Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) is the public agency that runs most public transportation in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. It oversees several subsidiaries, including the NFTA Metro bus and rail system, the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, the Niagara Falls International Airport, and the NFTA Small Boat Harbor.

The NFTA Metro system uses many kinds of vehicles, including diesel buses, diesel-hybrid buses, CNG buses, light rail, and cut-away vans. It is known by several names: NFTA Metro Bus, NFTA Metro Rail, NFTA Metrolink, and NFTA PAL (Para-transit Access Line). In 2025, the system had 16,262,500 riders, or about 61,400 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2026.

The NFTA also owns and manages many properties. Its headquarters is the Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center in downtown Buffalo. Other properties include the Niagara Falls Transportation Center on Factory Outlet Boulevard, the Portage Road Transit Center in Niagara Falls, and a number of bus loops and transit centers across the Buffalo Niagara region. Many of these bus loops have been in continuous operation since the days of the International Railway Company, a predecessor to the NFTA.

The NFTA employs 1,500 full-time and part-time workers. It works through three business centers. Surface Transportation handles ground transportation throughout Erie and Niagara counties. Aviation handles air travel business at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport and the Niagara Falls International Airport. Property Risk/Management runs the NFTA Boat Harbor and handles other properties owned or operated by the NFTA.

"NFTA" redirects here. For other uses, see NFTA (disambiguation).

History

See also: International Railway (New York-Ontario)

Before the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority was created, the first bus service in Buffalo started in 1923 under a private company called the International Bus Company. The International Railway Company, which was part of the same parent company as the International Traction Company, ran a large network of streetcar routes in Erie and Niagara counties. In 1947, the proposed Niagara Frontier Rapid Transit Commission took ownership of the International Railway Company, which declared bankruptcy. This led to the creation of the Niagara Frontier Transit System, which was incorporated in 1950.

In 1967, the Niagara Frontier Transit System was replaced by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Corp. (NFTA). This was part of New York State's efforts in the late 1960s and early 1970s to create public agencies that would oversee public transportation in several key urban areas of the state. Other such agencies include the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA), the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro), and the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA). In 1974, the NFTA bought the street transportation rights from several other agencies, beginning with the Niagara Falls Municipal Transit System on September 8. It then bought D&F (Dunkirk and Fredonia) Transit on September 15, T-NT (Tonawanda-North Tonawanda) Transit on October 7, Lockport Bus Lines on March 15, 1975, and Grand Island Transit on April 20, 1975. The NFTA's administrative offices and buses were kept in the former Niagara Frontier Transit Buildings at 855 Main Street until 1977. At that point, the offices moved to the Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center.

Governing body and executive director

The NFTA is run by a 12-member Board of Commissioners, and the executive director reports to the board. The Governor of the State of New York nominates the members, and the Erie County Executive chooses two of them. Most members serve five-year terms, though some have been appointed partway through a term to replace a earlier commissioner.

Airports Division

See also: Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Niagara Falls International Airport

Metro Division

Main article: NFTA fleet

Main article: List of NFTA Metro bus routes

Main article: Buffalo Metro Rail

Main article: Citizens Regional Transit Corporation

The NFTA's Metro system serves the busy city areas of Erie County and Niagara County throughout the day, along with some suburban and rural areas. The cities it serves include Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Lockport, Lackawanna, Tonawanda and North Tonawanda. The NFTA runs about 310 buses, all low-floor and wheelchair-accessible and ADA compliant. It also has 64 paratransit and Metrolink cutaway vans and 27 light rail cars. These run up to 22 hours a day on 78 routes. Some buses come from Nova Bus and Gillig. Each bus route has its own timetable, which is usually updated four times a year. Service may be reduced when Buffalo Public Schools are on break.

The Metro system connects with other transportation in the region. Bus routes link to the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport and the Niagara Falls International Airport. The Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center is a stop for Greyhound and Coach USA buses. Many local colleges, including Erie Community College, Buffalo State University, Canisius College and Bryant and Stratton Business College, take part in a program that gives students passes for Metro service. The Metro Rail light rail line opened on May 20, 1985, and has 13 stations along its 6.4-mile (10.3-km) route. The Citizens Regional Transit Corporation has pushed for funding to extend the line.

Properties Division (stations/garages/barns)

The NFTA Properties Division manages the facilities that the NFTA owns and runs. These include many bus loops and suburban transit centers, the Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center, the Niagara Falls Transportation Center in the Town of Niagara, office buildings, and bus maintenance garages. All buses are stored at four maintenance terminals, including the South Park Terminal. Several older depots are no longer in use.

Most buses that travel to the city centers go to or near a few transportation centers. Suburban transit centers, often located on shopping center properties, let passengers switch between routes in one place. Some Metro Rail stations have bus loops, and others use curbside boarding on nearby streets. Many bus loops were first built for the International Railway's streetcars to turn around in. The International Railway Company was the main earlier company behind the Niagara Frontier Transit System and, later, the NFTA.

Union representation

The NFTA works with many unions that represent its different employees. As of 2008, there are 13 unions that negotiate contracts with the NFTA. The largest is the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents the drivers of the NFTA Metro division. Its branch is called Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1342.

The International Longshoremen's Association represents service and maintenance workers at several NFTA locations, including the Buffalo Niagara International Airport and the Port of Buffalo. Its branch is called the International Longshoremen's Association, Local 1949. Members of the NFTA Police force are represented by the NFTA Police Benevolent Association.