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.
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[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 creating a lot of buzz lately, 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 trickier 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] Hamburg South Branch
[edit] Lancaster Branch
[edit] Niagara Falls Shuttle
[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.
[edit] Orchard Park Branch
[edit] Southtowns Corridor
[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.
