Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
| Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority | |
|---|---|
| |
| Slogan(s) | Serving Buffalo-Niagara, Serving the Niagara Region, |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Buffalo, New York |
| Executive Director | Kimberley A. Minkel |
| Official Website | www.nfta.com |
| Bus Tracker | Smart Traveler |
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) is the local provider of public transportation for Erie and Niagara counties in New York. The NFTA operates various vehicles using the brand names: NFTA Metro Bus, NFTA Metro Rail, NFTA Metrolink, and NFTA PAL (Para-transit Access Line).
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.
Although the agency encompasses a wide spectrum of transportation services, with the airports, boat harbor and real estate, this article will primarily focus one of their most visible subsidiaries, the NFTA Metro system.
History
The first bus operations in Buffalo, New York dates back to 1923 under the private operator International Bus Company, a subsidiary of the International Traction Company, the parent company of the International Railway Company. By World War II, the International Bus Company was merged into the operations of the International Railway Company. By 1950, the IRC became bankrupt, and was reorganized as the Niagara Frontier Transit System.
In 1947, the proposed Niagara Frontier Rapid Transit Commission began the process of the creation of the Niagara Frontier Transit System, charged with operating day-to-day bus operations in the City of Buffalo and some surrounding suburban areas. The NFTS operated into the 1970s and was replaced by the publicly created Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (or NFTA) in 1974, aquiring the NFTS, along with other six locally-operating agencies. The purpose was to continue the efforts of regionalizing the public transportation infrastructure in 1950 (by the creation of the Niagara Frontier Transit System) and 1961 (by the NFTS purchase of the Buffalo Transit Company). This step created a public corporation that brought all the regions agencies into a unified system with one route network, one fare structure, and one management team coordinating its efforts.
The NFTA was created in 1967 to begin the consolidation of seven transit agencies. On April 2, 1974, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority began the merging of the Niagara Frontier Transit System with six other agencies to create a truly regional publicly owned authority, on direction from the New York State Legislature. Other companies figuring into the merger were Niagara Falls Municipal Transit System (on May 12), Lockport Bus Lines (March 15, 1975), Tonawanda-North Tonawanda Transit (October 7, 1974), and the line-run operations of Grand Island Transit (April 20, 1975), Niagara Scenic Bus Lines and D&F Transit (September 15, 1974). Additionally, the semi-public authority functions as a ports authority, managing Buffalo, New York's Small Boat Harbor, the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, and Niagara Falls International Airport.
In the present day, the NFTA Metro Bus fleet is comprised of approximately 335 diesel, diesel-hybrid and compressed natural gas buses, all of which are fully accessible to the disabled. The NFTA Metro bus system reaches into Erie and Niagara Counties with frequent service into highly urbanized areas seven-days-a-week, with express services and/or limited service available to outer areas during weekdays.
The NFTA Metro Rail system, opened in 1986, operates daily with its fleet of 26 rail cars along a 6.1 mile route from Downtown Buffalo, along Main Street (New York State Route 5) to the University at Buffalo's South Campus in the City of Buffalo. The rail cars are presently going through what is coined as a "mid-life overhaul", in which the rail cars are receiving a complete mechanical and visual upgrade in hopes of extending the life of the rail cars another 20 years. The majority of the overhaul has been completed, with the NFTA expecting to complete its rail car upgrades by late-2019.
The NFTA Metrolink system operates a fleet of smaller cutaway style vans that provide van shuttle service and the paratransit services to Erie and Niagara Counties. The Metrolink system debuted in 2002 with routes 200-Wheatfield and 201 Lockport Shuttle. In the June timetable update of 2019, the final route (Route 204-Downtown-Airport Express) was eliminated in favor to a complete overhaul of route 24-Genesee, creating a three-tiered service scheme; operating present services (24A and 24B local), limited-stop services (24 L limited) and express services (24X express). As of now, all services operate with conventional 40' transit buses, however, 29' buses may be substituted in, when necessary.
The NFTA PAL (short for Paratransit Access Line) debuted in 1993 with 5 shuttle vans.
The NFTA Flex service began September 2, 2014, as a pilot service replacing service previously offered on standard route 57 Tonawandas service. The difference between "flex" and standard (conventional) service is that buses had the opportunity to deviate from the normal route, up to 3/4 of a mile from the regular route for para-transit eligible passengers. There was a maximum of two flexes made per trip. Less than one year later, on June 21, 2015, service was discontinued and services were partially replaced by an extension of route 25D Delaware to Mid-City Plaza.
In addition to this NFTA-Metro service, the NFTA oversees and is responsible for the daily operations of two commercial airports; the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (BUF) in Cheektowaga, New York, and the Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG) in the town of Niagara, New York, and is the landlord for a number of properties attached to transportation properties that they own.
The NFTA had also operated the NFTA Small Boat Harbor, however, it has since been sold to a private firm.
The executive director (presently, Kimberly Minkel) reports to a thirteen-member board of commissioners, most of which are elected by the Governor of the state of New York. Two positions (non-voting) include a representative for the bus drivers' union, and a representative for the passengers of the NFTA.
Timeline of major events
This section is incomplete. You can help!
- 1967: The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is created by the New York State Legislature.
- 1969: A 42 day work stoppage by transit workers drives away many customers for good.
- 1973: The NFTA receives federal and state grants amounting to $12m for the purchase of the Niagara Frontier Transit System, and six privately-owned bus lines.
- 1974: Purchases of the seven bus companies pre-dating the NFTA begins.
- 1977: The NFTA-operated Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center opens, replacing an older Greyhound station on Main Street in Buffalo's Theater District. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority also moved its headquarters to this location from its old location on Main Street, near Virginia Street.
- 1979: Construction begins on the 6.1 mile Metro Rail line between downtown Buffalo and the south campus of the University at Bufalo.
- 1984: Metro Rail service begins in the Downtown Central Business District, between Auditorium and Theater stations.
- 1985: Completion of the Metro Rail line between downtown and Amherst Station completes, with revenue service beginning on May 18th. During the completion of construction to University Station, many routes that previously operated to downtown from the suburbs, terminated at Amherst Station.
- 1986: Metro Rail service between Amherst Station and South Campus Station (University) begins on November 10th. All routes that were temporarily extended to Amherst Station terminate at South Campus Station as an inner terminal.
- 1987: The NFTA hires Alfred H. (Alf) Savage, a Canadian transit expert, to run the NFTA, a position he held until September, 1990. He was previously the Chief General Manager of the Toronto Transit Commission, and following his stint in Buffalo, he continued to the Chicago Transit Authority as General Manager from 1990-1992.[1]
- 1989: The NFTA cancelled a major change to bus services, including ceasing weekend services, bus services after 7:00pm, and the elimination or curtailment of services involving 26 routes, planned for March 26.[2]
- 1990: On April 1, all Metro bus and rail service shuts down for approximately two days due to lack of funding.[3] In September, Richard Swist is appointed NFTA's executive director, to bring financial stability to a company that had recently shut down due to financial difficulties. He remained in his position until January of 1998.[4]
- 1991: The NFTA is required to have all service easily accessible with wheelchair lifts or ramps, to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
- 1993: Metro's PAL (Paratransit Access Line) debuts with five vans. In March, a "new" Metro system debuts after much study. Routes are changed in many cases, streamlining routes, increasing/standardizing schedules, and the introduction of a new express bus network. Additionally, the NFTA purchased and began testing their first CNG fueled buses, manufactured by Orion Bus Industries/BIA.
- 1995: 17-year-old Cynthia Wiggins is struck by a ten-ton dump truck on December 14th, while crossing a seven lane roadway (Walden Avenue) across from the Walden Galleria Mall. She died of her injuries almost three weeks later, on January 2, 1996. Her death sparked a number of lawsuits against the NFTA, the Pyramid Corporation (the owner of the mall) and many others, charging racial discrimination due to the inability of the NFTA to have their buses enter the mall. This lawsuit was eventually settled, in which the Pyramid Corporation paid $2 million and the dump truck driver ($250,000) to Cynthia's then-four-year-old son. Effective with the December 1997 schedule changes, NFTA buses were finally allowed to enter the Walden Galleria Mall, Boulevard Mall and the Eastern Hills Mall, previously not allowed by mall management.[5] [6]
- 1998: The predecessor to today's Metrolink service starts with the NY-West shuttle in the Audubon area of Amherst. Lawrence M. Meckler takes the helm as executive director. He remains at his position for 12 years, retiring from the NFTA in October, 2010. He was previously a lawyer for the NFTA, a position he had held for 22 years.[7]
- 1999: Metro celebrates 25 years. Fleetlynx AVL system is installed on buses. On October 26, longtime Metro Bus driver Gilbert Rogers is killed in an accident across Genesee Street at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. The bus Rogers was driving was reported to have collided with a tractor-trailer loaded with crushed stone shortly before 7:00am. John R. Battle, the NFTA police chief at the time, was quoted as saying, "...it appears that the bus driver, who was turning into the airport, had the right-of-way and that the truck driver, who was traveling westbound when the accident occurred, was unable to stop his vehicle at the intersection. There's a lot of momentum when you have a truck loaded with that much stone." Witnesses told police that the truck had already begun wobbling and losing some of its stones as it approached the intersection, which was controlled by a traffic light (and still is today). The driver of the truck later pleaded guilty in March 2000 and was subsequently fined $1,100.00, but was spared jail time, as prosecution dismissed charges of unreasonable speed and an overweight vehicle due to the plea deal.[8] [9]
- 2002: Metrolink services introduced in Niagara Falls, Lockport and North Tonawanda. Service has since been terminated on the two original routes.
- 2003: On September 1, 2003, four NFTA Metro stations are permanently renamed: South Campus Station becomes University Station; Delavan-College Station becomes Delavan/Canisius College Station; Allen-Hospital Station becomes Allen/Medical Campus Station and Auditorium Station becomes Erie Canal Harbor Station.
- 2004: Downtown-Airport express service added to Metrolink network.
- 2005: Metro adds route 55T service in Niagara Falls, as a tourist line utilizing trolley-styled buses.
- 2006: NFTA debuts its first hybrid (diesel/electric) buses to the region.
- 2007: The NFTA breaks ground on the new Niagara Transit Center on Factory Outlet Blvd in Niagara Falls. The center opens December 27, 2007.
- 2008: Metrolink debuts route 210, with express service between the Buffalo Airport, Niagara Transit Center and Downtown Niagara Falls.
- 2009: The NFTA is awarded a total of $27,074,804 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Funding included $24,430,788 towards the purchase of 56 standard sized buses.[10]
- 2010: Kimberley Minkel becomes the first woman executive director in NFTA history. On October 31, NFTA-Metro embarked on a sweeping change to its service network, following a multi-year study by TMI, Inc. The resulting changes included dropping zone fare charges for a uniform boarding fare regardless of the distance traveled, either removing or reducing service from low patronized areas in favor of improving service during middays and weekends. Passengers experienced these changes during a time when it normally is not adjusted, due to the scope of the changes made.
- 2013: On February 18th, after 10,359 days of service, Theater Station permanently closes, reducing the number of free fare zone stations from six to the current five, with Fountain Plaza Station, located 546 feet south, now serving as the beginning (southbound) and ending (northbound) of the free fare zone. On June 24th, NFTA-Metro begins phase two of the "Returning Cars to Main Street" project by single tracking along the 600 block of Main Street from the tunnel entrance to Chippewa Street, just north of where Fountain Plaza Station currently stands.
- 2014: On March 30th, NFTA-Metro begins phase three of the "Returning Cars to Main Street" project by single tracking along the 500 block of Main Street from Chippewa Street to Mohawk Street, just north of where Lafayette Square Station currently stands.
- 2015: The NFTA reintroduces "compressed natural gas" powered buses, with the purchase of 20 Nova Bus branded buses. The NFTA had previously tested CNG powered buses with a purchase of (5) Orion buses in the early 1990's. The buses are assigned to Frontier Station, with hopes to expand to other garages. On December 6, NFTA Metro introduces the newly built Black Rock/Riverside Transit Hub in North Buffalo. This results in a number of routing and schedule changes to several bus routes, so that buses can take advantage of serving the new transportation hub.
- 2016: The NFTA introduces Compressed Natural Gas (CNG buses) to the Para-transit Access Line (PAL) division. The first ten buses (numbered 8301-8310) are Ford E-Series Cutaway vans and were assembled by Shepard Brothers of Canandaigua, New York. Additionally, the NFTA experiences an unprecedented number of trip cancellations on many routes between April and June. According to the NFTA, many of the cuts are due to a lack of drivers, inability of some drivers to work overtime, and other factors. This results in an outcry from passengers, gaining the interest of the Buffalo Common Council, and other political figures, asking for an explanation. Although the impact is less severe during the summer schedule period, occasional cancellations are still occurring.[11] In September, Metro Rail celebrated 30 years of service to their passengers. In October, the NFTA officially reopens the Allen-Medical Campus Station after a lengthy rebuild so that it would be integrated in the building of the new University at Buffalo's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, being relocated from the Main Street campus of the university.
- 2017: During the month of November, the NFTA celebrated fifty years of existence (1967-2017). A commemorative logo celebrating fifty years was created.
- 2018: The NFTA places a new type of paratransit vehicle series in operation, with a Dodge Ram Van (CNG) chassis, and body fabricated by New England Wheels, in their Frontrunner LFXLT model. The advantages of this vehicle allow ramp access, instead of reliance on a mechanical wheelchair lift. Three of these vehicles have been purchased (8401-8403) and in use.
- 2019: The final MetroLink route (204) is eliminated in June, in favor to an overhaul of route 24 including local, new limited and express services. In late September, another twenty-three (23) buses began arriving (fleet 1901-1923), of the Nova Bus LFS variety. A minor enhancement noted was the addition of a visual stop request display facing towards the front of buses, due to the Q-Straint wheelchair lift equipment installed on this series of buses.
- 2020: Metro Rail returns to single tracking in the underground section, to complete necessary infrastructure improvements to catenary lines. Work was completed on Saturday, March 14, with normal schedules returning on March 15. (Jan 11); Metro Bus and Rail temporarily suspend fare payments in response to mandated "social distancing" required during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most passengers are also required to board buses, utilizing the back door, and to sit a minimum of six feet (or almost two meters) between other passengers. Disabled and or elderly may still use front doors, if necessary. (Mar 27)
- 2021: Metro begins the first of three updates to its routes, with this phase involving Niagara County service. Route 40 is split into two separate routes (adding new route 77 Niagara Falls Express), route 50 in shortened to operate only in the Niagara street portion with route 52 restructured to service northern Niagara Falls on a circuit loop. Route 55 is also shorted to end at Niagara Transit Center, with new route 59 Niagara Falls Airport/NCCC taking up the removed service from 55 Pine Avenue. Overall, many routes gain service hours daily, with more evenly spaced service during operating hours.(December 6)
Source(s): [12]
Service area
The NFTA-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: Angola, Amherst, Cheektowaga, Lancaster, West Seneca, Blasdell, Hamburg, East Aurora, Elma, Wheatfield, Niagara, Pendleton, and Sanborn, among others.
Local connecting agencies
The only inter-agency local transportation connections that NFTA Metro makes is with the Rural Niagara Public Transportation system at Niagara County Community College, and at Main and Locust in Lockport; and with Seneca Transit System service at Seneca Bingo in Irving. No transfers are issued between the systems, due to both systems using a boarding fare for each trip.
Long-distance carriers
In Buffalo, NFTA Metro connects with intercity services at the Buffalo Transportation Center, to Greyhound Lines, Trailways of New York, Coach USA-Erie, FlixBus (Tribal Sun Bus Company) and Barons Bus Lines. In Cheektowaga, NFTA Metro connects at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport to Greyhound Lines and Coach USA-Erie, and at Galleria Mall to Coach USA-Erie.
Branding
Official typeface of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
The NFTA uses the Helvetica Family typeface in "light", "light oblique", "regular", "oblique", "bold", and "bold oblique". Under circumstances where Helvetica is not made available, Arial Bold Italicized may be used with similar results, however, kerning may be necessary to achieve proper effects. In some cases, buses going through overhauls may contain "backwards-italicized" lettering in place of the standard livery, when refreshed.
Official coloring palette of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
In most cases, Pantone (PMS) is preferred over other versions.
| Color | Thumbnail | Pantone | CMYK | RGB (HEX) | RGB (Decimal) | NCS | Notes on usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFTA-Metro Blue | PMS 280 | C100, M89, Y24, K19 | #002878 | R0, G40, B120 | NFTA (corporate), NFTA-Metro, NFTA-Airports | ||
| NFTA-Metro Grey | PMS 423 | C47, M37, Y39, K3 | #8E908F | R142, G144, B143 | NFTA (corporate), NFTA-Metro, NFTA-Airports | ||
| NFTA-Metro Red | PMS 187 | C22, M100, Y85, K14 | #AC1A2F | R172, G26, B47 | NFTA-Metro |
Explanation of abbreviations
CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
HEX: Hexidecimal Number
NCS: Natural Color System
PMS: Pantone Matching System
RGB: Red, Green, Blue
Livery schemes
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, at its inception, acquired and began going through a lengthy procedure of unifying the fleet into a unified branding. Many of the buses received included a red, cream, silver theme for the NFTS acquisitions; an orange and white theme from Lockport Bus Lines; a teal blue with cream theme for Niagara Falls Municipal Transit System buses; a green and black theme for Grand Island Transit...and others.
Of particular note: Tonawanda/North Tonawanda Transit utilized school buses converted to use in a public transit configuration. These buses never saw service by the NFTA, and were either sold or retired from service.
By the time the NFTA began ordering new coaches, with the 1975 and 1976 orders of Highway Products, AM General and GMC suburban coaches (respectively), buses displayed a white base, with yellow and black banding horizontally along the middle of the bus, with a grey skirt around the bus. Around the same time period, some buses may have been painted with a yellow base, and black striping, not all that different from the Hamilton Street Railway's livery at the same time period. These two paint schemes continued for less than a decade (until 1983), when the theme was changed to an orange, gold and dark brown theme on a white base. This livery was visible first on the 1983 GMC RTS series (60##-61##). This "earth tone" or "candy corn" theme continued until 2000. A non-standard variation was also introduced in 1993 on five buses, numbered 501-505. These Orion V CNG buses had a medium green base with a lighter green stripe along the side, with "Metro Green Machine" marking, to signify that the buses were CNG, instead of the past gasoline or diesel fuel used. This variation continued until the buses were retired from the NFTA after a few years. In 2000, a new change to it's image was with the blue, burgundy and grey "wave" design on a white base. This theme continues to this day. Also worth mentioning, is another recent scheme, a dark green base with gold lettering and accenting, a nod to the International Railway Company, a predecessor to the NFTA. This scheme is primarily kept to the trolley replica buses (1066, 1067, 1300-1304) and a few selected Gillig 29' coaches. The Gillig 29' coaches, however, do not carry a complete trolley replica package, with buses having their counterpart of the series padded blue seating, and no trolley gong/bell (typically available on the trolley replicas. Also, the Nova Bus CNG LFS-series buses carry a white base with special markings depicting that "it's only natural", to the buses fuel being natural gas.
Logos
Logo-wise, the NFTA utilized a print font, similar to Blippo at its inception, only changing in 2000, with a print font in the Helvetica Family lettering. Although, of trivial note, some buses getting refreshed printing on the sides may show the "forward italicized" Helvetica Family print the NFTA Metro logo "backward-italicized". Some surmise this may be a nod to the former Niagara Frontier Transit System logo, using similarly featured print.
Slogans
Slogan-wise, the NFTA has had many slogans for their Metro Bus and Rail services, at the present time including; "Serving Buffalo-Niagara", and "Serving the Niagara Region". In the past, they have also used "Let Metro Take You Where You Want to Go!", (included in a catchy jingle of the same wording), "The System Works", "You and I go Places Together", and "We're Going Your Way!", among others.
Bus "wrapping"
On occasion, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority contracts with various businesses, and will "wrap" (cover) designated coaches with advertising. Depending on the contract, this practice generates revenue for the authority through an alternative revenue source. The covering is usually a vinyl-like material with an adhesive backing that is easy to remove from the coach when necessary. In addition to outside business, the authority may occasionally use wraps to market their own services, such as air service out of their Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Niagara Falls International Airport, or their 204-Airport Express service between Downtown Buffalo and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Fares
The NFTA operates on an "exact fare" system, in which passengers are responsible for having the exact fare ready or proof-of-payment upon boarding a Metro vehicle. Drivers and operators do not make change; however, vending machines are able to make change for customers in coins.
Passengers can pay boarding fares on buses in coins, tokens or bills using Genfare [14] "Cents-a-Bill" fareboxes. As of 2022, the fare collection system is being refreshed with Scheidt and Bachmann fare boxes which add more options for passengers, most noticably, the new "MetGo" fare media which allows passengers a reusable purse card that stores value and allows the passenger to use it according to their needs at any time. Fares are allowed to be capped within certain time periods so that the passengers gets the most value out of their payments.
Passengers using the Metro Rail light rail line pay for their boarding fares using farecard vending machines located at each station. Rail ticket vending machines at one time were able to accept credit cards for fare payment, however, this practice was discontinued. There are presently seven fare categories (free to under 5, limit 3 per fare-paying passenger):[15]
| standard cash fare (per boarding) | $2 per ride $1 for seniors, disabled and children $4 Paratransit trip fare |
|---|---|
| day pass (allows unlimited boardings per day) |
$5 per day $2.50 for seniors, disabled and children |
| 7-day pass (allows unlimited boarding for seven consecutive days) |
$25 per week $12.50 for seniors, disabled and children |
| 30-day pass (allows unlimited boarding for thirty consecutive days) and monthly pass (allows unlimited boarding per calendar month) |
$75 per month $37.50 for seniors, disabled and children |
| PAL pass (para-transit van service only) |
$35 for 10 trips $70 for 20 trips |
| summer youth pass (seasonal, for individuals under 17) |
$60 |
Previously, transfers were allowed between immediately connecting lines for a lesser charge than full-fare (with the exception being between bus and rail and vice versa). This practice was permanently discontinued on May 1, 2012, at which point passengers are required to pay a boarding fare upon each boarding or get an all-day, seven-day, 30-day or monthly pass.
Past fare structure
The early beginnings of the NFTA saw a twelve-zone fare structure in place, in which passengers paid a boarding fare and slight increases the further a trip took the passenger. In 1988, the NFTA simplified the fare structure further, in which the twelve zones were consolidated to four, instead. By 2010, the NFTA implemented a single-zone fare structure, in which the passenger paid a uniform fare, regardless of the distance traveled. This change also resulted in the elimination of transfers, removing the ability for the passenger to continue their trip using more than one bus. Passengers using more than two buses in a one-day period are encouraged to purchase a one-day pass, offering unlimited rides.
College and university agreements
The NFTA has cooperating agreements with Buffalo State College, Bryant and Stratton College, Canisius College and Erie Community College, using the CRAM (College Riders Accessing Metro) Program. In addition, the NFTA also has a limited agreement with the University at Buffalo allowing University at Buffalo employees access to Metro Rail between University and Allen-Medical Campus stations.
Routes
See routes of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority for more details.
The NFTA regularly (minimum four times yearly) updates schedules for many reasons; efficiency, timing adjustments and passenger requests, among others. The most noticable changes occur mid-month in June, and again in the first week of September, due to seasonal changes in school operating times. Of these changes, "school trippers" are eliminated during the summer, as well as some lines having headways increased with less passengers riding. Other changes occur during the months of March and December.
Holiday services
Metro presently recognizes eight holidays that Metro will operate Sunday service: New Year’s Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January), Memorial Day (last Monday of May), Juneteenth (Emancipation Day-June 19th), Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day (first Monday of September), Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday of November), and Christmas Day (December 25). On President’s Day, Good Friday, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day, buses operate on a normal weekday schedule. In addition, if a moving holiday such as Christmas, New Years Day or Independence Day falls on a Sunday, the Monday following is generally observed, the same as most government offices.
Destination signs usage
The NFTA has equipped their buses with two (and up to three) electronic outside destination signs; one on the front of the bus, one above the window to the left of the front entrance, and on occasion a small three-character sign (showing only the route number and possibly the branch letter) on the rear of the bus. The final series of buses operating with a "curtain" or "roll" (cloth, linen or mylar) destination sign were buses 851 and 852 (Orion I series coaches), which have since been retired.
The front destination sign will show the following information (in order):
- The route number
- The letter of the branch that the route is traveling. If a timetable lists no letter for the trip, the destination sign usually would have an "A" as the default letter.
- The final destination of the trip, usually a cross-street, point of interest (i.e., mall), or township the trip terminates in. Sometimes, additional information may flash as a second message.
As of September 2022, the practice of "A" trips or trunk service was changed to show no letter variation. For example, route 20 Elmwood operated with two variations, an "A" trip to Kenmore Avenue, and a "B" variation, extending to Delaware and Orchard. The "A" variation was discontinued with a simpler trunk service having all trips going to Delaware and Orchard. As a result, all trips changed to a "20 Orchard" or "20 Downtown" signage.
The side destination sign will show the route number and route name.
As mentioned above, the rear signage only shows the route number, and possibly the branch letter used on that trip.
Additionally, during the early 2010s, Metro implemented a briefly used color coding system for most Niagara Falls routes, in hopes of assisting passengers with limited English proficiency, an easier way to recognize routes, by other than numbers: Routes 40/210 utilized a red color coded light in the upper left windshield, while route 50 used blue, 52 used yellow and 55 used green lights in the same manner. Interlining sometimes confused the correct colors to be used on each route (with drivers responsible for changing the colored lights), and sometimes buses not equipped with these lights were used on routes too. A number of years later, the practice was ultimately discontinued and removed from usage.
Inside electronic signage
Metro has equipped buses with electronic signs on the insides of their vehicles (with audio capabilities) to call out upcoming stops along the route. Main stops are provided visually and with audio, however, intermediate stops may not be called, and passengers are requested to notify the driver upon boarding, if they need a particular stop. Audio and visual messages are sometimes used, requesting passengers to have their fare ready when boarding, purchase of a Metro Pass, or other passenger aids. In addition, a driver may activate a prerecorded message for passengers standing near the door to move toward the back or middle of the bus, or silence cell phones or equipment that is distracting to the driver or other passengers.
NFTA Metro Bus
The NFTA Metro system operates with over 300 conventional transit buses for its Metro Bus system, 27 light rail cars for its Metro Rail system, and many smaller cutaway style vans for its Metro PAL (Para-transit Access Line) system.
Active Roster
All buses are ADA compliant, and wheelchair accessible.
Buses equipped with Sportworks DL2 NP bike rack on front of bus.
Buses equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities.
Buses powered with compressed natural gas (CNG)
On Order
| Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Build date |
Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2464-2473 | 2024 | Nova Bus | LFS 40102 4th Generation |
Cummins L9 | |||
| (10 buses) | FYE 2025 | Diesel | |||||
| 2451-2463 | 2024 | NFI | XE40 |
|
Retired Roster
- Denotes bus purchased with wheelchair lift.
Paratransit Access Link
Paratransit Access Link (PAL) is NFTA's complementary paratransit service. It is a shared ride service that provides origin-to-destination transportation for paratransit eligible individuals under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As of August 2018, the PAL service operated approximately 74 para-transit vehicles.
All-time roster
This list is incomplete.
Future fleet (planned)
| Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (8 buses) | FY 19/20 | Ram New England Wheels |
ProMaster Frontrunner |
||||
| (10 buses) | FY 20/21 | ||||||
| (10 buses) | FY 21/22 | ||||||
| (10 buses) | FY 22/23 | ||||||
| (10 buses) | FY 23/24 |
Buffalo Niagara International Airport Shuttle
See Buffalo Niagara International Airport Shuttle for more information.
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's Airport Division operates a terminal to airport-operated parking shuttle service on the grounds of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
All-time roster
This list is incomplete. You can help!
| Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-14 | 2010 | Ford
|
E450
|
Ford Triton V10 6.8L (gasoline) |
| ||
| 16-17 | 2010 | Ford
|
E450
|
Ford Triton V10 6.8L (gasoline) |
Retired in 2015.[18] | ||
| 23 | 2012 | Ford
|
E450
|
Ford Triton V10 6.8L (gasoline) |
23 VIN 1FDFE4FS6CDA78075 | ||
| 34-40 | 2006 | Ford
|
E450
|
Ford Triton V10 6.8L (gasoline) |
Retired in 2013.[19] | ||
| 43-45 | 2008 | Ford
|
E450
|
Ford Triton V10 6.8L (gasoline) |
Retired in 2014.[20] | ||
| 48 | 2010 | Ford
|
E450
|
Ford Triton V10 6.8L (gasoline) |
48 VIN 1FDFE4FS8ADB02485 | ||
| 50, 55 | Ford
|
E450
|
Ford Triton V10 6.8L (gasoline) |
||||
| 54 | 2017 | Ford
|
E450
|
Ford Triton V10 6.8L (gasoline) |
Ford TorqShift 6R140 6 speed | VIN 1FDFE4FS9HDC23410 |
NFTA Metro Rail
The present Metro Rail system operates as a single 6.1 mile (9.8km) surface and underground light rail rapid transit (LRRT) line along NYS 5 (Main Street) in the City of Buffalo, between Scott Street and the University Metro Rail Station, located between Niagara Falls Boulevard and Kenmore Avenue on the border of Buffalo, the Town of Tonawanda and the Town of Amherst. The downtown Buffalo portion operated at-grade, then dips below Main Street (NY-5) as a subway line between just south of Tupper Street and its terminus at University at Buffalo, South Campus.
The Metro Rail line was part of an originally planned, multi-lined network reaching as far north as Niagara Falls, as far east as Lancaster and as far south as Hamburg. Two particular rail corridors, the Tonawandas Corridor and the Airport Corridor continue to receive attention as potential rail extensions, and as of recently, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority has even taken the Amherst extension (of the present Metro Rail line) into consideration as its next step to expansion in the system.
Operating hours
Services operate daily, including holidays.
- Weekday - 5:10am-12:00am outbound (from Erie Canal Harbor), 5:36am-12:30am inbound (from University)
- Saturday - 7:05am-12:00am outbound, 7:35am-12:30am inbound
- Sunday/Holiday - 8:00am-11:00pm outbound, 8:30am-11:30pm inbound
Note: Added hours are available during major events at Erie Canal Harbor, Key Bank Center or Sahlen Field.
Stations
- Special Events (used during special events at Key Bank Center)
- Buffalo Creek Casino @ Canalside
- Merchants Insurance Station @ Seneca
- Church
- Evans Bank @ Lafayette Square Station
- Fountain Plaza (previously Huron)
- Allen/Medical Campus (previously Allen-Hospital)
- Summer-Best
- Utica
- Delavan-Canisius College (previously Delavan-College)
- Humboldt-Hospital
- Amherst
- LaSalle
- University (previously South Campus)
Current roster
- NFTA Metro Rail is ADA compliant and wheelchair accessible at all stations.
| Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Motors | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101-127 | 
|
1984 Refurbishment program |
Tokyu Car Corporation | Buffalo LRV | Most cars refurbished. AnsaldoBreda (presently Hitachi Rail?...listed as HRU on NFTA records) took over refurbishment after a lengthy delay. Work on these cars is being performed in nearby Dansville, NY. In addition, subcontractor Gray Manufacturing Industries is doing work on some cars in Hornell, NY. |
Purchased, but never used in service
| Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Motors | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51-55, 60-62, 67-70 |
1947 | St. Louis Car Company | PCC | Order number 1660.
|
NFTA support vehicles
In addition of bus, light rail and paratransit vehicles, the NFTA operates a fleet of support vehicles, to handle the maintenance and upkeep of the Metro system. The selection exhibited in this table represents a fraction of the many vehicles used.
Prefixes used on vehicles:
- RM - Rail Maintenance
This list is incomplete. You can help!
All-time roster
: CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) powered vehicle.
| Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes on usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | GMC | Vault bus.
| |||||
| RM 1161-1162 | 1999 | Chevrolet | C5500 Dump Truck | Began retiring in 2017.
| |||
| RM 1187 | 2009 | Chevrolet | Tahoe |
| |||
| RM 1188 | 2002 | Chevrolet | Cube Van |
| |||
| RM 1221 | 2000 | Ford | Expedition |
| |||
| RM 1348 | 2015-2017 | Chevrolet | Tahoe | ||||
| RM 1352 | 2016 | Chevrolet | Silverado 3500 W/T |
| |||
| 1581 | 2005 | Gillig | Advantage | Splice of 2220 and 2505 (using front windshield and surrounding area of 2220 and remainder of 2505).
| |||
| 6006-6007 | 2008 | Ford | Escape | Retired, and put up for auction in June, 2018.
| |||
| 6008 | 2009 | Ford | Escape | Retired and put up for auction in July, 2017.
| |||
| 6021-6022
|
2016 | Mobility Ventures | MV-1 | Ford 4.6L V8 (CNG) | Ford 4R75E 4 Speed Automatic with Overdrive | Used by supervisors, and are capable of providing substitute paratransit duties when necessary. | |
| 7001 | 2002 | Ford
|
Converted bus to box-style van. Retired in 2016.
| ||||
| 7016 | 1996 | GMC | Top Kick Wrecker | Retired.
Towing vehicle for Cold Spring Division.
| |||
| 7017 | 1997 | GMC | C8500 Wrecker | Retired.
Towing vehicle for Cold Spring Division.
| |||
| 7018 | International | 3800 Wrecker | |||||
| 7020 | 1977 | GMC | 6500 Dump | Retired.
| |||
| 7022 | 2001 | Ford
|
Converted bus to box-style van. Retired in 2016.
|
Source(s): Sightings and internet observations.
Bus and rail operating divisions
Present operating divisions
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority operates bus and rail services from four divisions;
- Gisel-Wolford Division (located at Babcock and Howard in the east side of Buffalo)
- Cold Spring Divsion (located at the southeast corner of Main and Michigan in the city of Buffalo)
- Frontier Division (located at the northwest corner of Kenmore and Military in the village of Kenmore),
- South Park Division (located at the foot of Main Street at South Park Avenue, in downtown Buffalo).
Gisel-Wolford, Cold Springs and Frontier Divisions comprise the stations handling bus service, as South Park Division handles light rail services. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, all bus service operates from Frontier Division, although specific divisions maintain their individual identity.
In addition, PAL (Para-Transit Access Line) and Metro Link services operate from Frontier Division.
Past operating divisions
- Broadway Division (Broadway & Greene, Buffalo): replaced by Gisel-Wolford Division
- Niagara Falls Division (Buffalo & 13th): merged with Frontier Division
Notable people
- Alf Savage: Executive Director of the NFTA, from 1987 to 1990. Previously Chief General Manager of the Toronto Transit Commission from 1981 to 1987. Became Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Transit Authority from 1990 to 1992.
- Sister Denise A. Roche (Chair): Present Chairperson of the NFTA, since June 17, 2016.
- Kimberley A. Minkel: Present executive director, and first female executive director of the NFTA.
- Peter G. Demakos (Vice-Chair): Most senior commissioner, a position held for four terms, since June 13, 2000.
Further reading
- "A History of Public Transit in the Buffalo-Niagara Region. Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, 1999
- "Images of America-Buffalo's Historic Streetcars and Buses", D. David Bregger, 2008
- Discover Niagara Shuttle
- Niagara Falls State Park
External links
- Official Website
- Smart Traveler Plus website: NFTA operated site for up-to-the-date travel information.
- Auctions International: The NFTA regularly posts bus auctions through this site.
References
- ↑ Buffalo News article - Alfred H. Savage, Canadian transit expert who guided NFTA through turbulent times
- ↑ Buffalo News article - NFTA Slates Hearings on Bus, Rail Cuts
- ↑ New York Times article - Buffalo Transit System Shuts Down, First in US
- ↑ Buffalo News article - Swist Stepping Down As NFTA Chief
- ↑ New York Times Article - Mall accused of racism in a wrongful death trial in Buffalo
- ↑ Buffalo News Article - Wiggins suit settled, son to get 2.55 million
- ↑ Buffalo News article - NFTA chief Meckler to retire in October ; Other leaders take pension incentive
- ↑ Buffalo News article - Crash Kills Metro Bus driver, injures 5
- ↑ Buffalo News article - Truck driver charged in collision that killed operator of Metro Bus
- ↑ NFTA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Project Information
- ↑ Buffalo News article - NFTA shifts drivers to suburban routes, and city riders suffer
- ↑ NFTA History
- ↑ Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, Branding Guidelines, accessed August 2, 2017
- ↑ GFI-Genfare, Cents-a-Bill collection system
- ↑ http://metro.nfta.com/Routes/Fares.aspx
- ↑ 2021 NFTA XE40 order
- ↑ http://www.angelfire.com/ny/bflotransit/NFTA.html
- ↑ NFTA Surplus #6765 ** MEETING FOR APPROVAL LOT 34 & 36 WK OF 1-11-16** Auctions International, 12/28/2015
- ↑ NFTA Surplus Vehicles, Auctions International, 01/15/2013
- ↑ NFTA Surplus, Auctions International, 08/18/2014
- ↑ "Images of America-Buffalo's Historic Streetcars and Buses", D. David Bregger, Arcadia Publishing, 2008.
- ↑ http://www.brooklynrail.net/fleet_pccfleet.html
- ↑ http://www.brooklynrail.net/fleet_roster.html
- ↑ Auctions International, Lot #0029: 2009 Chevy Tahoe 4 Door SUV/Police, accessed July 17, 2017
- ↑ Auctions International, Lot #0026: 2002 Chevy Cube Van, accessed July 17, 2017
- ↑ Auctions International, Lot #0028: 2000 Ford Expedition SUV, accessed July 17, 2017
