2-way traffic on Main St. nears

With cars and two-way traffic poised to make its return to downtown Buffalo’s 700 block of Main Street, the focus is now shifting to two other areas in the central business district.

Under the “Cars Sharing Main Street” initiative — an urban development effort aimed at restoring vehicular traffic to downtown Buffalo — crews may start working simultaneously on the Theater District block between Tupper and Chippewa streets next summer as well a portion of lower Main Street near the Canal Side/Bass Pro area.

At the same time, design work will focus on the Fountain Plaza block of Main Street that runs between Chippewa and Huron streets. Construction on that block is at least two years away.

Downtown leaders, at Wednesday’s Buffalo Place Inc. board of directors monthly meeting, received the “Cars Sharing Main Street” initiative. Buffalo Place has been pushing for the return of vehicular traffic to the Main Street pedestrian mall has been a top priority for the downtown marketing and maintenance organization for the past 11 years.

The block-by-block project makes more sense than one sweeping project, officials said.

“We don’t want to tear up Main Street and make it look like it did 20 years ago,” said Michael Schmand, executive director, Buffalo Place Inc.

The construction of the Buffalo Place pedestrian mall and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority’s Metro Rail saw much of downtown Buffalo torn up during the first half of the 1980s. Many believe the $550 million project was one of the primary reasons for the demise of downtown retail.

The 700 block of Main Street, running between Goodell and Tupper streets, is in its final construction and landscaping phase. The $1.7 million project began last year.

When completed, the 700 block of Main Street will welcome two-way traffic for the first time in more than two decades. Two-way traffic for that block as well as Tupper Street between Pearl Street and the Kensington Expressway will be put into place by July.

“When people see the ‘700 block’ they will have a better understanding of what Main Street can look like,” said Paul Ciminelli, Ciminelli Development Cos. president and a Buffalo Place director.

The Theater District conversion is expected to cost approximately $6 million and is being funded through dollars secured by Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo.

The lower Main Street work carries a nearly $8 million development price tag and is being financed with state funds and some local matching dollars.