The City of Buffalo has released its new Bicycle Master Plan. The announcement was made as bike enthusiasts stood along a section of the recently completed $1.7 million North Buffalo Rail-to-Trails (see image below). The cycling community has been eagerly awaiting news of the City’s forward-thinking advancements pertaining to additional bike lanes and overall connectivity. The community played a significant role in advancing many of the features laid out in the plan.
Mayor Brown stated, “There are many reasons to promote bicycle ridership in Buffalo and the city’s new Bicycle Master Plan will serve as our blueprint to providing an even safer and more connected bicycle network citywide that will improve safety, public health and quality of life for our citizens. It is also a plan that promotes bicycling infrastructure for the benefit of all city residents. As Buffalo continues its significant growth by focusing on being a City of Opportunity, I thank the project team and stakeholders for sharing my commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity by weaving those core values into this new plan from start to finish. The result is a final report that provides our city with the tools it needs to serve the diversity that exists and is growing in neighborhoods citywide.”
The plan includes the following:
- Addition of 10 miles of facilities per year
- Buffalo will have added over 90 miles of new bicycle facilities by the end of 2016
- The goal is to reach 150 miles by 2018
- Propel Buffalo from a Bronze level bicycle friendly community to a Silver
- In 2016, bicycle facilities will be added along Niagara Street, Pearl Street, and Kenmore Avenue
- Also, bicycle lanes on Forest Avenue (from Delaware to Elmwood), S. Elmwood (from Virginia to Niagara), Carolina Street (from Niagara to Tupper) and Parkridge Avenue (from Winspear to E Amherst)
“A well-connected bicycle infrastructure network will improve the safety, environment, public health, and quality of life for residents, visitors, and businesses,” stated Justin Booth, Executive Director of GObike Buffalo. “A bicycle friendly Buffalo will be a more affordable, economically competitive, and a sustainable city creating a much stronger backbone of cultural, historical, natural, economic and community assets that can further propel Buffalo along its path of revitalization.”
Funds for the this plan were derived from the Department of Transportation and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), as well as matching funds from the City of Buffalo.
The Bicycle Master Plan for the City of Buffalo was funded in part by New York State through a collaborative agreement between the Department of Transportation and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and through matching funds provided by the City of Buffalo.
“Governor Andrew Cuomo knows that a sound transportation system encourages economic growth and community well-being,” New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll said. “With that in mind, we have been pleased to support the development of a new bicycle master plan for the City of Buffalo, a blueprint that will help improve mobility, increase traffic safety and enhance the quality of life for everyone who lives, works and travels in the city.”
NYSERDA President and CEO John B. Rhodes said, “This project is another step in helping the State reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourages a healthier and active lifestyle. I applaud the City of Buffalo’s commitment to becoming a bicycle-friendly city to preserve the environment for future generations. The Master Plan will not only help current cyclists to better move around the city but makes room for hundreds more to enjoy this activity and even bike to work, taking even more cars off our roads.”
GObike Buffalo: Administered the project
Alta Planning + Design: Project consulting team
Local partners: Mustard Seed and Wendel Duchscherer
