Mobility Across the Ages at Buffalo Central Terminal Saturday
Back in the day before international airports and interstate highways, the Central Terminal was Buffalo’s gateway to the world. But in a turn of events scarcely imaginable to the generation that built the Terminal, passenger rail service is now a ghost of its former self—chronically late, infrequent, and boarded from sheds either miles away in Depew, or cowering hidden at the feet of the expressway downtown. Now, in a post-modern era of skyrocketing gas prices, re-urbanization, and increased recognition of transportation alternatives, what could our transportation system and options look like in the next decade or so? And what could be the role of the Central Terminal?
This Saturday, the Central Terminal will play a clear role in our transportation future by playing host to a unique transportation symposium, Mobility Across the Ages, which will—appropriately enough—include discussions of regional passenger rail options.
According to Patrick Braun, of Buffalo’s chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World, which is convening the symposium:
Step into Western New York’s transportation history, and discover its future, as Buffalos Central Terminal comes alive with music, art, brews, and a sustainable future for all.
Mobility Across the Ages is an interactive event that will serve to engage and entertain the public while presenting both the historical context and the current reality of transportation and energy in our region. It is the first collaborative event of its kind to bring together all the sectors necessary to develop an efficient sustainable transportation system.
Planners, policy makers, community members, academics, businessmen and visionaries will converge—in a behemoth of Buffalos transportation past—to initiate a public dialogue about the region’s future in what is becoming an increasingly energy-driven society. The event will highlight a variety of local plans for regional transportation development, including a high speed rail connecting Buffalo to major regional hubs like Toronto and New York City, the development of sustainable sources of automotive fuel, and the expansion of intermodal transit facilities for rail, trucks and shipping.
As we approach a period of heightened energy prices, Western New York planners must set goals for the improvement of its transportation systems, in terms of convenience for riders and more than ever—energy efficiency.
If we look at Buffalo areas birth and not so distant past, our geography has endowed us with the benefits as a hub of transportation. Western New York needs to confront high energy prices as an opportunity for economic growth and development.
Attendees will be treated to a day of live music spanning the eras of the terminals life from the roaring ‘20s to the electronic future with Flying Bison and delectable goodies from several local restaurants. The event will likely feel akin other successful Central Terminal fests, the historic venue brought back to life through art, music and good beer.
From 3PM on, a museum will host displays and a speaker series that will focus on the History of Transportation, Timing the Energy Transition, The Hydrogen Economy and Opportunities for Regional Leadership. Throughout the day university members, local and regional government, the NFTA, the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transit Council (GBNRTC), the rail industry, and the New York State Department of Transportation will present their plans.
In the evening hours, the terminal will be decked out with transportation-themed installations from local artists. Dinner will be available at 5:30PM, and the music of the ‘60s will lead into the nighttime festivities.
Mobility Across the Ages is being put on by student chapters of Engineers for a Sustainable World from the University At Buffalo and the University of Rochester, in cooperation with the GBNRTC, the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation and Flying Bison Brewery.
Educational resources and transit plans and will be presented by The New York State Department of Transportation, the NFTA, Citizens for Regional Transit Corp., ESPA [Empire State Passenger Association], the Toronto Party Transportation Committee, the Office of Sam Hoyt and the Buffalo Museum of Science.
Through the production of this event, Engineers for a Sustainable World hopes to initiate dialogue, involve and educate the public, and support a forward-thinking regional transportation strategy.
Any profits from the event will be used to fund future projects by student organizations working on transportation feasibility studies for and the reuse of the Central Terminal as a transit hub.
Rochester’s chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World is one of the organizers of the event, and expects to bring a dozen participants to Buffalo Saturday, according to University of Rochester Professor Ben Ebenhack, faculty advisor for the chapter. Professor Ebenhack will be giving a talk at the symposium about timing our energy transition away from our current petroleum-based economy. Among other projects, his chapter is conducting a pilot effort to use biodiesel fuel—including byproducts of the campus food service—to help fuel the campus bus fleet. They also acquired a 1920’s-era duplex house and are experimenting with energy-efficient retrofits using one half of the house as a control.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of visioning the transportation future of the region.
Details:
See the Brown Paper Tickets site for complete details or to purchase advance tickets. Tickets can be purchased at the event for $8, or in advance for $5 from Brown Paper Tickets.
Contact:
Patrick Braun
Engineers for a Sustainable World
University at Buffalo
buffalolink@gmail.com
716-982-2266
Get connected:
Buffalo Central Terminal
Mobility Across the Ages
Photo credit: Ken Kramer
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Buffalo21stcentury
The GBNRTC has plans for commuter rail between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. However judging from the major role and participation from Rochesterians, perhaps, we should be thinking of commuter rail between Buffalo and Rochester.
It could be done Buffalo, Batavia to Rochester
or
It could be done Buffalo to Niagara Falls to Rochester
In any case, anyone with any love of statistics knows that linking 6 million airport travelers with downtown Buffalo via a light rail extension would change the entire dynamic and viability of downtown.
The same case is growing for the 6 million to 8 million to 10 million visitors to Niagara Falls being linked to Buffalo via light rail, especially since we really cant bring Great Lakes Cruises to Buffalo unless we can put both Buffalo and Niagara Falls on the table for limited stops.
UB says its critical for them to integrate 3 campuses.
We have regional engines of growth and our metropolitan area cannot hope to compete if each cylinder of our engine is operating independently instead of in sync.
Everybody says that they want to see change. They want to see a dynamic Buffalo. Well, if you want that dynamic Buffalo then you have to invest in that kind of Buffalo.
Buffalo was the gateway to the midwest (the conduit from Chicago to Boston/NYC) via canals and rail and road, then lost its place in the world as travel shifted to lower wage non-union south and west as highways and airplanes opened up that territory.
However, today trucks are being taken off the road because they cannot pay for diesel fuel, airplanes are being grounded because of the price of fuel, etc. While what was once delivered via highways on trucks is now going from city to city via rail and then transferred to truck for final delivery. Why, because rail is the most efficient form of transportation..and thus the cheapest. Rail is gaining the 21st century status of transportation that green and renewable energy is getting for power.
Today, Buffalo is still the gateway between NYC/Boston and Chicago symbolized by the east/west facing liberty statues but in the 21st century Buffalo is the gateway to Canada (Niagara, Hamilton, St Catherines, Toronto).
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Buffalo21stcentury
Buffalo just cannot continue to put all its money into unfunded albany mandates, tamany hall party favors and backroom deals, patronage and unions.
Buffalo must invest in tomorrow.
Buffalonians have no idea how lucky they are to have even the smallest light rail. Rochester will NEVER get light rail and therefore Rochester will never get access to all those hundreds of millions of federal and state funds. Buffalo can!
Rochester will never have access to 6 million airport travelers! Buffalo does!
Rochester will never have access to Canada or to the 6-8 million visitors to Niagara Falls / Seneca Niagara Casino. Buffalo does!
Rochester will never have the Port or Rail capabilities that Buffalo has even though Buffalo does nothing to support the industry. Buffalo has great potential but it wont take the money away from politics, patrons and unions to fund investment.
Furthermore, the loss of population upstate has meant that downstate contols both the executive (Governor) and the legislative (assembly and senate) branches of government.
Transportation isnt just one way to build Buffalo.
Transportation is also a way to knit Buffalo and Rochester into a force that gets upstates agenda on the table in Albany.
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al-alo
heres a good piece of transportation history - it took less time to get from NYC to Bflo in the 1950's by rail then it does today.
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chris_h_23
How great would it be to put more emphasis on traveling by rail? I, for one, have never traveled by rail in my life but I tell you what, if they ran trains out of the terminal to places like NYC, Boston, Toronto or Cleveland you can bet that I would go. I have never been to NYC or Boston because the traffic freaks me out and I don't want to drive in it. Toronto at least has the PATH and you can find your way around everywhere but I would much rather ride then drive up there. Ahh to go back to the days of old where the terminal was so grand and so important to society........
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nick
Chris, you can get to Boston or NYC by rail, or by plane and not have to drive in the city. Both have fantastic light rail, subway and bus systems that allow you to get pretty much anywhere without having to drive. If not, take a cab and leave the driving to a "professional." Please don't let traffic stop you from visiting large American cities, its part of the mystique.
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mbhxam
just wondering...what's the difference between a commuter rail connecting roch and buffalo amd amtrak connecting the two?
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Jay
Every time I look to travel upstate or to NYC, Boston, Philly, etc. I always look to travel on trains first, but the prices for train tickets make it completely impractical. Even if the price was close I would do it, but it never makes any sense!
Chris H, I agree it would be my dream to travel to cities close to Buffalo via rail it would literally change are lives for the better. Traveling via rail is a great experience.
Parts of Germany have a great deal for rail travel. On weekends up to 5 people can travel on a train for one day at a cost of 30 euro. The all day pass is used by couples, friends, and families all the time to get out and explore new cities, go to parks, etc. You have no idea how greatly this impacts your quality of life. Its awesome!.....I would love to see amtrak even attempt something like this, say for upstate or new york state, even for 50 bucks for 5 people it would be worth it.
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RonR
IF, and it is a big IF, rail is ever going to happen it has to come from a multi state effort. Look at the Great Lakes compact. That is a perfect example of states in a region working together. The challenge is that compact does not really cost money. Connecting the NE would.
The state of Ohio already has the "Ohio Hub Plan":http://www2.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail/Ohio%20Hub/Website/ordc/index.html which is a great start. In the maps for this plan, it calls for the "Empire Corridor" which is a line that goes from Buffalo to NYC via Rochester and Cuse. They have also included a plan to connect Cleveland to Toronto via Buffalo as an extension of the Ohio Hub.
The challenge with these plans is they are separate and run by the state. The Empire Corridor has Buffalo being the last connection as it would go west from NYC via Albany. The Ohio Plan also has the Toronto via Buffalo connection being last. This is because both are run by the state capitols and Buffalo is in the worst position for those.
However, if a rail plan for the NE were to be done by a multi state effort, Buffalo would be considered the starting point. As one could assume, the benefits to jobs and housing value would only go up as connections are made. This is why it is imperative that IF rail is done, WNY does everything in its power to make it a regional effort to ensure it is not left with the leftovers so to speak.
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blackrocklifer
Took the train to Chicago and got right off and onto the city transit system. Convenient and easy making for a hassle free trip. Going out west on Amtrak was also a good time. Comfortable double decker cars and a nice club car made for a pleasant trip. Good quality meals were served in the dining car at reasonable prices. The mix of people made for many interesting conversations and the scenery was far superior to the interstate.
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RaChaCha
RubyOnRails, what a great idea - to use the successful Great Lakes (water) Compact as a model for a "Great Lakes Rail Compact".
I would love to be able to take the train more regularly between Buffalo and My Fair City, but as I mention above it's chronically late, infrequent, and half the time only services the Depew AmShack (not downtown).
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