stories.nfta.comThe Loop

facebook twitter Instagram NFTA Metro Buffalo Airport Niagara Falls Airport Welcome to – a roundup of all things NFTA Click here to stay in touch The NFTA welcomes three new commissioners to its board this September, marking the biggest change to the governing body in several years. Reverend Mark E. Blue brings the Authority compassion and insight gained from his years as pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Lackawanna, in addition to decades of aviation expertise, courtesy of the United States Air Force. Jennifer C. Persico is a partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman and provides the Authority extensive experience in corporate law, municipal law and a thorough understanding of the trends and challenges facing this region. Stephen Tucker is the inaugural President and CEO of the Northland Workforce Training Center. Another veteran of the U.S. Air Force, his understanding of workforce development in Western New York will be invaluable to the NFTA and the community we serve. Special thanks to departing commissioners Peter G. Demakos, Bonita R. Durand and Charles L. Gurney. The Board of Commissioners helps to guide and direct the public transportation initiatives along the Niagara Frontier. Reflecting the needs and concerns of the community, they are volunteer positions and deserve our thanks for their generous donations of time and knowledge. Continue reading Revitalization of Metro Rail continues between Allen-Medical Campus Station and University Station. Confined to the evening – for the least amount of disruption to Buffalo’s loyal rail riders – the program includes replacing concrete pads under rails, repairs to tunnels and vents, and replacing track that was laid forty years ago. The work requires single tracking, in which trains use one of the two parallel tracks, but the impact on rail service should be minimal. The project will continue through March of next year. Special thanks go out to State Senator Tim Kennedy and Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes for securing state funding for these vital repairs to the community’s rail system. Continue reading On August 24, the NFTA held a ceremony at the Buffalo Airport Firehouse for academy graduates off to positions with the Transit Authority Police, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, and SUNY ECC. It was the first of its kind for the Authority, as all prior graduations have been held through Erie County. The event included remarks by Pastor Steve Biegner, TAPD Captain Mike Garrity, the NFTA's Executive Director Kim Minkel, and Aviation Director Bill Vanecek. The pinning ceremony was hosted by Transit Police Chief George Gast, Fire Chief Bill Major, and Vice President of Security and Safety of SUNY Erie, Tracy Gast. The graduates and their families were commended for their dedication and perseverance during the unexpected health crisis which radically transformed academy training. Please join us in congratulating: Airport Fire Fighter Daniel Cownie; ECC Public Safety Officer Matthew Kondziela, and Transit Police Officers - Nicholas Guise, Scott Massey, Brandon Radoani, and Mason Jones. To quote Ms. Minkel, "Congratulations, be safe and be compassionate." Continue reading Snow is inevitable, but with the help of our friends in both houses of Congress the Buffalo Airport will be ready. US Senator Charles E. Schumer, US Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Congressman Brian Higgins announced two federal grants totaling $2,061,984 to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority for snow removal equipment at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The grants were awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration, under the U.S. Department of Transportation, and will help maintain the Airport’s award-winning weather-response capabilities. There is a future beyond winter and State Sen. Chris Jacobs is looking forward to it. He secured $1 million in state funding to support the redevelopment of the NFTA’s Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Terminal. The home of Metro Rail, this grant will advance construction of a stair tower and elevator, which will provide public access to the second floor of the facility. Accessibility is key to the redevelopment project, opening up a whole new waterfront experience for the community. Continue reading To get a better understanding of where we stand, Metro Bus and Rail conducted an online survey last month, seeking opinions on the NFTA’s COVID-19 response. The survey sought input from the general public, in addition to avid riders. The results have already inspired a number of improvements in the transit system: We added 30-day passes on Token Transit, the NFTA’s no-touch fare payment option. Barriers have been installed on all buses to separate drivers and bus riders. Hand sanitizer is now available on all buses and rail cars. Face coverings are required on all Metro services and in all NFTA buildings. Metro will continue, when possible, to provide back-up buses for routes that are too crowded for proper social distancing. A total of 323 individuals took part in the on-line survey; 47% frequent riders, and 53% from those who have not been riding. Metro's new adaptations will be in effect for as long as needed. Continue reading The NFTA has teamed up with the Albright-Knox to create an outdoor art installation at the DL&W Rail Station. The project will eventually fill 12 indentations in the brick walls running alongside South Park Avenue and will showcase several artists, both local and nationally renowned. The project is a cousin to the NFTA’s previous partnership with the museum, the Freedom Wall at Cold Spring Station on Michigan Ave, which has become an icon in the community. The DL&W project is expected to take two years. Continue reading On July 1, the Buffalo Niagara International Airport celebrated a new landmark (skymark?) with a traditional Topping Out ceremony. The event commemorated the installation of the highest steel beam at the west end terminal expansion. The crowd watched from a distance as it rose to the highest point of the new construction and marked off a significant achievement in the progress of the NFTA’s BUFup project. The event included government officials Senator Tim Kennedy, and Assemblywomen Monica Wallace, and Karen McMahon. Topping Out is an old Scandinavian tradition in which a small pine tree is placed on the beam to symbolize good luck. A similar event at the east end of the terminal this past November. Construction of the airport upgrade continues along on schedule. Continue reading The NFTA participated in Explore and More's Find a Truck Scavenger Hunt this past June. This event was held to engage the public in the absence of the previously scheduled Touch A Truck event. There were five lots filled with vehicles and special characters for families to find. Metro had a trolley and Paratransit van located in the Sahlen Field lot. The NFTA Transit Police also had a vehicle on-site at the Buffalo News lot. More than 400 families participated in the drive-by hunt, with lots of smiles inside the cars. Historically, Touch A Truck has been a signature fundraiser for Explore & More. Unfortunately, due to the health crisis this year, the format was adjusted to keep families safe. Hopefully next year the event will be back at Canalside and the kids can get a little closer look at the vehicles. Continue reading On June 29, Metro Bus and Rail began collecting fares again. As New York State entered Phase Four of its reopening – and Metro intensified its safety protocols – the use of bus front doors became feasible again. Metro had suspended fare collection on March 27, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, but limited service disruptions throughout the three-month fare suspension. A number of public transportation systems across the country stopped collecting fares this past spring. Most have also started collecting again, with what has become standard requests of bus and rail passengers: please cover your face while r...