Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - Not everyone drives in a car to Highmark Stadium, and when the new $2.5 billion Highmark Stadium opens next summer, there may even be more people looking for alternate ways to get to and from Buffalo Bills home games.
That's why, as part of the planning and development of the new stadium, the Bills - in conjunction with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) - are looking at ways to expand public transportation service to the stadium.
Plans call for a 10-station NFTA transportation hub to be developed along Abbott Road's east side (the side of the current stadium) and just across from the "Family Circle" main entrance and plaza into Highmark Stadium. The hub will only serve NFTA buses.
"We are excited about this, where it is going to go and the fans' response," said Andy Major, Bills' senior vice president of customer experience.
Running express NFTA bus service to the stadium for Bills' games, concerts and other special events is not new. The Bills and NFTA have been running the service beginning in 2022.
In its first year, the express service - from Downtown Buffalo and a few selected sites - averaged 290 riders per game, according to the Bills and NFTA.
Last year, ridership grew by 260% to 1,043 riders per-game.
Major said ridership this year is already up 36% and he expects that to grow next year when the new stadium opens.
The hub will only be for NFTA buses. Limos, vans, Uber and Lyft services will use other designated lots.
It was against that backdrop and part of the Bills' Community Benefits Agreement tied into the $850 million the team is receiving in public sector support to help pencil out the development of the new stadium, the Bills and NFTA hosted a sparsely attended public meeting that centered exclusively on the transportation hub.
The common theme among the handful of people who showed up: Better service and maybe even consider expanding the Metro Rail to the stadium.
"If you don't have a study [on a possible Metro rail expansion], you will never have the answer to see if it is feasible or not," said Doug Funke, Citizens for Rapid Transit president.
Funke said he believes a Metro Rail line to the stadium could attract even more riders.
But he acknowledges a Metro Rail expansion won't come cheap. The current proposal to extend the Metro Rail from the University at Buffalo South Campus to its North Campus is expected to cost more than $2 billion.
For now, the comments received during the Oct. 27 session will be reviewed, said Penny Semania, Bills vice president of stadium relations.