Biking in Buffalo just got another big boost. This time the biking good fortune is coming to Niagara Street, thanks to an investment upwards of $2.5 million for two revitalization projects on Niagara Street. Governor Cuomo made the announcement during a press event where he revealed that Greater Buffalo would be the recipient of $83.9 million – part of $2.25 billion secured for economic and community development projects in the state. The funds are part of Round V of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative and the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, according to GObike Buffalo.
This incredible news means that section(s) of Niagara Street will ultimately become a multi-modal corridor, friendly to both pedestrians and cyclists. GObike Buffalo described many of the changes and enhancements that we can expect to see (as part of the bicycle infrastructure master plan) in a recent posting. The advancements include, “traffic calming measures, universal access, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, milling/asphalt overlay, LED street lighting, smart traffic signal technology, and improved transit stations, as well as green street improvements including street trees and stormwater landscaping to reduce storm and combined sewer overflows.”
As for the rendering at the top of the page, Executive Director at GObike Buffalo Justin Booth explains, “It is a conceptual design to demonstrate what a protected bicycle lane on Niagara Street could be. Each Niagara Street section has many unique assets from buildings to neighbors, from commercial to residential to industrial. Because Niagara is such a long street, the cost to do it all at once was not feasible. The City deserves credit for working with the available funding and community to move it forward in phases. So Niagara from Niagara Square to Virginia is under construction. Niagara from Virginia up to Porter is designed and will be under construction next year. From there, North through Ontario, the design phase is getting underway with construction planned for 2017. The plan is there – to be protected bicycle lanes from Busti North to Ontario based upon the street width, volumes, etc.”
Photo credit: Cuomo’s office