Closing of train stop could be good for businesses
In an effort to bring vehicle traffic back to Main Street in downtown Buffalo, the NFTA closed its Metro Rail Theater Station. As YNN's Antoinette DelBel reports, it's causing some inconvenience for a few riders, but for businesses, it's a part of a plan they're welcoming.
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BUFFALO, N.Y. - The plan to bring cars back to Main Street in downtown Buffalo is starting to take shape.
As crews continue to do work along Main on Sunday night, Metro Rail's Theater Station, right in front of Shea's Theater, permanently closed.
"Now I have to get off at Fountain Plaza," said Lynette Trudeau of Buffalo.
Trudeau is disabled and has trouble walking. She says getting off at the next station a little more than 500 feet away, is an inconvenience.
"I have to walk maybe a block and a half longer because of it, and that makes a big difference for me," she said. "They're not thinking about the every day person who takes the trains."
Jon Ferlito of Buffalo works in an office right in front of the Theater Station. He says he doesn't mind the extra block and half walk from Fountain Plaza Station, but for others in his office, he says it makes it difficult.
"Some people in my office, they are older, so to walk that extra, it is hard on them, especially sometimes, it gets icy out here," said Ferlito.
While some businesses we spoke with say taking the stop away might be bad for business now, they say opening Main Street up to cars could be good for business in the long run.
"Since it's going to bring a little more traffic through the cars, hopefully it's going to bring a little more money to the area," said Jonthan Rolon-Cotto, the GM of Dunkin' Donuts on Main.
"It just creates traffic," said Antonio Calimano, the bar manager of Perfetto. "Either you have to park on Washington and then walk down this street and come through Main Street, or you park somewhere on Chippewa and then walk back, you can actually just drive through Main Street. More cars, it's more people."
Calimano says once that happens, Perfetto plans on having valet parking, a patio and outside seating.
"Overall, change is good," said Lori McVicar of Hamburg.
Construction crews say they will begin knocking down the East side of the Theater Station March 9.