NFTA hears pleas for no bus cuts, more state funds

It was standing room only and then some inside the auditorium of the downtown Buffalo public library, where the NFTA hosted a public hearing on its proposed bus route cuts and fare increases that could take effect April 1.

Speakers called for saving their routes, which they rely on as their primary means of transportation.  Others are urging New York State to make as much as $10 million available to help address the NFTA's budget gap. 

Sam Magavern of the Partnership for the Public Good says he and his peers have already spoken to members of Governor Andrew Cuomo's regional economic development council, which will soon decide how to divide the $1 billion economic development gift in Cuomo's budget.  He told reporters that their mission to eliminate poverty, as well as the governor's mission to spur economic development, both come with a viable public transport system.

"Our partners are working on some of the key issues affecting our area like cutting pollution, reducing poverty, promoting good economic development," Magavern said.   "An adequate, comprehensive, affordable public transport system is absolutely key to all of those goals."

Magavern estimates up to 80-percent of NFTA passengers use the bus to get to their jobs, and a vast majority of those people do so because they do not own a car.  

The NFTA blames funding cuts for its woes.  Albany has provided $3 million in short term relief but Assemblyman Sean Ryan, in attendance, said he and other lawmakers need to be convinced the NFTA has fixed its problems before they are comfortable investing more.

"No one in our community will be untouched by these cuts.  I think if the NFTA is open to analysis and starts to think about how we can do things differently, then we'll be able to restore these cuts without a massive fare increase," Ryan said.