Community Role in Modal Choice for Transit System Planning

The Buffalo, N.Y., SMSA is currently anticipating the construction of a rail rapid transit system. This rail rapid transit system is to be contained in a central corridor going from the existing CBD in Buffalo to the rapidly developing new State University campus and planned new community in the suburban areas. Current travel patterns and their changes in the past decade have been examined together with changes in population, employment, and shopping characteristics. As the proposed rapid transit is the culmination of a long transportation planning process begun in the early 1960’s, the history of this process is reviewed. Issues that have arisen by community groups in the impact area are traced. It is noted that the diversity of the issues and current concerns regarding planning have arisen from previous transportation actions, job availability, and dependence upon the car. The paper concludes with an assessment of current actions in the corridor area.