The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority would like to expand its 6.4-mile Metro rail line. It's an idea that failed before, due to outcry from the public. Has the public changed enough to allow this change to come to the region?
"Plans to expand the Metro rail from the University at Buffalo South Campus in Buffalo to the North Campus in Amherst ran aground in the 1980s and 1990s in the face of stiff community opposition and a lack of funding," according to an article by Stpehen T. Watson.
For the first time since the end of the last century, "government officials are again pushing to extend the region's Metro rail system from Buffalo into Amherst," reports Wtason. The question is whether the same residents who opposed the project before will support it this time around.
"Some critics remain, but the organized opposition that sank the Metro expansion plans a generation ago hasn't developed. In fact, in another dramatic change, some business owners and community leaders are enthusiastically embracing the idea," according to Watson.
The remainder of the article digs into more detail about the past and present politics of transit expansion in Buffalo, and begins to speculate about how the expansion would change the lives of those living and working along the proposed route.
FULL STORY: Will Amherst embrace Metro rail extension this time?
Badly Needed Light Rail Funding to the Rescue in Buffalo
State budget wheeling and dealing has yielded $100 million in funding for repairs on the Buffalo Metro Rail system, according to reports.
Buffalo Residents Push Back on Proposed Cap Park
State and local officials say the $1 billion project will heal neighborhoods divided by the Kensington Expressway, but community members say the proposed plan will exacerbate already poor air quality in the area.
Buffalo's New NFL Stadium Paid for by $850 Million in Public Funding
The total estimated cost of the NFL stadium planned for the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, south of Buffalo, New York, comes to $1.4 billion—including $850 million in public funding.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Trump Approves Futuristic Automated Texas-Mexico Cargo Corridor
The project could remove tens of thousands of commercial trucks from roadways.
Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway
Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.
Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access
MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)