ECHDC board approves free shuttle service at Canalside

Shuttle will run during peak summer season, including Erie Canal bicentennial commemoration at Canalside

Submitted by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. board of directors met Monday and authorized ECHDC to enter into a contract with The Cedar Bus Co. for a free shuttle service at Canalside starting Memorial Day weekend. ECHDC is projecting a higher amount of foot traffic and vehicles at Canalside and surrounding area this season, based on projections obtained from the EC2025 marketing campaign, and additional programming that will be offered to coincide with the Erie Canal bicentennial commemoration.

“With an exciting 2025 summer season being planned, we are thrilled to offer a Canalside shuttle starting in May to ease parking worries, improve accessibility and help visitors enjoy all Canalside has to offer,” ECHDC Chairperson Joan Kesner said. “Under Gov. Hochul’s leadership, we are looking forward to marking the historic 200th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal in Buffalo with the launch of the ‘Waterway of Change’ exhibit, as well as many other activities for families at the waterfront. Thanks to ECHDC President Mark Wendel and his staff, along with the entire board of ECHDC, we are committed to bringing more programs to our waterfront and making the waterfront accessible for all to enjoy.”

As part of the commemoration, ECHDC has commissioned a new free, timed-admission, interactive exhibit telling the history of the Erie Canal titled “The Waterway of Change” in the Longshed building. This exhibit extends onto the towpaths of the replica canals once the sun sets to also become a nighttime light experience. Additionally, Canalside will be the homebase for two large conferences: the World Canals Conference, which will welcome international visitors; as well as The National Maritime Conference. During this commemoration and introduction of new attractions to Canalside, there are also ongoing construction projects in and around Canalside that require the closure of select streets and sidewalks that would typically be accessed by visitors.

Planned shuttle operating hours are:

√ Spring (abbreviated hours; May 23 – June 22: weekends only)

√ Summer (June 23 – Sept. 1: Late summer – abbreviated hours; Sept. 5-21: weekends only)

The shuttle will operate on a fixed route covering key locations between parking lots surrounding Canalside and attractions within the Canalside property. Additional stops may be added based on demand and accessibility needs. The shuttle will run on a constant route loop, estimating the pickup at each location to be every 15 minutes. Clearly marked pickup and drop-off points will be established with Buffalo Waterfront signage. The shuttle will be ADA-compliant, accommodate passengers with accessibility needs, and have a seating capacity of 16 persons per shuttle. Cedar Bus Co. also has the capability to add a second shuttle, if needed.

Sign up at www.eriecanalturns200.com and follow social channels for all information and updates. The website will have all shuttle information, including route and schedule, information on how to get free tickets to the interactive exhibit opening Memorial Day weekend inside the Longshed, and the full season of bicentennial-related programming.

The $248,500 contract with The Cedar Bus Co. will cover fees and expenses through Sept. 27, 2026. Funding for this contract is from the New York Power Authority, through relicensing agreements tied to the operation of the Niagara Power Project.

The ECHDC board also approved these two actions:

•Authorized a tenant lease agreement for Be Our Guest LTD to occupy 1,950 square-feet of the third-floor office space in the Gateway Building. As Canalside continues to move forward with building development and public space planning, ECHDC asked its public space and facilities operator to consider leasing space in the new Gateway Building. This gives the operator a central location to manage and service the buildings and outdoor venue that are within its current contract. The initial lease will be for five years with a renewal option for an additional five years. The base rent starts at $16 per square foot, plus utilities. A recent independent appraisal identified the fair market lease rate to be $15-$16 per square foot annually.

•Approved ECHDC’s $45,213,682 capital and $1,445,584 operating budgets for the 2025-26 fiscal year.