PRESS RELEASE
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) welcomed the start of construction on a project continuing the return of cars to portions of Main Street in Buffalo. The funding was provided through the FY 2015 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. Congressman Higgins supported Buffalo’s application for the funding.
“The Cars Sharing Main Street project is creating new economic activity down the Main Street spine, from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus to Canalside, and throughout Downtown Buffalo,” said Congressman Higgins. “This project represents a substantial federal investment in our City, creating measurable results, and serves as a model for the difference infrastructure investments make in local economies.”
The federal grant will support work to return cars to lower Main Street from Exchange Street to Scott Street and a new Metro Rail track crossover between Scott and Perry. The total cost for this section of work is $22.5 million with state and local matching funding providing the balance after the $18 million federal contribution.
This project is the latest of several Cars Sharing Main Street phases which have received over $43 million in federal funding, backed by Higgins.
| Location on Main Street | Federal Allocation | Total Project Cost |
| 700 Block | $1,765,738 | $2,207,172 |
| 600 Block | $8,534,000 | $21,000,000 |
| 500 Block | $15,000,000 | $18,750,000 |
| Lower Main Street | $18,000,000 | $22,500,000 |
| TOTAL INVESTMENT | $43,299,738 | $64,457,172 |
Timeline:
- 2005: Congressman Higgins and other members of the federal delegation secured $6 million in funding for the Cars Sharing Main Street project though the federal highway bill (SAFETA-LU)
- 2007: Congressman Higgins pushed for a start to construction on the 700 block
- 2009: 700 block, between Goodell & Tupper, opens to two way traffic
- 2011: With the support of Congressman Higgins Cars Sharing Main Street is awarded $15 million through a federal TIGER III Grant
- 2012: Work begins on the 600 block (Theatre District) of Main Street
- 2013: With the support of the federal TIGER grant construction begins in May 2013 on the 500 block (Fountain Plaza) of Main Street
- 2014: In April Congressman Higgins writes to the US Department of Transportation in support of the City of Buffalo’s application for a new TIGER6-FY14 federal grant
- 2015: In January, Main Street’s 600 Block opens to vehicular traffic
- 2015: In May, Congressman Higgins writes to DOT supporting FY 2015 TIGER Grant application
- 2015: October, award of $18M in TIGER funding