Bailey Ave Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
A NFTA-Metro bus moving along the Bailey Ave corridor. Photo credit: Derek Gee, Buffalo News
Conceptual rendering of a BRT station along Bailey Ave. Image credit: Bailey Avenue Corridor Improvement Study
A map showing the BRT route and station stops along the Bailey Ave corridor.
Welcome to the website for the Bailey Ave BRT project. Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) and our partners, including the City of Buffalo, are excited to take the next steps to bring transit improvements and infrastructure investment to the Bailey Avenue corridor. This site will be a resource for information on the project progress, planning activities, conceptual designs, and public engagement.
What is BRT?
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-capacity bus-based transit system that delivers efficient high frequency bus service along a dedicated corridor. A BRT system can have various special features to make buses move faster and improve the overall experience for bus riders, such as dedicated bus lanes and dedicated stations with amenities for transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Why is it happening?
BRT is being implemented on Bailey Avenue to improve the transit service and rider experience on one of the busiest bus routes in the NFTA-Metro system.
The Bailey Ave corridor:
Bailey Avenue was studied for transportation and infrastructure improvements in the past and NFTA has secured funding to design and implement many of those changes.
The Bailey Ave BRT project – and the associated improvements to sidewalks, traffic signals, the roadway, and the public realm – will provide better transit service and repair public infrastructure in ways that will support further investment in the communities along the corridor.
● Served by Route 19 and connects to 13 other bus lines and to Metro Rail
● Route 19’s annual ridership in Fiscal Year 2024 was 798,000
● Runs for 7.5 miles through Buffalo’s East Side neighborhoods which are home to over 100,000 residents
● Existing roadway and streetscape throughout important commercial areas and residential neighborhoods need upgrades
● Bailey Avenue serves major job centers like the University of Buffalo South Campus, Veteran’s Hospital, and local commercial centers
● Bus service along Bailey Avenue plays an important role in connecting all those who live, work, shop, worship, study, and visit the corridor.
How is it funded?
This project will be funded through federal programs, including a Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) grant which is part of the historic Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods program. NFTA has also received project development money from New York State and additional funding from other sources for complementary efforts in the corridor.