BUFFALO, N.Y.--It isn't cheap for the NFTA to maintain all its light rail cars and its more than a dozen stations.

For example a new escalator at the Delavan Station carried a price tag of $1 million.

That's why members of the State Assembly have been pushing for state funding to help the NFTA make much needed cosmetic repairs.

For the first time the NFTA light rail got its own line in the state budget, and Monday it was awarded a $9 million state grant.

"In the past we have not been able to deliver dollars directly for light rail. We've been able to deliver dollars, but then they'd have to decide how to spend them. Now we've focused, kind of like how New York City focuses on MTA, we're focused on NFTA." said Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes. 

"This will allow us to invest in our track bed, you'll see areas that are in poor repair. So I believe you will see improvements that the riders will notice and you'll be able to appreciate," said NFTA director of public transit, Tom George. 

While repairs are important for improving accessibility and quality of service; maintaining the rail is essential to the NFTA's long-term goal of extending it.

Earlier this year the NFTA voted to okay $5 million dollars for environmental studies and the design for an extension into Amherst, but that money could go to waste if it can't secure the federal dollars to make the project a reality.

"One of the items the federal government looks at when they judge whether or not to invest in a system's expansion is the state of repair of the current system," said Assemblyman Sean Ryan. 

"So we need to maintain all our equipment at a high level of state of good repair which is something we report on to the federal government, but also show them we're in financial condition to continue to invest in the capital resources we have," said George.