Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority

Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
Alan Gryfe · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Agency name	Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
Locale	Buffalo, New York, Niagara Falls, New York
Transit type	Public transportation
Began operation	1967
Headquarters	Buffalo, New York

Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, also known as the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, is a public transportation agency that serves Erie County, New York and Niagara County, New York, including the cities of Buffalo, New York and Niagara Falls, New York, with connections to Toronto, Ontario, via the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and the Peace Bridge. The authority was established in 1967, following the consolidation of several smaller transportation agencies, including the Buffalo Transit Company and the Niagara Frontier Transit System, with the goal of providing efficient and reliable transportation services to the region, similar to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City and the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto. The authority is governed by a board of commissioners, appointed by the Erie County, New York legislature and the Niagara County, New York legislature, with input from the Federal Transit Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation.

● History

The history of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority dates back to the early 20th century, when the Buffalo Transit Company and the Niagara Frontier Transit System were established to provide public transportation services to the region, with connections to Rochester, New York and Syracuse, New York via the New York State Thruway and the Lake Ontario State Parkway. In the 1960s, the New York State Legislature passed legislation to consolidate these agencies into a single entity, which became the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority in 1967, with the goal of improving transportation services and reducing costs, similar to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Since its establishment, the authority has expanded its services to include bus and light rail operations, with connections to Amtrak and Greyhound Lines at the Buffalo Exchange Street Station and the Niagara Falls Transportation Center. The authority has also implemented various initiatives to improve the efficiency and sustainability of its operations, including the use of hybrid electric buses and the development of a comprehensive transportation plan for the region, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

● Organization

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is governed by a board of commissioners, which is responsible for setting the agency's policies and overseeing its operations, with input from the Erie County, New York executive and the Niagara County, New York legislature. The board is composed of representatives from Erie County, New York and Niagara County, New York, as well as from the cities of Buffalo, New York and Niagara Falls, New York, with connections to the Buffalo City Council and the Niagara Falls City Council. The authority is also advised by a citizens' advisory committee, which provides input on transportation issues and helps to identify priorities for the agency, similar to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's MTA Board and the Toronto Transit Commission's TTC Board. The authority's headquarters is located in Buffalo, New York, and it has several maintenance and operations facilities throughout the region, including the Buffalo Central Terminal and the Niagara Falls Transportation Center.

● Services

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority provides a range of transportation services to the region, including bus and light rail operations, with connections to Amtrak and Greyhound Lines at the Buffalo Exchange Street Station and the Niagara Falls Transportation Center. The authority operates over 60 bus routes, including express and local services, with connections to Rochester, New York and Syracuse, New York via the New York State Thruway and the Lake Ontario State Parkway. The authority also operates a light rail system, which connects Buffalo, New York to Amherst, New York and Tonawanda, New York, with connections to the University at Buffalo and the Canisius College. In addition, the authority provides paratransit services for passengers with disabilities, in partnership with the Erie County, New York department of social services and the Niagara County, New York department of social services.

● Fares_and_Passes

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority offers a range of fare options, including single-ride fares, daily passes, and monthly passes, with discounts for students and seniors, similar to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's MetroCard and the Toronto Transit Commission's Presto card. The authority also offers a free fare zone in downtown Buffalo, New York, which allows passengers to ride for free within a designated area, with connections to the Buffalo City Hall and the Erie County, New York courthouse. In addition, the authority participates in the New York State Department of Transportation's Transit Benefit Program, which allows employers to offer pre-tax transit benefits to their employees, similar to the Federal Transit Administration's Transit Benefits Program.

● Fleet

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority operates a fleet of over 300 vehicles, including buses and light rail cars, with connections to the Gillig Corporation and the New Flyer Industries. The authority's bus fleet includes a range of vehicle types, including diesel buses, hybrid electric buses, and compressed natural gas buses, with the goal of reducing emissions and improving air quality, similar to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's clean bus program and the King County Metro's hybrid bus program. The authority's light rail fleet consists of Siemens SD-160 cars, which are powered by electricity and offer a smooth and quiet ride, with connections to the Siemens Mobility and the Alstom Transport.

● Stations_and_Terminals

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority operates several stations and terminals throughout the region, including the Buffalo Exchange Street Station and the Niagara Falls Transportation Center. The authority's stations and terminals offer a range of amenities, including ticket vending machines, restrooms, and waiting areas, with connections to the Buffalo City Hall and the Erie County, New York courthouse. The authority also operates several park-and-ride facilities, which allow passengers to park their vehicles and transfer to buses or light rail, with connections to the New York State Thruway and the Lake Ontario State Parkway. In addition, the authority is planning to develop several new stations and terminals, including a new transportation hub in downtown Buffalo, New York, with connections to the University at Buffalo and the Canisius College. Category:Transportation in New York