BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Niagara Frontier Transit Authority plans to cut bus routes starting Feb. 13 as a result of a driver shortage.

What You Need To Know

  • The NFTA announced it will be cutting some bus routes starting Feb. 13 amid a driver shortage
  • A spokesperson for the NFTA said this is temporary
  • Riders said while this is an inconvenience, it is better to know ahead of time that buses are not on certain routes

“We have to do something to ease that and provide a liability for our riders, and this was the best solution,” said Helen Tederous, NFTA director of public affairs. "We’re trying very hard to make sure that this is an easement. We’re not going to leave people stranded high and dry.”

Tederous said they are cutting eight of 12 express routes, primarily from the suburbs to downtown, where there are other modes of transportation to take its place.

In the meantime, she said the NFTA will be boosting its recruitment efforts, offering a $500 referral bonus internally and hosting open houses. The starting wage for a driver is $17 an hour, but riders said the NFTA should prioritize reopening these bus routes and increase starting pay to get people back on the road.

“I’m just really upset that, again, bus riders are being asked to live with less," said Simon Husted, a member of Buffalo Transit Riders United. "Because it’s been a constant theme we’ve seen."

Tederous said this measure is temporary until the NFTA can be fully staffed.

For more information about affected routes, click here.