Council to vote on changes to unanimously approved ordinance in special meeting
Mayor Paul A. Dyster announced Wednesday he signed into law a new traffic ordinance unanimously approved the Niagara Falls City Council on Monday. He further stated his proposal to request two technical amendments to the ordinance.
Developed in cooperation with New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the ordinance contains language to define what constitutes a motor coach bus and outlines designated curbside locations for those motor coach buses to pickup and drop off of passengers in an effort to alleviate traffic congestion in the downtown area.
Dyster's proposed amendments would increase the number of seats in a vehicle to be considered a motor coach bus from 18 to 36 or more; and update existing language that excludes vehicles operated by the NFTA from the definition of motor coach bus to also exclude from that definition operators of public transit such as the Discover Niagara Shuttle. Those vehicles with a capacity of fewer than 36 seats would not be included in the definition of motor coach bus.
"My administration has been working in cooperation with New York State Parks to address the growing traffic issue in downtown Niagara Falls, one that in many respects could be viewed as a good problem to have," Dyster said. "However, with record numbers of visitors traveling to the City of Niagara Falls in recent years, the traffic gridlock created by motor coach buses creates a potential public safety hazard and economic detriment to nearby restaurants and businesses. These proposed amendments will help to ensure a safe and equitable environment for visitors and those in the transportation industry as we continue to work toward a more permanent solution to address this issue in the future."
Designated curbside locations include the following:
- East and west sides of 2nd Street, between Niagara Street and Ferry Ave;
- South side of Niagara Street, between 5th and 7th streets;
- North side of Rainbow Boulevard between 5th Street and John B. Daly Boulevard
The ordinance will take effect May 1 through Sept. 30 of each year.
