The Bailey Avenue Corridor could be where the most activity occurs in the city of Buffalo.
In 2024, roughly 799,999 passengers depended on Route 19.
However, frequent travelers such as Jeanne Legall mention that it isn’t without its drawbacks.
The pavements on the sidewalk are deteriorating,” she stated. “The road surface is also breaking down. Each year, it seems like there’s a new pothole appearing somewhere.
The NFTA aims to alter this situation through its newly proposed Bailey Avenue Bus Rapid Transit Program. This initiative intends to entirely reshape the route between University Station and South Park Avenue by introducing an additional seven miles of dedicated bus lanes, enhanced walkways, and improved transit stations.
The aim is also to enhance safety, considering that over 2,500 accidents occurred along this route from 2014 to 2019.
On Wednesday, the public had their first glimpse of the possible alterations as the NFTA hosted an open house and showcased illustrations depicting how the updated corridor might appear.
It’s crucial for us that we don’t simply enter your neighborhood and dictate how things should appear,” stated Kelly Khatib from the NFTA. “Your feedback is also highly valued.
However, many doubt whether these improvements will truly take place because of President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which aims to cut federal financing. According to Democrats such as Congressman Tim Kennedy, this could jeopardize the $102 million in grants that this initiative depends on.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee decided to revoke unused funds allocated through the Neighborhood and Equity Program, an initiative from the Biden administration enacted in 2022. The Buffalo project was among the 78 initiatives included in this $3.18 billion program.
“It’s unacceptable for this type of crucial infrastructure, which requires investment, to suddenly find itself without support,” Kennedy stated.
The NFTA stated on Wednesday that this isn’t an issue since all required funds are anticipated to remain secure with President Trump’s new legislation.
“As far as we understand, these funds have not been de-obligated yet; however, given the extraordinary circumstances, this could change,” Khatib stated.
The NFTA is currently in the design stage, however, the intention is to kick off construction in autumn 2026 with expectations for completion by 2028.
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