BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Metro Rail Project connecting downtown Buffalo to UB North was under scrutiny Tuesday as the first public hearing on the project took place.
The draft environmental survey detailing the project’s plans was released just over three weeks ago. The community has had that time to look it over and brought their thoughts directly to the engineers Tuesday night.
“If you think that by magically changing to a trolley, you’re going to magically start riding, I think you’re wrong,” a concerned resident said.
“We have an opportunity now to make something that’s gonna be sustainable, not just in the near future, but the long-term future,” said another resident.
Jeff Amplement, the NFTA-Metro’s planning projects manager, says the expansion could cost close to $2 billion with shovels in the ground hopefully by 2027. It’s those shovels and the noise that neighbors spoke on Tuesday.
“When they say it’s moderate impacts, that’s assuming new steel rails, new train carriages and wheels,” said a member of the Audubon Homeowners Association Board. “Noise and vibration will only worsen as these components age and wear.”
“Residents along the expansion route will benefit more from light rail than bus rapid transit, less noise and pollution once construction is over and property values will go up,” said a member of Citizens for Regional Transit.
The project, which engineers say is leaning towards light rail transit over a bus rapid transit system, looks to go from the existing tracks ending at UB South through the towns of Amherst and Tonawanda to the UB North campus and I-990.
It is expected to impact 192 properties, with 14 commercial and residential properties facing total displacement.
“My brother lives on Niagara Falls Boulevard. Thirty-some years ago they bought that house for maybe 40, 50 grand,” said a concerned citizen. “It’s probably worth 150 now. Do you think in this market that they’re going to be able to find a house for $150,000?”
“An issue in my home where the wall started cracking and a train is going to come by within 50 feet of my foundation,” said another concerned citizen. “What do you think a train going by every 10 minutes 50 feet from my home rumbling like that in the ground, what do you think that does?”
Most Western New Yorkers are in favor of expanding the NFTA Metro Rail, according to a Siena poll released Monday. Of Amherst and Tonawanda residents, who would be most affected by the expansion, 71% are in support.
At the public hearing, members of the Buffalo Laborers Local 210 showed up by the dozens, voicing their support as well.
“These aren’t just fleeting jobs, these are careers,” said Sam Capitano, the president of the Buffalo Laborers Local 210. “We don’t want to see multiple projects ended.”
Public comment on the project is open until Sept. 8. Engineers project a final environmental impact survey by early next year.
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Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
