Connect Niagara, county's new and improved bus service, set to roll in May

Robert Creenan |, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, N.Y.
·2 min read

Mar. 2—Niagara County residents who use the Rural Niagara Transportation bus service can expect to see a lot of changes this year.

In February, the county legislature approved rebranding of the county-run service as Connect Niagara, in concert with a series of improvements and a new marketing effort.

"We're looking to reenergize our bus system," said Daniel Quinn, the confidential assistant to the county Commissioner of Public Works.

The county is shooting for May 1 for the rebranding to take effect. Other changes include new bus graphics, a new webpage, new brochures and modified bus routes.

The Department of Public Works, which operates the service, intended to address issues including declining ridership, poor coverage and low brand visibility.

The Rural Niagara Transportation system currently has four circular routes, all starting and ending at Niagara County Community College. The routes reach from Niagara Falls and communities along the Niagara River in the west to Middleport in the east.

As part of rebranding, existing routes will be altered, and one route added, so that there are more stops in areas previously not served. The new stops will include Lockport Town Hall, the village of Barker and Center Street in Lewiston. Quinn said the buses will still stop at other destinations like NCCC, Fashion Outlets Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Ransomville and Wilson.

The routes "will have different starting points and end points," Quinn said, and buses will travel them more frequently, so that riders can get back on the same bus within two to three hours versus four to five hours.

The same buses will be used, albeit with changed exterior detailing. The vehicles, which are white now with "Rural Niagara Transportation" spelled out in black lettering, will get color and graphics that make them more eye-catching.

Fares will remain the same: $2 for on-route stops and $4 for off-route stops.

The rebranding process has been in the works since two public hearings were held in Lockport and Niagara Falls last summer. Quinn said the public reception of the Connect Niagara plan

Niagara County Rural Transportation is working with Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) to allow transfers between the bus services without additional fees, Quinn added.