BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – Western New Yorkers had an opportunity to share their thoughts on the proposed 6.5-mile metro rail expansion into Amherst in a virtual public meeting Wednesday.
Currently, the NFTA Metro Rail runs from the University at Buffalo's South Campus to KeyBank Center. The extension would, according to design firm WSP, "serve as ac atalyst for new development along the corridor."
"The extension will provide more than just transportation for students to get to their classes," WSP Project Manager Scot Sibert said.
"Students and residents will be able to reach other destinations as well – restaurants, shopping areas, employment, residences — and make other transportation connections. It will be great for anyone travelling through Buffalo."
Several expressed their support for the project for its environmental impact and increased accessibility for some to get to the University at Buffalo and to Downtown Buffalo.
"We must find ways to reduce vehicle miles traveled by cars and find ways to move more people more efficiently over distances with less energy and carbon expended," Elizabeth Giles of Citizens for Regional Transit said. "A full, four-car light rail train not only provides a faster, more comfortable, and convenient ride than (vehicular traffic), it has the capacity to move as many people as 12 buses or anywhere from 250 to 600 cars every 10 minutes."
Others support the project because they would no longer have the hassle of driving downtown and because of its potential to create union jobs
But several spoke out against the project because of its impact on the community.
"(I'm against it) due to the added cost to reach a relatively sparse corridor and the additional transit time per train for riders on the remainder of the route," Joseph Lane, who lives in the Audubon community and is a member of the UB community. "I also remain concerned about and object to the negative noise and vibration impacts along the entire above-ground line of the rail."
Stephen Steinberg, an Amherst man who said he is disappointed there is a plan to split a community, much like the criticisms about the Kensington Expressway and Scajaquada.
"We know who's driving this project. It's UB," Steinberg said. "UB throws their weight around all over Amherst and I am sick of it. The existing bus system UB has seems to work fine. Why do you want to replace it with a whole other system? I know why, because UB wants to do it on the public dollar. Let UB pay for their own problems."
A second public meeting will be held Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.
Additional written comments can be submitted to NFTA until 4 p.m. on October 14. After that, designers will create an environmental impact statement with additional public comments.
NFTA estimates the full operation of the light rail extension by 2030.
