Real Goblin

The Unprecedented Times –

September 7 / 2023

On July 8th, 2023, a map appeared on Reddit. 

Posted by u/4lmeme, the Fantasy NFTA Metro and Commuter Rail (V2) is a vision of what we could have. And what a beautiful vision it is. 4lmeme’s metro proposal expands on the limitations of the NFTA’s existing rail system in Buffalo. The single, Main Street line branches into a rainbow web of convenience. Rails would extend throughout Buffalo, from the East side to the Niagara Street. The Central Terminal would be utilized as a rail station. Residents of Hamburg could board a train to Niagara Falls. The thought of it all makes my mouth water.

A Buffalo rail system was first proposed in a 1973 Metro report, which detailed possible extensions to Tonawanda and Amherst after the initial rail project was complete. Construction began in 1979 as other similar sized cities did the same across the United States. That vision was never fully realized. As the years of construction went on, Buffalo’s population declined following the loss of much of the city’s industry. The Main Street rail was eventually completed, but the planned extensions dreamed up by the original designers were never realized. 

And now here we are: 2023. An Amherst extension is undergoing an environmental review. Buffalo is finally fighting off the population decline that has plagued many Rust Belt cities. An Amherst line has a lot of potential. The mere fact that a plan like this is set to go through is thrilling. It is a mark of Buffalo’s resurgence. And yet, there are those who choose to stand in the way.

On July 5th, WGRZ published a story on a group who stands in opposition to the metro expansion. A smattering of yellow lawn signs can be found along Niagara Falls Boulevard that read “No to Metro”. Since then, WGRZ has given voice to these NIMBYs, who vehemently oppose an improved metro system. You may ask yourself, “who would be opposed to public transportation?” Well, the answer is suburbanites. 

In case you were wondering what the average age of these individuals might be, look no further than their website, which appears to have been designed by someone who hasn’t used the internet since 2005. The WGRZ article cites some of the concerns, all of which are inconsequential. The problem is simple: selfishness. Concerns over property values and road congestion are unfounded. Access to public transportation increases property value. A rail extension would decrease road congestion. The article quotes a resident who opposes the project. She was concerned about emergency services due to a medical condition she has that makes her unable to walk without assistance. Again, traffic congestion would be decreased by a project like this. More baffling and telling of the opposition was her second concern. She stated: 

“They got to blow their horn coming out of the tunnel, they got to blow their horn going into the tunnel.”

Let me recap. The NFTA hopes to invest in a project that would connect thousands of college students to Buffalo’s downtown via public transportation. This is a project 50 years in the making. And it’s one that will have a lasting impact on the lives of people in the City of Buffalo for years to come. This local resident is concerned about the horn.

You don’t get to complain about increased traffic in your area when you already live on one of the most traveled roads in a 10 mile radius. These people don’t take issue with a hypothetical horn. Firstly, you already hear those on a daily basis from the ignorant drivers who blindly merge all over the Boulevard. Second, the metro rail is actually quite quiet. It maintains a relatively low speed above ground and is a much softer alternative to something like the NYC subway. 

Change is a good thing, despite what some of the older, more entrenched suburbanites in the surrounding towns might think. I implore these people to take a step back and observe this situation outside of their own body for a moment. In 10 years, when the metro rail is up and running, many of these people will be gone, be it mentally, physically or spiritually. 

Consider this a voice in support of the metro rail.