NFTA, BNMC, UB & partners launch Buffalo All Access pilot project

Introducing new transportation option for Western New York residents

Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Press Release & Graphic

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC), the University at Buffalo, and their partners announce the soft launch of the Buffalo All Access pilot project, an innovative transportation solution designed to make it easier for Western New York residents to travel around the region – with an emphasis on the neighborhoods around the medical campus. The new project introduces on-demand shuttle services enabled by a user-friendly mobile app, website, kiosks, and a call center – creating a more flexible, accessible way to connect to health care, jobs, grocery stores, and other community destinations.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s ITS4US deployment program, the Buffalo All Access program features:

•The Buffalo All Access digital platform: A mobile app, website, and centralized call center that helps users plan customized door-to-door trips based on individual needs, preferences and mobility considerations.

•On-demand shuttle service: A flexible, responsive shuttle program featuring both human-driven vehicles and an autonomous shuttle that bridges gaps in existing transit coverage.

•Smart infrastructure and wayfinding: Outdoor and indoor navigation technologies deployed on the medical campus and in transit hubs to support orientation, safety, and real-time directions. Indoor navigation is available at the Visually Impaired Advancement (VIA) and Buffalo General Medical Center (BGMC) buildings. Kiosks in the BGMC lobby and the NFTA Summer-Best Metro Station allow users to plan trips without needing a phone or computer.

Buffalo All Access is launching as a pilot program, with operations scaling up between January and May 2026 as the system is refined based on real-world use. Service levels will expand as more people use the system. The system will transition to long-term operations in May 2027.

NFTA Deputy Director of Public Transit Robert Jones, said, “We are delighted to lead this project for our city and beyond. This system connects our bus and rail network so that riders from across our region have better access and ease of movement.”

“All Access is the result of an incredible collaboration between community groups and public agencies working together,” said Jamie Hamann-Burney, chief strategy officer for BNMC. “We’re excited to open the program to the public and continue to help build a transportation system that better meets our community’s needs.”

Dr. Benjamin Cashaw, president of the Fruit Belt Coalition (aka Fruit of the City), said, “This new service will be invaluable for our residents – whether they need to get to an appointment, or pick up groceries, the door-to-door service Buffalo All Access provides will be a lifeline for many.”

VIA Project Integration Manager Ray Zylinski said, “The enhanced accessibility features on the Buffalo All Access system will ensure greater safety, while providing enhanced ease of movement for our VIA constituents and all who face accessibility challenges.”

Pilot shuttle service schedule

Two on-demand shuttle services will be phased into operation in February and March: The All Access loop and NFTA community shuttle. A map of the service area is included below. During the initial phase, shuttles will operate on the following schedule:

•All Access loop (scheduled service weekdays): 8-10:30 a.m. and 2:30-6 p.m.

The All Access loop shuttle service launched Feb. 2, connecting fixed stops with key destinations on and around the BNMC. This is the first fully automated on-demand bus deployed to the public in the country. It will be staffed at all times by a safety attendant who can take over manual driving. Shuttle operations are managed by ADASTEC, a company with automated bus deployments in Michigan and Europe, and a team of UB professors with expertise in transportation engineering, computer science, universal design and other fields, oversee its deployment. To ride the shuttle, one must book a shuttle trip through the Buffalo All Access mobile app.

•NFTA community shuttle (weekdays): 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

The NFTA community shuttle service will launch on March 2. This service allows riders to request pick-ups and drop-offs within the shuttle area during the midday hours, offering even more flexibility for appointments, errands, and work or school schedules, even to pick up lunch or groceries! To ride the shuttle, one must book a shuttle trip through the Buffalo All Access mobile app or through a kiosk at the BGMC lobby or Summer-Best Metro Station.

How to get started

Residents, employees, students and visitors to the campus, aged 18 or over, are encouraged to download the Buffalo All Access app and sign up to begin using the service. By signing up early, users will help shape the future of the service and transportation in Buffalo.

More information, including how to download the app and register, is available at: https://bnmc.org/transportation/buffalo-all-access/.

More about Buffalo All Access: Buffalo All Access is part of a concentrated effort to improve transportation access and mobility across Buffalo, with a focus on inclusivity, ease of use, and connections to essential services. The system brings together innovative technology and community-focused design to create a transportation structure that works for everyone. The initiative is led by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) in strategic partnership with BNMC and a collaborative network of stakeholders – including the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC), University at Buffalo, City of Buffalo, NITTEC, Kaleida Health, Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center, VIA, Heart of the City Neighborhoods, and the FruitBelt Coalition (aka Fruit of the City Inc.). Consultant partners for the project include ICF, ETCH, RSG, and the Open Doors Organization. The Buffalo All Access project is partially funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

More about NFTA: The NFTA is a regional, multimodal transportation authority responsible for airport and surface transportation in Erie and Niagara counties. NFTA businesses include a bus, rail, and ADA paratransit system, two commercial airports, and transportation centers in Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

More about Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus: BNMC brings people together to create positive social and economic impact within our community. We manage the premiere innovation district and economic engine of WNY, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, and are building an innovation ecosystem that focuses on breaking down barriers to a higher quality of life for all in our region. Today, we manage a 120-acre-plus urban innovation district that is home to over 200 public and private companies with over 16,000 employees that brings 1.5 million patients and visitors annually to our Buffalo district. Visit www.bnmc.org.