Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) has started construction work on the replacement of their metro rail and other work near the 400 block of Main and Church Street, marking the start of big projects on the way in the upcoming years for Main Street. The anticipated work is expected to lead to economic revitalization with the eventual return of vehicle traffic to the roadway.
Crews are replacing the rail, track bed, and wiring between Church and Mohawk Street. The project will also include the installation of a new double crossover track, which will make future service interruptions less disruptive to passengers, improving safety and overall efficiency.
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"It's all in conjunction with bringing cars back on Main Street, it's an opportunity for us to make sure that the track bed and all the other things that's related to operate in the rail system in downtown is there for the foreseeable future," says James Morrell, NFTA's Public Transit Director.
"You have to remember, this rail catenary is over 30 years old. So at some point, we have to make these changes. In addition to making the changes and the upgrades, we're also adding this crossover, which is a very detailed project, which will have an impact on our customers. What we'll be doing is having individuals transfer to another rail car as it reaches Church Street, or it's going to have individuals get off and fountain Plaza. So there's a number of changes that's going to impact the customer's ride into downtown."
This is a two-year project, according to NFTA's VP of Operations Tom George. They will be conducting this project in phases. However, this first phase of the project should be done by December, according to NFTA release.
"We're looking at about a four-month period. But as you know, it's a construction project. Not exactly sure what we'll encounter, but it's scheduled for about four months. This is all part of what we term, 'The Rail Renewal.' It was a major funded multi-million dollar project secured Governor Hochul and our senator, Tim Kennedy, that looked at everything from the track bed, to panel liners, lighting, loops," mentioned Morrell.
A project that will potentially be in construction concurrently with the NFTA's work, is the long-awaited continuation of The Cars Sharing Main Street project. Nearly one year ago, state and city elected officials announced at Canalside over $54.5 million in funding to complete the remaining Main Street sections that remain carless.
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Buffalo's Department of Public Works Commissioner Nate Marton says the work will commence in 2024.
"Our funding for the project was officially approved, right at the very tail end of 2022. Since then, we've been moving from funding approval through the contract process and getting our consultants kind of geared up. So actually, just Tuesday at the council meeting, the council approved the the ability for us to accept the federal grants for the design, the full design. So we're moving through a design of the 400 and the 300 block now. We anticipate start construction next year, and that'll probably be a two year process for us," says Marton.
It has been proven that there has been real economic growth since returning cars to Main Street on portions such as the 500, 600 and 700 blocks. Executive Director of Buffalo Place, Michael Schmand notes that when there is public investment on Main Street, private investment follows.
"Shea's Buffalo, which is an economic engine for downtown Buffalo, they now have a main street entrance. If you go to Fountain Plaza, and you take a look at the investments that Ciminelli Company has just made in 50 Fountain Plaza, one of the reasons was because of traffic being brought on Main Street.
If you go down where Doug Jemal bought the Hyatt and you take a look at Roosevelt Plaza, and all the investment in the 500 block, that was, quite honestly, a dead space for so many years. And now, you have a new restaurant. You have Fattery Beer, you have a new restaurant that just opened up in Washington and the Roosevelt Plaza. The city has done a great job bringing traffic back to Main Street. And again, it's the public sector investing in the public right away, and the private sector investing... just walk down Main Street and enjoy yourself because it's a complete change from what it used to be."