A statement from CRT President Doug Funke

Dump The Pump (DTP) Day is June 21st. This is when we minimize car-based (fossil-fuel-intensive) travel as a way to: (1) highlight approaches for, and the importance of, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) generation; and (2) begin breaking our fossil fuel intensive travel habits.

This year, Citizens for Regional Transit (CRT) Executive Board members have pledged to minimize car-based travel by taking transit on DTP Day and throughout DTP Week (June 18th through 22nd). Please join us in leaving our cars at home and walking, biking or taking transit to work and appointments. Take the pledge here.

Promoting the use of transit is especially important now as we face unprecedented threats to the planet from climate change. County Executive Poloncarz’s January 2018 “Erie County Commits to Paris” report makes clear that meeting the Paris Climate Accord emission reduction goals will require changes in how we travel. With 40% of Erie County’s GHG production coming from the transportation sector (the largest contributing sector), moving people from car-based travel to public transit is essential. As French President Macron put it, “there is no Planet B.”

We hope you will join us in dumping the pump during DTP Week. See you on the bus and train!

Citizens for Regional Transit has released our official position on Buffalo's new Exchange Street Station proposal (as formulated by the New York State Department of Transportation).

This insight brief describes the potential for commuter rail service on the Niagara Branch between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Currently this corridor is owned by CSX but most notably supports existing Amtrak service. The brief was provided at the CRT Quarterly Meeting on May 1, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church.

Study author: Aaron Krolikowski, PhD.

Citizens for Regional Transit endorses efforts by Rep. Brian Higgins and Sen. Charles Schumer to support a new Amtrak Station for Buffalo, NY and for a comprehensive study of optimal location(s).

The current Exchange Street Station has been voted as the “saddest rail station in the US” and is woefully inadequate to support an upward trending Buffalo and its transportation needs. The recent Exchange Street Station roof collapse intensifies the urgency of building a new station.

There are many requirements that must be considered in evaluating locations and design for a new Buffalo train station:

This presentation was delivered at the October 15 CRT meeting by Darren Kempner, manager of Manager, Grants and Government Affairs for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.

These comments were submitted as public comments to the Board of Directors of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation on September 24, 2014.

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Representatives of Citizens for Regional Transit attended the Outer Harbor public meeting at the WNED Studios on September 9th as well as the previous public meetings. We hope that feedback received from community organizations and individuals will be used by the ECHDC to establish a framework for an Outer Harbor that complements our city, takes best advantage of the unique location and character of the Outer Harbor, and reflects the concerns of WNY citizens. However, we are disappointed with the planning process because it restrains and limits public engagement. We also are opposed to some key aspects of the preferred plan.

The fundamental problem with the process is that it does not allow adequate ability for the public to voice concerns and ask questions. Without meaningful public engagement the plan will not reflect public desires for the use of this public land, and it will not benefit from the expertise of organizations knowledgeable in important issues relating to development of the Outer Harbor. For example, relegating public comments at meetings to “yellow stickies” and informal small group discussions does not provide an effective means for the public to raise questions, and does not require the ECHDC and its contractor to respond publicly, on the record. This short circuits the openness of the process and leads to results not fully reflective public views. We want a chance to publicly express our views and to be informed by the views of other groups and citizens. The ECHDC should want this too. We hope that the next public meeting will allow public comments and discussion of issues, and will provide a forum for the ECHDC to respond publicly. Microphones should be available for this purpose.

This is a wonderful activist event highlighting efforts to heal divides in the community. Citizens for Regional Transit was a participant.