AUTHORITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
NFTA Announces Results of Paratransit Expansion Study
BUFFALO, N.Y.- As part of its ongoing strategy to continuously improve Paratransit Access Line (PAL) service, NFTA-Metro will present initial findings and recommendations of a recently completed study that is the result of a comprehensive review of our paratransit service. The objective was to examine how the service can be improved. The consultants worked with our customers, operators, controllers, mechanics and managers and issued reports characterizing our existing system and service in detail and comparing it to peers.
Preliminary findings will be presented to stakeholders at public meetings this week on Tuesday and Wednesday about potential improvements to NFTA’s paratransit service and the estimated cost of those enhancements.
We are pleased to announce that some preliminary findings will be rolled out at public sessions include specific recommendations.
Key Improvements:
- In the short term, NFTA is proposing to expand and simplify existing PAL service hours and offer customers a uniform core service area
- Replace 20 PAL vehicles with new vans
- Increase suburban service
The NFTA is excited that some of the preliminary findings recommend initiatives that can be quickly achieved in a cost affordable way to immediately improve the paratransit experience for our customers, and that will be our immediate focus. The long-term challenges highlighted in the study present obstacles that need further discussion and analysis, and we will be discussing next steps with all of our stakeholders. The comprehensive study was made possible by funding from New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, former state senator now Congressman Tim Kennedy and the entire Western New York delegation.
The NFTA invites the public to attend the two upcoming public meetings, the virtual meeting on September 24, 2024, at 1 p.m. and a meeting at Schiller Park Senior Center, 2057 Genesee Street, Buffalo, on September 25, 2024, at 6 p.m.
Both meetings will include a brief presentation about the paratransit study, describe recommendations for increasing the times when PAL service operates, and present consultant findings on the costs and next steps for expanding the area of PAL service. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the consultant’s findings. Current PAL riders, residents of Erie and Niagara counties who have unmet transportation needs, caregivers, and advocates are encouraged to attend this important meeting.
Information on how to participate is available at nftametroparatransitstudy.com or by calling Sam Gallivan, Project Planner, at 716- 855-7224. A sign language interpreter will be present at both meetings and a call-in option will be available for the virtual meeting on September 24th.
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