FAQs

Frequently asked questions relating to the Bailey Ave BRT project. 

  • Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a high-capacity and more frequent type of bus service with transit-priority elements and customer amenities. BRT systems can include a mix of features which help the bus travel faster or just make the trip more comfortable than typical local service. Depending on the extent of the features and amenities, BRT is often compared to light rail or other high-capacity and high-frequency transit systems.

  • NFTA is introducing new design elements in the Bailey Ave BRT, including:  ● Transit priority improvements like bus lanes, queue-jump lanes, and special traffic signals that reduce the wait time for buses at red lights (transit signal priority).● BRT Stations with heating, seating, and other amenities. ● More frequent service and fewer stop locations than local bus service help to reduce overall travel times in the corridor.● New low-emission buses. ● Near-level boarding and cash-free boarding to help speed up the boarding process on the buses.
    NFTA is also working with the City of Buffalo to make pedestrian and streetscape improvements where possible throughout the corridor.

  • BRT will differ from standard NFTA bus service in the following ways:● Branded buses● Larger stations with improved passenger amenities● More frequent service● Fewer stops● Cash-free boarding with TVMs at each BRT stationTo learn more about Bailey Avenue BRT, please visit our fact sheets and project documents. 

  • The prior feasibility study recommended BRT stops at the following intersections along the current Route 19 (Bailey Avenue corridor), from north to south:• University Station• Veteran’s Hospital/Coal Road• Minnesota Avenue• Kensington Avenue• Langfield Drive/Connelly Avenue• East Delevan Avenue• Genesee Street• Walden Avenue• Broadway• William Street• Clinton Street• Seneca Street• South Park Avenue
    The project further evaluated these locations, led community outreach, gathered public feedback, and then finalized the list before beginning design. Please visit our Open House Boards – Concepts to learn more about the Bailey Ave BRT station area concepts.

  • Bailey Avenue is an important transit corridor with some of the highest ridership numbers in the region, with an average weekday ridership of over 2,750 in 2025. The north end of the corridor provides access to the Metro Rail and thirteen bus routes at University Station. The previous Bailey Avenue Corridor Improvements Study and our Open House boards provides more information about what makes Bailey Avenue an ideal location for BRT.

  • “Build Back Bailey” is a project being conducted by the City of Buffalo to improve the Bailey Avenue corridor in two segments: Phase 1 from Winspear Avenue to Kensington Avenue and Phase 2 from Kensington Avenue to Delavan Avenue. This project will provide roadway, sidewalk, and streetscape improvements, including upgrades to water, sewer, and electric utilities as well as new lighting, trees, and green infrastructure. For more information on “Build Back Bailey”, please visit the City of Buffalo website. Construction for Build Back Bailey is expected to begin in 2027 for Phase 1 and in 2029 for Phase 2.
    While Build Back Bailey and Bailey Ave BRT are two separate projects, NFTA and the City of Buffalo are both committed to collaborating to get the best results for all residents, businesses, and commuters in the corridor, and NFTA is working closely with the City of Buffalo to determine where BRT elements can be included in Build Back Bailey. 

  • Buffalo has received $102,000,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Neighborhood Access and Equity Program, under the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhood (RCN) opportunity, to improve Bailey Avenue and expand transportation on Buffalo’s East Side. Details about this award are listed in this press release from NFTA. Additionally, project development will be funded with $3,000,000 from New York State, $650,000 from the Federal Government’s Areas of Persistent Poverty Grant. Additionally, $1,000,000 in planning grant funds have been awarded to guide Transit Oriented Development in relationship to future BRT. 

  • Beyond the new BRT service, NFTA has secured funding for other infrastructure improvements along the corridor, including reconstruction or repairs to the roadway, curbs, sidewalks, and pedestrian ramps at intersections. Pedestrian curb ramps will create a smooth and safe transition from the sidewalk to the roadway, and all new curb ramps will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ensuring accessibility for all. There are also funds for other pedestrian and streetscape improvements at key points along the corridor, such as street lighting, landscaping and street trees, and other enhancements to the public realm. The goals of the project are to improve not only the transit service in the corridor, but to address some of physical infrastructure needs in the corridor which will benefit all those who live, work, or visit communities along Baliey Ave.

  • East Buffalo Development Corporation (EBDC) was awarded $130,000 for projects that supported building community relationships and trust and preparing community networks for engagement opportunities. Community Connectors grant activities have concluded. NFTA remains committed to working with partners, like EBDC, to ensure meaningful collaboration with the Buffalo community

  • Mobility hubs can provide riders and residents with different ways to make connections: a bus stop for connecting routes, a car-share parking space, bike-share docks. 
    After evaluating multiple locations in the Bailey Avenue corridor, NFTA is currently planning mobility hubs at University Station, Walden Avenue, Kensington Avenue, and the Southern Terminus. 

  • The project will be constructed in multiple phases. The first phase is the construction of the BRT station at the University Station bus loop. This work will begin in Fall 2026.
    Construction of the remaining stations and corridor improvements will begin in 2027. The new BRT service is expected to launch in 2028 or 2029.
    NFTA will notify riders, businesses, and property owners of anticipated impacts due to construction.

  • Public outreach with an eye toward equity and inclusion will be an essential part of this project’s development. The project team has facilitated several public meetings, tabled at community events, hosted surveys, and met with community organizations to incorporate feedback from local stakeholders. The project’s Community Ambassadors are also a key resource for people looking to learn more about the impact of Bailey Ave BRT. For additional questions or comments, please email moc.atfn%40trbyeliab. In addition, there is an active project website to deliver information to the public. Your voice and experience are a crucial part of this project. We want to hear from you!

  • Yes, the many thoughts, suggestions and concerns provided during previous projects’ outreach are being carefully reviewed by NFTA and the consultant team and will be incorporated into this project. There will be additional opportunities for the community to provide feedback during this project, and that feedback will be used in conjunction with information provided previously.

  • The Metro Transit Expansion Project is focused on creating a link between the existing Metro Rail Line in Buffalo and current/emerging activity centers in Amherst and Tonawanda. The Bailey Avenue BRT Project is aimed at improving travel conditions for all in the Bailey Avenue corridor, especially transit riders, and to make additional infrastructure improvements that will benefit all those who live, work, and visit the area. Both projects are being planned, designed, and implemented independently with the support of separate funding sources.
    While each project serves a unique purpose and need, and offers individual benefits to their respective corridors, both are part of a broader vision for an expanded rapid transit network across the Buffalo-Niagara region that provides enhanced connections to jobs, health care, education, and recreation opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

  • TOD, or transit-oriented development, encourages walkable, mixed-use communities centered around high-quality public transit. The goal of TOD is to bring people, activities,buildings, and public space together. TOD improves mobility, supports economic growth, and promotes sustainability.
    NFTA recently launched their Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) Study of Bailey Avenue, where engagement is ongoing. See the ETOD page for more information and examples of ETOD on Bailey Avenue and elsewhere in the region.

  • Yes. Dedicated bus lanes are an essential part of BRT service and are an important source of the service’s benefits. While the exact design details are being developed, NFTA has worked with the City of Buffalo to make sure dedicated lanes are possible in three segments of the corridor: northbound from Winspear Ave to Coal Road (Veterans Hospital), both directions between Stanley Street and Walden Ave, and both directions between William Street and Clinton Street.

  • No, the fare on the BRT will remain the same as on the regular bus. However, the new BRT will have cash-free boarding, similar to the Metro Rail. When BRT launches on Bailey Avenue, riders will pay with the MetGo card, MetGo Tap and Go app, or Token Transit app. Riders can also use cash to purchase bus passes or reload their MetGo card using the ticket vending machines (TVMs) that will be located at each BRT Station.

  • There are no new bike lanes planned for Bailey Avenue as part of this project. NFTA is supporting multi-modal travel through the project with BRT stations and Mobility Hubs that may include bike parking or bike share docks. 
    NFTA has been working with the City of Buffalo and GoBike to identify ways to support existing bicycle facilities along the Bailey Avenue corridor. For more information on the bike network in Buffalo, visit the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council’s 2020 Regional Bicycle Master Plan.

  • At this stage, details of the project are still being developed. NFTA will work to minimize parking loss as a result of BRT, though some street safety improvements may require evaluating existing parking.

  • Bailey Ave BRT is the first BRT route being developed in the NFTA-Metro system. NFTA is evaluating other corridors in the region for their BRT potential, as part of a broader vision for regional rapid transit services. 

  • Equity has been a central component of the development of the project from the start and will be considered in various ways as the work is advanced. This includes having an Equity and Inclusion Plan to inform the public participation, targeting engagement to make sure that communities often ignored or excluded have a voice on the project, and prioritizing infrastructure investments in the areas of the corridor which qualify as Justice40 areas. ADA improvements to sidewalks along the corridor will also improve accessibility and equity for all.

  • To ensure representation and accessibility for all neighborhoods along Bailey Ave, NFTA has hired community members as ambassadors for the BRT project. Ambassadors work to educate the public, foster community outreach, and deliver project information to neighborhoods along the Bailey Ave corridor. Community Ambassadors are paid positions with specific roles related to spreading the word about the project and soliciting feedback from residents, riders, and other community members in the Bailey Avenue corridor.

  • NFTA has been continuously engaged with businesses along the corridor. BRT Community Ambassadors have made in-person visits to over 180 businesses and organizations along the Bailey Avenue corridor.
    As construction starts, businesses that will be directly impacted by the project will be contacted by NFTA, and any properties that will be impacted during construction will also be notified prior to the start of work. If you are a business owner with concerns, please contact the project team at .moc.atfn%40trbyeliab  

  • NFTA is prioritizing the safety of its riders as part of their Bailey Ave BRT project, including in the design of new BRT Stations and enhancements to the surrounding areas. Emergency call boxes and security cameras will be installed at new BRT Stations, and new streetlights will be installed in select segments of the corridor to improve visibility at night. 
    The City of Buffalo’s Build Back Bailey projects will also include new streetlights in the segments between Winspear Avenue and Midway Avenue and between Genesee Street and East Delavan Avenue. Additionally, NFTA will continue to send out emergency communications during service disruptions, severe weather, and other dangerous conditions. 

  • NFTA is committed to maintaining BRT Stations so they remain clean, accessible, and in good condition. Regular trash collection, consistent snow removal, and upkeep of NFTA infrastructure will help support a welcoming rider experience and improve the overall aesthetics of the community. Property and business owners will continue to be responsible for removing ice and snow from sidewalks on their property.