Citizens Regional Transit Corporation
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The Citizens Regional Transportation Corporation (CRTC) was created as a grass-roots organization promoting the implementation and expansions of light-rail service for the city of Buffalo and its surrounding region in New York State.
[edit] Overview
The CRTC's presence has been more recognized lately with their recommendations of creation of the proposed Airport Corridor and creation of the Tonawandas Corridor from LaSalle Station. The two proposals mentioned are a fraction of the multi-line system, with proposals to go as far south as Hamburg and Orchard Park, as far east as Lancaster and as far north as Niagara Falls. Much of the proposed extensions are entirely on rights-of-way (ROW) and will cost a fraction of what it would cost for digging into the ground and creating more subways.
The current 6.1 mile long Metro Rail line operates as a surface line in Downtown Buffalo on an exclusive transit mall, and underground (like a subway) from north of Downtown to the University of Buffalo's South Campus. The CRTC is proud of the ridership that the current line receives and frequently uses it as a tool in their push for extensions.
[edit] Proposed lines
[edit] Airport Line
The Airport Corridor is a leading candidate for expansion for the fact of its benefits to the region in providing a high-speed transit connection with Downtown Buffalo and the Greater Buffalo Niagara International Airport (GBNIA).
Original airport plans during its reconstruction provided for a light rail connection into the airport property near the south-west corner of the terminal.
There are a number of different options on rail alignments, the most common being using South Division Street, a ROW to the old New York Central terminal, and available trackage between Walden and Broadway to the Thruway Plaza, Galleria Mall and Buffalo Airport.
[edit] Amherst Completion
One of the lower priority lines, that has the least support because of a host of factors.
This line was proposed to begin at the University Station and continue underneath Main Street and North Bailey to arrive to an elevated line near Bailey and Bettina. The line would then follow Eggert, cross the parking lots of Amherst Plaza, Boulevard Mall, and then take a diagonal turn, crossing Maple and operating along a parallel north of Maple to the University at Buffalo's North Campus.
Cost restraints and construction schedules have placed this extension in jeopardy as the least likely to be built.
[edit] Belt Line East
Intended to tie in with the Niagara River Corridor, the Tonawandas Corridor, and the Airport Corridor, this branch was created to originally allow passengers from the Niagara County region to have a one-seat express ride from their stop to the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
The likeliness of the branch being created is likely remaining scrapped for the fact that a housing development was built over most of the right of way between LaSalle Station and at least Amherst Street.
[edit] Cobblestone Loop
Recently unveiled in 2008, the Cobblestone Loop is a continuation of the current Metro Rail line so that it operates through the Cobblestone District in Downtown Buffalo and effectively serves a number of new areas.
Current design plans have trains continuing down Main Street from Erie Canal Harbor Station, and turning east onto South Park Avenue, north onto Louisiana Street and west on Perry Street to Main Street and it's current route.
[edit] Stations
The extension will also add four new stations to the line:
- South Park & Michigan
- South Park nr. Louisiana
- Perry nr. Louisiana
- Perry & Michigan.
[edit] Hamburg South Branch
[edit] Lancaster Branch
[edit] Niagara Falls Shuttle
Proposed to supplement the Niagara River Corridor's service near Downtown Niagara Falls, the Niagara Falls Shuttle is designed to service residents and tourists with safe and economical transportation, allowing passengers to park their vehicles at remote or sattelite locations and use the rail line to get into Downtown Niagara Falls.
[edit] Stations (Shredded Wheat to Rapids View)
The entire Niagara Falls Shuttle shares trackage with the Niagara River Corridor line.
- Shredded Wheat
- Niagara Splash (Quay Street)
- Seneca Niagara Casino
- Midtown Parking
- Rainbow Center / Winter Garden
- Prospect Point
- Heliport
- Niagara Falls Aquarium / Schoellkopf Geological Museum
- Inspiration Point / Rainbow View
- Rapids View
Source: Citizens Regional Transit Corporation website
[edit] Niagara River Corridor
Not possible without the Tonawanda Corridor's opening, this line will follow almost the same routing as the old New York Central Bee-Liner service from LaSalle Station to the Downtown Niagara Falls.
It was also envisioned that express service could be created, utilizing the Belt Line East connector between Niagara Falls and the Greater Buffalo Niagara International Airport, being an attractive alternative for tourists to use, instead of a rental car.
[edit] Stations (from LaSalle Station to Rapids View)
Due to the length of this extension, a total of twenty-seven new stations would be added to the line, but would use eleven stations of the Tonawanda line:
- LaSalle
- Merrimac
- Kenilworth
- Lincoln Park
- Ellwood
- Sheridan West (Belmont)
- Brighton
- Embassy Square
- Cranbrook
- Ives Pond
- Tonawanda East
- Twin Cities (would also connect with Amtrak service here)
- Little River
- Roblin
- Gratwick
- Riverside Park
- Wheatfield
- Green Acres
- Lynch Park
- Cayuga Island
- Parkvue
- 71st Street
- Grand Island Bridges
- Occidental Chemicals
- Echota
- Electra
- Fort Schlosser
- Shredded Wheat
- Quay Street
- Seneca Niagara Casino
- Midtown Parking
- Winter Garden
- Turtle
- Heliport (Niagara Street / Rainbow Bridge)
- Aquarium
- Inspiration Point
- Rapids View
Source: Citizens Regional Transit Corporation website
[edit] North Buffalo Branch
This branch is planned to branch off the Tonawandas line near Merrimac Street (one stop north-west of LaSalle Station, and continue in a westerly direction on an abandoned railroad right-of-way (ROW) to as far as Elmwood Avenue.
[edit] Stations (from LaSalle Station to Elmwood Station)
- LaSalle
- Merrimac
- Starin
- Colvin
- Kenmore South (Delaware Av)
- Elmwood
[edit] Orchard Park Branch
This line operates as a branch off the Southtowns line, which is to primarily serve the Quaker Crossing complex, and Ralph Wilson Stadium.
[edit] Southtowns Corridor
The only corridor serving the Southtowns, the Southtowns Corridor begins in Downtown Buffalo near Lafayette Square on the current Metro Rail Tracks. The line continues southward on Main Street, enters/exits the Cobblestone District South Park/Perry, and continues south-eastward from Louisiana Street on South Park Avenue.
Once arriving near Lee Street (South Park lift bridge), the line veers further south along the Buffalo River to a trackway near current NYS Route 5. The line continues southward along this trackway to Rush Creek and the Athol Springs Park and Ride Station.
Once arriving at Rush Creek/Athol Springs, the train may divert to two branches; the Hamburg South Branch to the Village of Hamburg, or the Orchard Park Branch, towards Orchard Park.
[edit] Tonawandas Line
Beginning as a spur of the present Metro Rail Line, the Tonawanda line essentially continues from LaSalle Station in a north-western trajectory into the city of Tonawanda.
Some planned stops along the way include Embassy Square for Park and Ride services, and the BJ's/Sam's Club plaza near Colvin and the Twin Cities Highway.
[edit] Stations (from LaSalle Station to Tonawanda Station)
- LaSalle
- Merrimac
- Kenilworth
- Lincoln Park
- Ellwood Park
- Sheridan West
- Brighton
- Embassy Square
- Cranbrook
- Ives Pond
- Tonawanda East
Source: Citizens Regional Transit Corporation website (on Fortune City)
[edit] Waterfront Line (Heritage Trolley)
[edit] Youngmann Branch
Created as an alternate to the original subway extension plan to the current Main Street line (called the Amherst Completion line), this proposal minimized the need to dig further underground, and use ground level and elevated rail tracks in its place.
Sharing tracks on the Tonawanda Corridor from LaSalle Station, the line would continue in a northwesterly direction until it arrived at Embassy Square, a short distance south of the Youngmann Memorial Highway (Interstate 290). From the Embassy Square Station, the line continued east along the Youngmann Highway and the Lockport Expressway (Interstate 990) until arriving at the north campus of the University at Buffalo, where it would continue possibly to Getzville and the Audubon Business Park as in the original plans for the Main Street (Amherst Completion) line.
[edit] Stations (from LaSalle Station to Getzville West)
- LaSalle (shared with Tonawanda Corridor)
- Merrimac (shared with Tonawanda Corridor)
- Kenilworth (shared with Tonawanda Corridor)
- Lincoln Park (shared with Tonawanda Corridor)
- Ellwood Park (shared with Tonawanda Corridor)
- Sheridan West (shared with Tonawanda Corridor)
- Brighton (shared with Tonawanda Corridor)
- Embassy Square (shared with Tonawanda Corridor)
- Parker
- Niagara Falls Boulevard
- Sweet Home
- University at Buffalo - Flint Loop
- University at Buffalo - Clemens Hall
- University at Buffalo - Ellicott Complex
- Audubon Industrial Park
- Getzville West
Source: Citizens Regional Transit Corportation website (at Fortune City)
