as a caveat of additional funding for the system.

Erie County currently provides minimal portions of tax revenues to the NFTA. The Erie County IDA exempts some of these taxes in its incentives to developers and businesses, further limiting the funds available to transit from Erie County.

The Western New York region has recently seen cutbacks in transit services and is now threatened with further cutbacks of critical routes if budget solutions are not found. These transit services facilitate the upward mobility of urban residents who otherwise lack access to well-paying jobs and are needed by area businesses.

Not investing in Western New York’s public transportation is sure to impede future growth and lead to ever worsening traffic congestion on already over-used public thoroughfares such as the Youngman, Kensington and Interstate 90.  Concern about Buffalo’s sustained commercial and labor market growth is everybody’s business, come join us and learn more on April 15th.

National Dump the Pump Day - Thursday, June 19th

By queenseyes at Buffalo Rising

National Dump the Pump Day is June 19, 2014. On that day, drivers are asked to leave their vehicles at home, and walk, bike and take public transportation to work. Take the metro if you live and work along the Main Street route. Or hop on a bus if you like.

Not only does National Dump the Pump Day get us thinking about our over-dependence on the automobile (and gas), it also shines a light on the benefits to us and the planet. Take, for example, the impact on your wallet. Did you know that by downsizing from two cars to one car, a family can save an average of $9900* a year on expenses? That’s a lot of money! Between gas, insurance, maintenance, and other expenses, the bills add up.

If you like the idea of leaving your car home for a day, then try it on National Dump the Pump Day. You will be joining like-minded people who are in tune with cost savings, health benefits and earth initiatives. Try it out. See what you think. Tell some friends. And see how easy it can be to avoid the pump altogether.

*Public Transit Association’s Transit Savings Report

CONFERENCE: Light Rail Transit and Economic Development

CITIZENS FOR REGIONAL TRANSIT INVITES YOU TO A CONFERENCE

The Case for Transit: How light rail can be a vehicle for 

sustainable economic development

Saturday, 14 September 2013

Coffee and registration begin at 8:00 – Conference from 9:00 to 2:00

Co-sponsored by Canisius College

Montante Cultural Center, Canisius College, 2021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208

Click here for the location

 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Nadine Lemmon, Legislative Advocate, Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “Making Transit Work…. Economically!”

Panel: Mark Croce, Dr. Daniel Hess, Hal Morse, Patrick Whalen, Howard Zemsky.
Tour: DL&W and Central Terminals and future airport light rail alignment from 2:00 to 4:00

Click here for the Program Overview

To register for the event, lunch and the tour, click here.

FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

$10 cost for optional box lunch, paid at the door

Reservations for lunch and/or tour are due by September 7th. 
Call 716-833-9543 with questions.

A New Niagara Falls International Railway Station

Mayor of Niagara Falls sees economic & cultural development, jobs and a future link to international high-speed rail

The City of Niagara Falls received a $16.5 million federal grant last October to construct the new-build portion of a station project (large structure on the left of rendering) that also involves revitalizing the historic U.S. Customhouse (gray stone building at far right; click to enlarge) built in 1863.

The funds are the final part of a $44 million project to create a new train station and transportation hub. It will house an Amtrak station and customs inspection facilities at the U.S.A.-Canada border. Renovation of the Customhouse will also include an Underground Railroad interpretive center. The building complex will be known as the Niagara Falls International Railway Station and Intermodal Transportation Center.

“The Niagara Falls Station will immediately energize our ongoing local revitalization efforts —to create a hub for transit-orientated economic development and a centerpiece for cultural tourism development,” said Paul Dyster, Mayor of Niagara Falls. “It no doubt means immediate construction jobs."

U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter said “The new intermodal station will put passengers in the heart of the Falls and provide seamless links to other modes of transportation including trolley services." Slaughter and U.S. Senators Gillibrand and Schumer were instrumental in helping to advance the project in recent years.

The Niagara Falls Railway Station will also provide an important link to a proposed high-speed rail line on the existing Empire Corridor, connecting Buffalo, Albany, New York City and points in between. In April 2009, President Obama listed Buffalo as a high-speed rail candidate, and funding was awarded in January 2010 to begin laying a foundation in the Empire Corridor.

The U.S. High-Speed Rail Association envisions a Buffalo to Albany and NY City connection by 2025. They see a Toronto, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Rochester connection happening even sooner, by 2020 (see Map, here).

Mayor Dyster said of the Niagara Falls project, "Perhaps most exciting of all, it gives us an opportunity to play a leading role in development of a high-speed rail system that is going to connect New York City to Toronto, one of the most exciting developments in transportation in all of North America over the next decade."

Mayor Dyster, together with with Organizing for America, will hold an educational meeting that will explain the High Speed Rail project and the benefits it will bring to Niagara Falls and all of Western New York. The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 15, 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, at IBEW Union Hall, 8803 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. [MAP]

A resurgence of interest in passenger rail travel will reactivate our manufacturing sector and create much-needed jobs. Also, the hope is that our passenger rail system in the future will be powered mainly by clean, renewable energy, helping to end our dependency on oil and reduce our carbon footprint.

For additional information, see reports at WIVB.com, BuffaloNews.com and TonawandaNews.com.

[UPDATE] Tuesday, February 15: City to hold meeting on local high-speed rail plans today

U.S. Customhouse built in 1863 in Niagara Falls, NY