BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The NFTA and City of Buffalo Department of Works responded Tuesday to complaints that snow buildup has led to altered bus routes.

Brenda Easley Webb, a Buffalo resident, told us she hadn't been able to take the bus to work for several weeks because she can't walk the several blocks to the temporary bus route. 

NFTA metro bus routes number 3 Grant and 12 Utica have been re-routed for several weeks because snowbanks are narrowing the streets.

"Especially the one-way streets," said C. Douglas Hartmayer, the NFTA public affairs director. "Let's try to visualize this.

"You have the operator of the car, the driver, who because he has to get out on the curbside has to now encroach toward the middle because the snow and ice leave him no choice. Then you have the car on the other side that does the same thing. You literally have one lane going down those streets for a car. A bus cannot navigate down those streets."

A lack of thaw has compounded the problem.

The NFTA said they've been in constant contact with Buffalo DPW crews since they originally re-routed the buses.

"There are certain streets that are more challenging; Plymouth, Normal, Erie Hampshire, Chenango, Baynes, Herkimer, certain parts of Delavan. Now, it isn't all sections of that street. It could just be portions of it, but if you can't get that 40-foot bus a portion of that street, well then, you can't run that route," said Hartmayer.

"We send supervisors out there on a daily basis, and we check each and every one of these streets to make a determination that it's safe. Then we'll bring a bus out to make sure it is okay, and then we will reinstitute the normal service."

After Time Warner Cable News reached out Monday, the NFTA Service Planning Department sent an e-mail to Buffalo DPW about the streets in question. Cityspokesperson Mike DeGeorge said this is the only written communication DPW has received about the issue, and it only happened after DPW reached out the NFTA.

"They'll look at it and address it as soon as possible. We've got a great relationship with the city. They do a wonderful job. They've got a Herculean task ahead of them. We work very closely with them and I know they're doing the best they can. This has just been a very problematic winter," said Hartmayer.

Buffalo DPW crews have been given the list of problematic streets and are looking into the issue. The city spokesperson said if they need to do something to widen the streets, they will.

NFTA officials say there are temporary re-route signs up, but riders should always double check the schedule and any changes to it on their website.