BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The NFTA held a drop-in listening session on Thursday to discuss the proposed Metro Transit Expansion Project.
The project would expand light rail service along Niagara Falls Boulevard to Maple Road and Sweet Home, through the University at Buffalo North Campus, and up to the I-990.
"If we think about this as a long-term project for multiple generations in the future, and we want Buffalo to become a large global city in the future, we need to capitalize on that," said Tonawanda resident and business owner David Stinner.
Some students living on UB's North Campus tell 7 News reporter Yoselin Person that travel is difficult.
"It's long overdue because we're kind of trapped on campus," said UB student Jack Walsh. "We can't do anything."
"The North Campus is surrounded by highways," said UB student Rayna Cooke. "So, even places that should be easy to walk to are actually difficult."
The NFTA says this project is meant to connect large concentrations of people with jobs.
"We're talking about the existing line which runs from Downtown Buffalo to the Medical Campus. It would connect the UB South Campus to UB North Campus and all of the commercial centers in between like the Boulevard Mall," said project manager Jeffrey Amplement. "It's a great opportunity to connect all of these major economic generators."
In September, 7 news reporter Taylor Epps spoke with community members who weren't in favor of the project.
"What happened on Main Street when they put in the light rail in the 1970s? It destroyed every business downtown and all of those businesses continue to die," said Phil Basinski, owner of Sweeney's Garage. "Now 40 years later, they're starting to come back? Why are they repeating the same mistakes?"
The NFTA is seeking public feedback. You can find more information about the next sessions below:
You can learn more about the project here.
