Rachel Bailey
Priyadharshini Balan
Drew Canfield
Courtney Domst
Grace DeSantis
Jilong Li
Tyler Madell
Violet Perry
Andrew Schaefer
Julia White
Joshua Wilcox
Xieyang Xing

Ellen Parker

URP 581
Fall 2019

MUP

Twelve Master’s of Urban Planning students were part of a studio aimed at developing a vision for a new rail trail. This one-mile trail, called the Northeast Greenway, would be a much-needed link in Buffalo’s trail network connecting the existing North Buffalo and Tonawanda Rails to Trails with the off-road path that follows William L. Gatier Parkway.

The guiding goals and objectives for this project included harnessing community connections both physically through the design of trailheads and integration with existing transportation infrastructure. They also sought to promote a healthier neighborhood through active living and also a fully accessible trail for all types of potential users. In addition to promoting environmental health, we see the trail as a source of economic activation.

Planning studios are an opportunity for students to work collaboratively on solutions to real projects through partnerships with the community. This studio worked with Darren Cotton (MUP ‘10) and Stephanie Bucalo from the University District Community Development Association (UDCDA), a non-profit dedicated to community and housing development projects throughout South Campus’ backyard.

Building upon the successes of the North Buffalo Rails to Trails, which was brought to fruition through tireless community activism, the Northeast Greenway will continue the conversion of unused railroad corridors within Buffalo, creating a paved multi-use trail that is both a space for recreation and a travel corridor for bicyclists and pedestrians.

To be practical, the studio put forth a number of different routing proposals to overcome various challenges along the route. These challenges included crossing Main Street, navigating around a section of the former rail right of way that has been turned into backyards, and a crossing over East Amherst Street. The recommended route for the trail adheres to the route of the former rail right of way, calling for a new pedestrian crosswalk on Main Street and bridge to carry the trail over East Amherst Street. The trail will link together Shoshone, McCarthy, and Kevin Roberson Parks.

All of the students working in the studio had a diverse background and varying interests in planning, helping to create a very well rounded project proposal. Students specializing in Urban Design helped to create 3-D renderings of intersections and crosswalks in Sketchup. The Environmental Planning students led the development of innovative stormwater management measures along segments of the trail. Those interested in transportation planning helped the group navigate design standards for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

The community-engaged process will inform the engineering and design of the rail trail. This design can potentially take aspects of this report, adapted and expanded upon by the communityengagement process, and develop a detailed plan for the Northeast Greenway Initiative. Key engineering elements will include the construction of the multiuse trail and the potential installment of a prefabricated bridge at East Amherst Street.

Once the Northeast Greenway Initiative rail-trail is completed, it will offer a variety of recreational and educational opportunities. Community programming can include public events held on the right-of-way, community constructed art projects, partnerships with local businesses that offer benefits to employees that utilize the rail trail to commute to work, and partnerships with schools that can utilize the trail through physical education, hiking, science classes on green infrastructure, or ecology walks.