Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Quietly and out of sight, as the bustling traffic on the I-190 above roared overhead, a new nearly $28 million train station has come to life in Buffalo.
Sunday, leaders from New York State, Erie County and Buffalo were inside the newly completed Exchange Street Train Station, heralding it as a signal of the continue rebirth of Buffalo's economic development and a symbol of achieving a goal amidst an ongoing pandemic.
The new station is twice the size of the city's previous rail station and provides travelers with a convenient gateway to Buffalo's downtown with easy connections to local bus and light rail service. The new station was constructed on the same grounds as the previous, 66-year-old Amtrak Station, but was elevated and moved closer to the street to improve access and visibility. With its larger size and modern design, it offers additional seating, more parking, a designated drop off and pickup area, and a redesigned platform to make it easier and safer for passengers to board and depart trains.
The new station has a capacity of more than 40 seats and the image of a Buffalo is featured at the center of its Terrazzo floor. The previous station's low-level platform was replaced by a new, longer, train-level platform for easier boarding. It also features new lighting and a canopy.
"This new station is a shining beacon of hope for the future as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "It's a symbol of Buffalo's strength and resiliency, enhancing transportation and connectivity in the area. Downtown Buffalo has become a destination, and this station extends a vital corridor to the waterfront and continues our efforts to build back better our economy, increase tourism and enhance quality of life."
The New York State Department of Transportation assumed control of the project to replace the train station after the City of Buffalo conducted a location study that resulted in the decision to use the existing station's footprint for the new and improved facility. The state awarded a $27.7 million design-build contract for the construction of the new station in December of 2018 and work began shortly thereafter. The old station was demolished and a temporary station was erected to service passengers during the construction process.
