Main Street Transit Construction Delays Ongoing in Buffalo

Downtown businesses should prepare for continued access shifts as the $60 million project continues through spring 2028.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Construction

Heavy machinery and exposed rail tracks sit within a cordoned-off urban construction zone on a city street. — Construction on Buffalo’s Cars Sharing Main Street project continues through 2028, impacting downtown business access and light rail transit schedules. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Cars Sharing Main Street project in Buffalo continues its final phase, with work now concentrated on the west side between Mohawk and Exchange streets. The nearly $60 million effort, which involves trackbed repairs and streetscape upgrades, is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2028.

Why it matters

Operators in downtown Buffalo face ongoing transit and pedestrian access adjustments as the long-term project shifts focus. The termination of contractor Greenway USA has specifically stalled progress on Church Street light rail stops, creating uncertainty for businesses relying on that infrastructure.

The Cars Sharing Main Street project carries a $60 million price tag funded by New York State. While the project is set to wrap in 2028, the termination of Greenway USA has left the Church Street light rail stop development status unresolved.

The players

NFTA

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is the regional public transit operator managing rail and bus services in Buffalo.

Greenway USA

A construction firm formerly contracted by the NFTA for the Main Street transit project.

The details

The project involves extensive street-level upgrades including new sidewalks, pedestrian-level lighting, and landscaping designed to integrate vehicular and rail traffic. Work is currently segmented between Mohawk and Exchange streets, requiring the NFTA to maintain single-tracking for above-ground trains to facilitate construction. The removal of the prior contractor has created a construction gap, particularly affecting the Church Street transit stop build-out.

April 2026: Construction began between Mohawk and Exchange streets.
Fall 2026: Expected resumption of Church Street light rail work.
Spring 2028: Expected completion of the project.

Market Landscape

This project aligns with broader New York State transportation funding programs aimed at multi-modal urban revitalization. It represents a shift from prior transit models toward street-level integration that follows the patterns of previous downtown infrastructure precedents in Buffalo.

Business owners in the corridor should monitor the Church Street stop timeline closely for changes in local foot traffic accessibility. The mid-2028 project completion date remains the primary anchor for local operational planning.

The takeaway

Operators must account for the extended timeline and the logistical uncertainty created by the contractor transition. Track upcoming NFTA procurement and project status notices to anticipate changes in transit-stop access near the Church Street site.