Buffalo Essentials
- Pay with Transit app or Token Transit. Get a day pass.
- Rail is free within downtown.
- Transit app is accurate, except sections of rail that are under construction.
Traveled October 2024. Best recollection as of November 2024.
Payment
As I approached Buffalo, I read on their website that I should use the Token Transit, so I bought a day pass on that app. After arriving, the Transit app said I could pay in-app. Since I already had my day pass, I haven’t tried within the Transit app.
Token Transit worked fine, no issues. I got a day pass every day.
Similar to Pittsburgh, rail is free within downtown. Once you go far enough north, you’ll need to tap to get on/off.
Riding
Rail
The light rail is pleasant and efficient, once you’re aboard. The stations are large and have decent seating. There were a few characters around, but nothing too wild.
During my visit, there was construction, so the rail situation was a mess. There was one shared track for both directions downtown, and at the far southern end of downtown a single different train only went a few stops, then you had to transfer.
Also, I guess the citizens of Buffalo are just really tied to their cars, because cars can travel on the rail tracks within downtown. The tracks take up the entire street, and it would seem to make sense to just say “no cars, drive on the ample other roads nearby.” Instead, they have a complex system of gates that open and close to allow cars in when there aren’t trains. Cars then park on the sidewalk alongside the tracks.
You do you, Buffalo, I guess.
Bus
The buses ran well, and were clean and friendly, with accurate tracking on the Transit app. Frequency wasn’t amazing but wasn’t terrible. I’d recommend them.
Amtrak
Amtrak is pretty close to downtown, I took a bus to my hotel one way, and walked the other way. When you’re departing Buffalo via Amtrak, pay attention to the station attendants. They are very particular about which car you get onto.
