Central Terminal advocates see it as high-speed hub
Buffalo News 3-23-09
By Brian Meyer
News Staff Reporter
If high-speed railroad service becomes a reality between Western New York and other parts of the state, some East Side activists are lobbying to make Central Terminal the major hub.
Transforming the massive Art Deco landmark into a mixed-use complex that would accommodate fast-speed trains makes sense on several levels, they insisted Monday during a City Hall strategy session.
They said the terminal’s location only two miles from the downtown core, its abundant parking and its existing rail infrastructure make it an ideal site as officials eye plans for spending federal stimulus money on high-speed rail corridors. There’s talk of linking the Buffalo region with Albany and New York City via trains that travel at 110 mph.
It’s an exciting vision that could help revitalize the East Side while preserving an architectural icon, said Central Terminal Restoration Corp. President Michael Miller.
“As you restore the terminal, you could also rent out space for hotels, residential and grade A office space,” he said.
More than 70 special events have been held at Central Terminal in recent years as activists continue with restoration efforts.
Its location on Paderewski Drive makes it perfect as a rail hub between Buffalo and points east, including Albany and New York, said Mark Lewandowski, the group’s vice president.
“There’s a reason Central Terminal was built where it was,” said Lewandowski, a railroad enthusiast who was raised in the neighborhood.
A high-speed rail line could easily be extended to Buffalo Niagara International Airport and even to the Walden Galleria, Lewandowski added.
Demolishing the 523,000- square-foot terminal would cost between $10 million and $20 million, according to studies, and some believe the remaining land would be virtually worthless. A total renovation could be done for $50 million to $100 million, and preservationists said they’re confident federal funds and outside grants could be snared.
The Common Council has already unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the terminal’s use as a prime station for any high-speed rail initiative. Bill sponsor David A. Franczyk noted that $8 billion in federal stimulus aid has been approved for high-speed rail projects nationwide, with an additional $1 billion per year budgeted for each of the next five years. He disagrees with those who suggest that such a link between Buffalo and Albany is a “pipe dream,” and he’s working with terminal advocates to build support.
Mayor Byron W. Brown also thinks Central Terminal would be a good location for a high-speed rail hub, he told The Buffalo News on Monday.
Letters are being sent to the area’s state and congressional delegations, Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Gov. David A. Paterson.
What other project, asked Franczyk, would advance so many critical priorities, including energy conservation, historic preservation, neighborhood revitalization and perhaps even tourism?
“Isn’t this a perfect blend of factors?” he asked during Monday’s meeting.
Both Franczyk and Brown said it would be misguided if high-speed trains ended up using Buffalo’s tiny Amtrak station on Exchange Street as a hub.
“That would be absolutely ridiculous,” said the mayor.
bmeyer@buffnews.com
