Category: Commuting

NFTA and GBNRTC Receive Federal Contract to Improve Transportation Options for Older Adults, People With Disabilities, and Those with Low Incomes.

by Maria Morrealein Allentown, Amenities, Buffalo, Campus-wide, Community, Commuting, Electric Vehicle, Environment, Fruit Belt, Infrastructure, Neighbors, Technology

New Video Will Provide More Information for Users

Buffalo, New York – Buffalo All Access: In and around BNMC, a new initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) under the ITS4US Deployment Program, will use technology to improve transportation options for travelers in and around the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC), regardless of ability, age, or income. The initiative aims to make it easier for people of all abilities to utilize public transit and access the many essential services and destinations on and around the medical campus. The initiative focuses on providing:

  • An All Access App: a mobile app, website (https://bnmc.org/allaccess), and call center for people to plan trips based on their unique needs and abilities.
  • A Shuttle Program: an on-demand community shuttle that includes both human-driven shuttles and a self-driving shuttle.
  • Smart Infrastructure: wayfinding technologies on the medical campus that assist people who need support with both outdoor navigation and indoor navigation (inside VIA and the Buffalo General Medical Center). 

The project is led by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) in partnership with BNMC, the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC), the University at Buffalo (UB), City of Buffalo, NITTEC, Kaleida Health, Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center, VIA, Heart of the City Neighborhoods, and FruitBelt Coalition, Inc. aka Fruit of the City. Consultant partners on the project include ICF, ETCH, RSG, and the Open Doors Organization. The project team has just produced an overview video that showcases more details about this project.  For more information, please watch the video on the website (https://bnmc.org/allaccess/).

Speaking about the project, Jamie Hamann-Burney, Director of Planning & Implementation for BNMC, said: “The lack of safe and inclusive trip planning and travel options for people of all abilities can be a major barrier to employment, healthcare, and other quality of life essentials in our community.  We’re thrilled to be a part of this initiative that will help break down these barriers.”

The ITS4US Deployment Program (https://its.dot.gov/its4us/) is a $40 million multimodal effort, led by the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office (JPO) and supported by the Office of the Secretary, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration, to identify ways to provide more efficient, affordable, and accessible transportation options for underserved communities that often face greater challenges in accessing essential services.

The U.S. DOT launched Phase 1 of the program in January 2021 and supported the concept development efforts of select sites, including Buffalo All Access. In June 2022, Buffalo All Access was selected to continue Phases 2 and 3 of the program, which includes the design, testing, operation, and evaluation of the deployment.

About Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus  

For more than twenty years, The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus organization (BNMC) has been a driving force of Buffalo’s economic renaissance. Throughout its management of the growth of Buffalo’s premier innovation district, the BNMC has foregrounded smart economic, social, and environmental development, prioritizing health & well-being and sustainability. Today, the BNMC is focused on the next phase of Buffalo’s ongoing resurgence, cultivating inclusive innovation in partnership with our community. BNMC launched its flagship program, IC Success in 2021 to provide support to aspiring entrepreneurs from all backgrounds to help them start or grow a business. Program graduates form the heart of Buffalo’s growing Innovation Community comprised of businesses large and small in an array of disciplines and leading the region’s next wave of economic development and growth. BNMC  www.bnmc.org. 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Adriana Viverette

Digital Communications Manager

Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

640 Ellicott, Buffalo, NY 14203

(716) 348-4126 aviverette@bnmc.org

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BNMC & Partners Awarded up to $8.2 Million to Improve Transportation Access.

by Maria Morrealein Collaboration, Commuting, Innovation, News

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has selected the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BMNC) as one of five U.S. locations to pilot the Complete Trip – ITS4US Deployment Program.  The Complete Trip – ITS4US Deployment Program challenges communities to identify ways to provide more efficient, affordable, and accessible transportation options for underserved populations that often face greater challenges in accessing essential services.

Continue reading “BNMC & Partners Awarded up to $8.2 Million to Improve Transportation Access.”

Take the GoBNMC Commuter Survey Today!

by BNMCin Biking, Community, Commuting, Electric Vehicle, Parking, Transportation

GoBNMC Commuter Survey

The BNMC team has launched our bi-annual GoBNMC commuter survey to help with transportation planning for our district. We use this data to continually expand and improve the many safe, cost-effective and accessible ways for everyone to get to work. This year, we’re also hoping to learn more about COVID-19’s current and future impacts on how employees and students choose to get to the Medical Campus.

Please fill out the survey by October 30th to be entered into our raffle to win 1 of 10 $25 gift certificates to the Neighborhood Explorer Business of your choice.

 

 

REDDY BikeShare Has Best Year Yet!

by BNMCin Biking, Buffalo, Business Development, Campus-wide, Community, Commuting, GO BNMC, Neighborhood Engagement, News, Wellness

Big things are hwp-contentening on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus! As REDDY BikeShare celebrates 2019 being its fourth and most successful season – including its bike fleet hitting 200 and expanding to Niagara Falls – the Innovation Center tenant gears up for another successful season with even more in store for the 2020! (Not to mention handing out some free REDDY memberships to some lucky Buffalo bikers!) CLICK HERE to read REDDY’s full Buffalo Rising feature and learn more about what they have going on!

Grand Opening of New Indoor Bike Parking

by BNMCin Biking, Commuting, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Sustainability, Transportation

Grand Opening of New Indoor Bike Parking

The team at BNMC, along with community partners, recently celebrated the grand opening of the new secure indoor bike parking at 854 Ellicott in conjunction with our annual Bike to Work Day breakfast celebration.

“We are proud to have built an active commuter-friendly culture on the Medical Campus,” said Matt Enstice, President & CEO, BNMC Inc. “We worked closely with our transportation partners to create the region’s first mobility hub here on the Medical Campus and we continue to improve our infrastructure and commuting options to ensure efficient, safe, and healthy ways for employees, patients, and visitors to access the Medical Campus.”

We have more than doubled the indoor bike parking available to employees who work on the Medical Campus, patients, and their families with the opening of new secure bike parking with lockers in the parking garage at 854 Ellicott, adjacent to Oishei Children’s Hospital, Buffalo General Medical Center, and the Gates Vascular Institute.

There is space for 30 bikes in the new secure parking facility, an additional 36 spots for covered bike parking in the garage, and parking for 16 bikes right outside. In addition to 24 lockers for the cyclists to use, there is a bike vending machine stocked with bike-related amenities for commuters, including tubes, patch kits, and lights.

This adds to existing amenities, including the secure indoor bike parking with space for 15 bikes in a renovated shipping container and a bike fix-it station at the corner of Ellicott & Virginia Street that the BNMC Inc. installed in 2013. In addition, there are two Reddy Bikeshare stations with a total of 12 racks with bikes available for short term use, and free parking zone anywhere on the Medical Campus to allow users to park closer to their destination on any public rack or infrastructure without a fee.

The Medical Campus already has the densest bicycle parking in the City of Buffalo with 333 spaces (an increase of 100 spaces over last year) plus the secure bike parking. GObike Buffalo will manage the Campus-wide indoor parking as part of its longtime partnership with the BNMC.

The BNMC Inc. is the region’s leader in enhancing and marketing alternative commuting options to employees in its geography and has created the region’s first mobility hub on the Medical Campus. In addition to improving amenities for cyclists, the BNMC Inc. also works closely with the NFTA to increase service options, including extending bus lines to come into the Medical Campus. The organization also helped to design and implement the NFTA’s Corporate Pass Program, to incentivize more employees to take Metro Bus and Rail to work.

“As part of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, we’re thrilled at this initiative that promotes a safe and easy way for our employees to bike to work,” said Allegra Jaros, President at Oishei Children’s Hospital. “Increased secure bike parking for Kaleida Health employees and our patient families will hopefully create more bike commuters on the medical campus throughout the community.”

“Commuting by bicycle is an efficient, healthy, and community-minded way to get to work. Safe and secure bike parking at the workplace encourages more people to bicycle to work, so we’re pleased to operate BNMC’s bike parking facility as part of our citywide initiative, GO Buffalo Niagara, to help downtown commuters use means other than driving alone to get to work.” Justin Booth, executive director of GObike Buffalo.

“Reddy Bikeshare is proud to celebrate Bike to Work Day once again with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus”, said Jennifer White, marketing and communications executive for Reddy Bikeshare. “Campus employees have really embraced the use of Reddy bikes to get to and from work, to go to lunch, and to incorporate some activity into their day. It’s great to work with like-minded partners who encourage people to choose healthier, greener options.”

Grand Opening of New Indoor Bike Parking and Bike to Work Celebration this Friday on Medical Campus

by BNMCin Biking, BNMC Team, Campus-wide, Community, Commuting, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Homepage, News

BNMC Inc. and partners highlight improvements that support biking and commuting options across the Medical Campus, promoting health, environmental responsibility, and pedestrian-friendly streets.

BUFFALO, NY – The BNMC Inc. will officially open its new secure indoor bike parking at a breakfast gathering on Friday, May 17th at the culmination of National Bike to Work Week as they celebrate those who commute to work by bike and help to build a bike-friendly culture on the Medical Campus.

The BNMC Inc. has more than doubled the indoor bike parking available to employees who work on the Medical Campus with the opening of the new bike parking with lockers in the parking garage at 854 Ellicott, adjacent to Oishei Children’s Hospital, Buffalo General Medical Center, and the Gates Vascular Institute. In addition to lockers for the cyclists use, there is a bike vending machine stocked with bike-related amenities, such as tubes, patch kits, and lights, to aid commuters.

This adds to the secure bike parking in the renovated shipping container and bike fix-it station at the corner of Ellicott & Virginia Street that the BNMC Inc. installed in 2013. GObike Buffalo will manage the indoor parking as part of its longtime partnership with the BNMC.

The Medical Campus already has the densest bicycle parking in the City of Buffalo with 333 spaces (an increase of 100 spaces over last year) and secure bike parking, two Reddy Bikeshare stations with a total of 12 racks with bikes available for short term use, and free parking zone anywhere on the Medical Campus to allow users to park closer to their destination on any public rack or infrastructure without a fee.

WHEN:                                 Friday, May 17th  7:00 AM – 10 AM

Brief remarks begin at 9:00 AM from:

  • Mayor Byron Brown (invited)
  • Matt Enstice, President & CEO, BNMC
  • Allegra Jaros, President, John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital
  • Justin Booth, Executive Director, GObike Buffalo
  • Jennifer White, Communications Director, Reddy Bikeshare

LOCATION:         854 Ellicott Street (corner of Ellicott & Goodrich) on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

WHO:                   BNMC Inc. is hosting the event in partnership with GObike Buffalo and Reddy Bikeshare to celebrate bike commuters and those using active commuting options to get to work.

                                There will be a bike train beginning at City Hall for anyone looking to ride as a group to the event on the Medical Campus.

Collaborating partners in transportation planning will be on hand to share information about transportation options, programs and amenities on the Medical Campus that encourage employees to try biking, walking, transit, and carpooling.  Partners include GObike Buffalo, GO Buffalo Niagara, Reddy Bikeshare, NFTA, and others.

Free breakfast and coffee provided by Ashker’s and lloyd taco truck.  

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Go Buffalo Niagara Offering Special Commuter Perks

by BNMCin Commuting, GO BNMC

Go Buffalo Niagara Offering Special Commuter Perks

Your commute is important to you, and it’s important to us! To celebrate Earth Month, our partner, Go Buffalo Niagara, is offering special perks when you use their commute tools or share them with a friend during the month of April.

Earn rewards cards to the store of your choice 

Get $10 when you track at least 10 trips in April 2019 using the 511NY Rideshare trip tracker. You can track your trips on the mobile wp-content, or in your web browser when you log in to the GOBNMC Rideshare portal!

Get $10 when you refer a friend to the BNMC’s rideshare portal and they sign up! If they’re not on the BNMC, they can use the regional Go Buffalo Niagara rideshare portal. Just send the name of the friend you referred to info@gobuffaloniagara.org.

Want some customized help with your commute?

Find a rideshare, bike buddy, or transit route with personalized assistance from our team of experts. Send us an email at info@gobuffaloniagara.org or give us a call at 716-218-7806.

GOBNMC 101: So Many Ways to Get to Work on the Medical Campus!

by BNMCin Commuting, Employees, Sustainability, Transportation

GOBNMC 101: So Many Ways to Get to Work on the Medical Campus!

 For people who work on the Medical Campus, there are plenty of ways to commute to work that are healthy, have less impact on the environment, and save you money!

The BNMC team coordinates the planning, development, and management of a multi-modal transportation system that provides safe and efficient access to the Campus, strives toward world-class customer service, enhances transportation options for the overall community, and supports an urban, walkable environment.

What does that mean to you, someone who is just trying to get to work, you ask?

Essentially it means that we want to create a healthier community while ensuring easy access for patients, employees & visitors to destinations on the Medical Campus. To do that, we work with many partners to continue to grow and improve the many transportation and commuting options. Sign up for any of our transportation programs at GoBNMC.org to discover your options and savings!

Commuting Options & GoBNMC Perks:

  • Public Transit: The newly renovated Allen Street/Medical Campus Subway station is located right on Campus inside the new Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The NFTA has also extended bus routes from the Southtowns to the Medical Campus with pick-up and drop-off locations at Carlton and Ellicott streets. Ask your employer about the BNMC corporate subsidy of at least $20 for monthly metro passes and pre-tax savings for transit to make it even more economical.
  • Carpool: If driving with one or more colleagues, you can take advantage of preferred parking spaces and a carpooling pass that allows you to split the cost of parking with up to four people. Pre-tax payroll deductions may make this even cheaper.
  • Bike: We more than doubled the number of bike racks across the Medical Campus in 2018 and we have secure bike storage with 24/7 member-only access at the corner of Ellicott and Virginia and soon to be open in the new garage at 854 Ellicott. Once the weather breaks (for good!) the Reddy Bike team will get the bike share program back in action. Stay tuned for the free annual membership code (available to everyone who works on the Medical Campus).
  • Need a ride after getting to the Medical Campus without a car? Take advantage of the Zipcar Carshare program to use a vehicle for a flat rate (includes gas & insurance). Free membership and discounted rates are available for Medical Campus employees. We also offer Guaranteed Rides Home through Lyft if something unexpected comes up and you need to be there quickly!
  • Walk: Enjoy the scenery and the health benefits by getting to Campus on your own two feet!

 

More People Taking Public Transit and Walking to Work on the BNMC Than Ever Before

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Campus-wide, Commuting, Employees, Member Institution(s), Students, Transportation

More People Taking Public Transit and Walking to Work on the BNMC Than Ever Before

Percentage of Employees Driving Alone to Medical Campus Drops, NFTA Bus & Rail Numbers Increase as BNMC Expands Efforts to Provide Alternative Transportation Options

More than 15,000 people work and study across the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus each day. As this number has nearly doubled over the past decade, the BNMC team actively works to create a safe, accessible destination while building a sustainable transportation system for employees, neighbors, and the community.

BNMC’s most recent employee survey shows that the percentage of employees driving alone has dropped to 80%, down significantly from 88% in 2012 and 84% in 2016. The percentage of employees taking public transportation has increased to 11%, up from 4% in 2012 and 7% in 2016. The percentage of employees walking to work is at 4%, a substantial increase from 1% in both 2012 and 2016.

Every several years, the BNMC team works with our transportation partners within the BNMC institutions to survey employees on how they get to work.

“We are definitely pleased with the direction our numbers are heading. We work very closely with our regional transportation partners to create convenient, safe, and affordable options for employees, patients, and visitors to get to the BNMC,” said Bill Smith, BNMC’s director of access and transportation. “Most recently, we partnered with NFTA to establish and pilot the first Corporate Pass Program, which allowed employers to provide a less expensive option for employees interested in riding the light rail to work.”

Recent workforce data on the BNMC showed an increase of employees who live within the City of Buffalo and in particular within the zip codes touching the BNMC. Our team also works closely with leaders from the BNMC institutions’ human resources and hiring teams, to ensure that we are continuing to increase access to job opportunities on the BNMC. In 2017, one-third of the new hires in our larger institutions were from the surrounding neighborhoods, and nearly 40% live in the city.

REDDY, Set, Bike!

by BNMCin Biking, Campus-wide, Commuting, Employees, Healthy Communities

REDDY, Set, Bike!

With summer in full swing, it’s finally time to enjoy the warmth that this vibrant city has to offer. There are many ways to take in the sights, art, and culture of Campus while travelling from place to place. By now, you’re sure to have seen one of the most efficient ways to travel around Campus. They’re impossible to miss! They’re bright red bicycles with bright red baskets and even brighter yellow locks and free annual memberships are available for employees and students on the BNMC!

REDDY Bikeshare provides rentable bicycles at unique locations around the city of Buffalo. The bikes can be picked up at hubs and used for a small fee after signing up with the SoBi wp-content, then dropped off at hubs around Buffalo for free or possibly a small charge, depending on where the bike is parked.

There are slightly different rules for the REDDY Bikes on Campus. We’re lucky to have two hubs where you can pick up bikes, using our free REDDY Bikeshare code: GOBNMC2018. You can also lock your REDDY bike anywhere on Campus for free if you don’t have time to ride back to one of the hubs. It’s easier than ever to rent a bike and easiest for employees and students here!

Whether it’s to stay fit, get somewhere quicker than on foot, or to slow down and take in your surroundings, there are countless benefits to biking. Next time you need a ride somewhere, consider REDDY Bikeshare.

Visit their website for more details on the program and to sign up.

 

BNMC Celebrates Dump the Pump Day on June 21st

by BNMCin Biking, Buffalo, Commuting, Employees, Event, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Sustainability, Transportation

Join the BNMC for our annual Dump the Pump Day celebration on Thursday, June 21st!
Dump the Pump Day is a nationally recognized day to encourage people to travel around their cities in a way that supports and raises awareness for the benefits of sustainable transportation. Ride to work on public transit, bike, join a carpool, or walk to reduce fossil fuel emissions and your carbon footprint.

The BNMC will be hosting a celebration for employees and neighbors who “dump the pump” for the day, June 21st from 8:00 – 10:00 AM, at Allen/Medical Campus Metro Rail Station. There will be live music and free coffee for everyone who takes the pledge!

Take the Dump The Pump pledge and remember that when it comes to bettering the environment every little bit counts!

Collaboration Among Our Transportation Partners

by BNMCin Biking, Commuting, Employees, Sustainability, Transportation

Check out our Bike to Work Day video that captures the celebration and highlights the important collaboration among our many transportation partners, including GObike Buffalo, Reddy Bikeshare, NFTA, The City Of Buffalo Department of Public Works, NYSDOT, NITTEC, Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council, and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Together we’re building a healthier & more active community!

Bike To It!

by BNMCin Biking, BNMC Team, Campus-wide, Community, Commuting, Employees, Event, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities

Bike To It!

Bike to Work Breakfast to Celebrate Cyclists and Improved Bike Amenities on Medical Campus this Friday 

Improvements that support biking and commuting options are increasing on the Medical Campus, promoting health, environmental responsibility, and pedestrian-friendly streets.

 

WHAT: A breakfast gathering at the culmination of National Bike to Work Week to celebrate those who commute to work by bike and to highlight the many amenities and improvements on the Medical Campus specifically designed to create a bike-friendly culture.

The Medical Campus has the densest bicycle parking in the City of Buffalo with 233 spaces and secure bike parking, two Reddy Bike Stations with a total of 12 bikes for short term use, and geo-fencing around the Campus perimeter to allow users to leave Reddy Bikes anywhere on Campus rather than at a Reddy Bike station. Other amenities include a newly painted crosswalks at Ellicott and Virginia with more to be added this summer, covered and locked bike storage, and 100 additional bike racks added to the Campus this summer, including additional secure bike storage.

WHEN: Friday, May 18th  7:30 AM – 10 AM

WHERE: At the park at the corner of Ellicott and Virginia Streets on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

WHO: BNMC is hosting the event in partnership with Gobike Buffalo to celebrate bike commuters and those using active commuting options to get to work.

Collaborating partners in transportation planning will be on hand to share information about transportation options, programs and amenities on Campus that encourage Campus employees to try biking, walking, transit, and carpooling.  Partners include GObike Buffalo, Go Buffalo Niagara, Reddy Bikeshare, NFTA, and others.

Breakfast and coffee provided by The Grove and Caffeology.

WHY: BNMC and its transportation partners are committed to creating a bike-friendly campus and encouraging local residents to try new modes of transportation that are environmentally friendly, promote health, and contribute to a cyclist and pedestrian-friendly city.

Buffalo’s Role in Bike Start-Up’s Uber Acquisition

by BNMCin Biking, Commuting, Energy, Innovation, Startups, Technology

Buffalo’s Role in Bike Start-Up’s Uber Acquisition

Congratulations to Jump Bikes! The BNMC is proud to be one of the local nonprofits that were early partners of the original Social Bikes, which is now joining Uber.

This week ride-hailing giant Uber announced its intention to purchase Jump Bikes, an electric bike start-up that has pioneered electric dockless bike sharing services in a deal that is rumored to be valued at between $100 and $200 million.

The BNMC, Shared Mobility Inc. (SMI), and other local partners were thrilled to hear the news since the nonprofits had worked with the organization in its very early days of developing the first public flexible bike sharing service.

The BNMC is proud to have partially funded the first city hub, as well as providing early support to SMI for a bikeshare business plan in 2011.  In 2012, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) funded SMI with a $150,000 project to pilot and test the Brooklyn start-up Social Bicycles (now called Jump Bikes). As is the case today, the BNMC was interested in supporting social innovators, particularly those that offered a new business model and benefits for communities.

Change Up Your Commute this Spring!

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Commuting, Employees, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Transportation

Change Up Your Commute this Spring!

It might not feel like spring quite yet, but pretty soon the weather will turn and it’ll be time to dust off your bicycle and break out your walking shoes. As an employee on the BNMC, there are plenty of ways to commute to work that are not only healthy, but have less impact on the environment, and can save you money!

With a focus on creating a healthy community, our GoBNMC program encourages the use of fewer single-driver cars on and to Campus. Sign up for any of our transportation programs at GoBNMC.org to discover options and savings!

Commuting Options & GoBNMC Perks:

  • Public Transit: The newly renovated Allen Street Subway station is located right on Campus inside the new Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The NFTA has also extended bus routes from the Southtowns to the Medical Campus with pick-up and drop-off locations at Carlton and Ellicott streets. Ask your employer about the BNMC corporate subsidy of at least $20 for monthly metro passes and pre-tax savings for transit to make it even more economical.
  • Carpool: If driving with one or more colleagues, you can take advantage of preferred parking spaces and a carpooling pass that allows you to split the cost of parking with up to four people (only one car can park at any given time).  Pre-tax payroll deductions may make this even cheaper.
  • Bike: We have plenty of bike racks on Campus and bike storage with 24/7 member-only access at the corner of Ellicott and Virginia. Need to get to a meeting or make a quick trip for lunch or errands? Grab one of the many Reddy Bikes on Campus at your convenience! Annual memberships are free for Medical Campus employees with the promo code GOBNMC2017 at reddybikeshare.com.
  • Need a ride after getting to campus without a car? Take advantage of the Zipcar Carshare program to use a vehicle for a flat rate (includes gas & insurance). Free membership and discounted rates are available for Medical Campus employees. We also offer Guaranteed Ride Home if something unexpected comes up and you need to be there quickly!
  • Walk: Enjoy the scenery and the health benefits by getting to Campus on two feet!