In the fall of 2007, Buffalo was selected to be one of the New York State Metropolitan Planning Organizations’ four Transit Supportive Development case studies. The case studies, each from a different corner of New York State, present varying challenges and opportunities that focus on centering future development around new and existing transit service.

The Buffalo case study addressed the question of how to best link two campuses of the University at Buffalo to each other, as well as to surrounding neighborhoods and downtown Buffalo. The university expects to grow by over 40% in the coming decades, and predicts that some 8,000 daily bus riders can be expected in the corridor between the South Campus, where the existing Metro light rail terminates, and the North Campus.

Preliminary analysis included data and on-the-ground research into current local ridership characteristics and travel demand as well as a stakeholder workshop, in which photo-simulations of various transit modes were presented for discussion.