CRT Public Comments

NFTA Metro Transit

19 August 2025

My name is Douglas Funke. I am a 45-year Amherst resident (Willowridge area) and the President of Citizens for Regional Transit, a nonprofit transit advocacy organization.

We strongly support this project and the light rail transit (LRT) alternative, which we believe is the only one that meets the project objectives, especially:

• “Providing attractive high-quality transit service.”
• “Mitigating growth of traffic congestion ...”
• “Supporting sustainable economic growth ...”
• “Minimizing adverse community and environmental impacts.”

Here’s why the bus rapid transit (BRT) alternative fails to meet objectives.

• BRT retains the transit barrier at University Station. Riders must exit high-capacity trains (hundreds per train), go to street level and wait for the next 60-person bus.
• BRT buses will operate in mixed traffic on Main and Kenmore, degrading speed and reliability.
• Articulated buses can have trouble in snow. Just ask Toronto.
• BRT will attract fewer riders pushing more people to drive – more congestion and disease-causing pollution.

Here’s why LRT is the best (and only viable) choice.

This is the July 2025 Citizens for Regional Transit newsletter.

Citizens for Regional Transit submitted comments on the GBNRTC's Draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

This is the May 2025 Citizens for Regional Transit newsletter.

Here is the 2024 Citizens for Regional Transit Annual Report.

Citizens for Regional Transit submitted a public comment letter regarding the recertification of the GBNRTC as the Metropolitan Planning Organization.

This is the January 2025 Citizens for Regional Transit newsletter.

Citizens for Regional Transit made comments on the proposed NFTA budget for Fiscal Year 2026.

Three legal responses have occurred on the ongoing lawsuits pertaining to the Kensington Expressway/Humboldt Parkway proposed tunnel.