Having to stand in the rain and snow for a shuttle is reason enough for many UB commuters to wish for a better mode of transportation.
According to President John B. Simpson, plans are underway for a transportation system connecting all three campuses, from the downtown medical center to the North Buffalo campus to the Amherst grounds.
A proposed Light Rail Rapid Transit system, an idea proposed over thirty years ago, offers a possible solution.
Resurrecting the idea would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, according to The Buffalo News. The light rail system would require about $80 million per mile. The cost of using a proposed trolley system built by the NFTA would be $20 million per mile.
NFTA Chairman Gregory Stamm said that while he has no say on the decisions that will inevitably be made, he wants to do what is best for college students in Buffalo.
"We'll do anything in our power to service the needs of our students," Stamm said. "We would clearly run it (a trolley system) and do it well."
Choices also include a subway system, which would end up costing about $200 million per mile.
Though many planners support the establishment of a better transportation system, they do not necessarily agree on the method.
Robert Shibley, professor, founder and director of the School of Architecture's Urban Design Project, will accompany Simpson in studying the several possibilities for transit.
While an interim report is scheduled for release one year from now, Shibley said that any project would not become a reality for another few years.
"This is not going to affect the first generation of UB students," he said. "We're just beginning this exploration. It's always a cost-and-benefit question."
According to those involved in the organization of the inter-campus travel system, the city's Metro line is a failed attempt at what could be an economical and environmentally friendly transportation system.
Time, energy and the economy are big factors in connecting UB's campuses, according to Town of Amherst Supervisor Satish Mohan.
Mohan said that the local economy "needs to be able to handle" such a project, and planners need to give proper justification for such a costly endeavor. According to Mohan, evaluations and market surveys still need to be completed to get a more accurate view of what needs to happen.
"Mass transportation is the most desirable mode, rather than individual cars," he said. "In my opinion, a mini-bus system would be most economical."
According to Vice President of Student Affairs Dennis R. Black, the environment is another factor in a large transit system, and considerations include the possibility of higher or lower air pollution, and a dependence on fossil fuels.
"The hope would be that a link would be far better for the environment that thousands of cars and buses traveling back and forth each day," he said.
Black said that connecting UB's campuses would have a positive effect on the entire community.
"A stronger UB makes for a stronger region and the link could be good for everyone," Black said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
