UB students explore feasibility of rapid transit line along Thruway

Environmental design students at UB are working with regional leaders this semester to conduct a feasibility study for an intercity, high-speed bus line along the New York State Thruway.

The concept for a rapid transit system connecting upstate New York metro areas from Buffalo to Albany is not new. However, the current study, sponsored by the Campaign for Greater Buffalo, would feature an articulated vehicle — as opposed to a rail line — that uses the thruway corridor as an existing right-of-way.

The capstone studio in the BA in Environmental Design program is taught by Jeffrey Rehler, adjunct instructor in urban planning. The final project will be a series of design and policy recommendations for the transit line. The Campaign for Greater Buffalo, which has also invited urban planning students from Cornell University to consider other aspects of the project, will incorporate the results into its overall feasibility study of the project.

In addition to improving travel time to the state capital, project leaders are seeking to increase transit integration with local networks across key upstate cities, including Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.

Recommendations will consider existing conditions in the project area, precedents and best practices in bus rapid transit, competing transit modes, and the social, economic and environmental implications of an upstate transit line.

Students will consider a range of BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) scenarios, including areas served, connections to other networks/modes, operational attributes, station design, vehicle design, corridor design and implementation considerations.