Central New York bus travelers might be a little closer to a Bus Rapid Transit system that’s been in the works for years. Centro is receiving a federal grant of $9 million dollars to buy low-emission buses that will serve the express bus routes. The nine buses will have a unique design so riders can easily identify them. The BRT system is designed around having faster travel times and more frequent buses along specific corridors that can serve workers. CENTRO CEO Christopher Tuff is working on special bus stops that are part of the planning.
“One thing we've heard through our our outreach on the system redesign is people are willing to walk a little bit further for higher frequency," said Tuff. "So in this case, we're spacing them out (bus stops) anywhere between 1/4 and a half a mile apart on the stops along the curb. That will then allow people to walk to those locations and then hop on those buses.”
Congress Member John Mannion helped secure the grant. He says the continued planning and implementation of the BRT system is important to the successful economic development of the area.
“This investment also aligns directly with the reimagining of I-81 and the Community grid as we rebuild and maintain our transportation network, transit has to be modern, accessible, flexible, and connected to the neighborhoods and institutions that make the city and region Work and BRT is a key part of that,” Mannion said.
Mannion adds the BRT system will help people get to work, to school, to medical appointments, shopping and family. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has been an advocate of BRT. He calls it essential if everyone is going to benefit from the area’s growth.
“Approximately 25% of city residents don't have access to a private vehicle, so they rely on public transportation to get where they need to go, whether it's to work or to school, or just to go for groceries," said Walsh. "So again, BRT is critical to that, which is why it's been a priority as part of our Syracuse search initiative, which is our strategy for inclusive growth in the new economy.”
The Rapid Transit bus routes are part of a larger redesign of the entire CENTRO system that includes route changes, eliminating some lesser traveled routes, and increasing frequency of others. The BRT system is expected to be up and running in 2028.
