Bus Network Improvements

NFTA-Metro is improving your bus network in 2021 and 2022. Read on to learn about planned and implemented changes.

Update and Next Steps

    • The Bus Network Improvements proposal was approved by the NFTA Board of Commissioners on September 23, 2021. Click here for the proposal.
    • Improvements were implemented in Niagara Falls on December 5, 2021.
    • Many of the Erie County changes were implemented on February 13, 2022.
    • Additional Erie County local and express bus changes may take effect later in 2022, as feasible and depending on bus driver availability.

Planned Changes

Proposed Changes

Erie County

For an interactive map of the network as of February 13, 2022, click here.

For a list of changes implemented on February 13, 2022, click here.

Niagara Falls

The following improvements were implemented on December 5, 2021:

  • New express service between downtown Niagara Falls and downtown Buffalo (77 Buffalo-Niagara Falls)
  • Updated service to the Niagara Falls airport and NCCC via the new 59 Airport NCCC (including weekend service to NCCC).
  • New service to jobs at Vantage International Point via the new 59 Airport NCCC.
  • New routes and schedules for the 50, 52, and 55
  • Schedule and bus stop changes for the 40.
  • Improved transfers between all routes.

For an interactive map of the Niagara Falls network routes, click here.

For a PDF map of the Niagara Falls network, click here.

Paratransit impacts

Paratransit service will not be impacted by these changes until at least June 2023. 

 

 

 

Community Engagement

The new network is designed to reflect the needs and priorities of the community. NFTA conducted three rounds of community engagement:

  1. In May and June 2021, we asked people what they needed and wanted from the bus system. We heard from almost 600 people, either in person, on the phone, or through a survey.

WHAT WE HEARD

      1. In addition to reliability, these are the most important things to the public:
        • Bus shelters and benches
        • Short waits (frequency)
        • Realtime bus arrival information

      2. Everyone has different priorities for bus service. People we heard from were evenly split on whether peak hour, early morning / late night, weekday, weekend, or brand-new services were most important.
      1. The community wants service to:
        • Suburban jobs
        • Recreation destinations
        • Public/social services
        • Express network destinations

      2. The community wants more service to:
        • East Side and West Side of Buffalo
        • Suburban jobs
        • Shopping centers
  1. From the end of June through July 18, 2021, we shared route concepts and options and asked for feedback on these ideas. We received hundreds of comments. This input was incorporated into the final proposal. During this phase, NFTA hosted two online meetings:
  2. The final proposal was released on July 23rd, 2021. The public comment period opened on July 24, 2021, and lasted through September 8, 2021.


    Three public hearings were held: Click here to view the public hearing presentation (PDF)

August 23, 2021
Virtual Public Hearing
5:30 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

August 24, 2021
Portage Road Transit Center
5:30 p.m.
1162 Portage Road, Niagara Falls, NY

Meeting Transcript

August 25, 2021
Metropolitan Transportation Center
5:30 p.m.
181 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY

Meeting Transcript

Keep In Touch

 

You can always reach out to NFTA by emailing info@nfta.com, or calling Customer Care at 716-855-7211 between 6am and 6pm on weekdays.