Introducing a New Transportation Option for Western New York Residents.
 
Buffalo, NY — NFTA (the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority), The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC), the University at Buffalo (UB), and their partners announce the soft launch of the Buffalo All Access Pilot Project, an innovative transportation solution designed to make it easier for Western New York residents to travel around the region with an emphasis on the neighborhoods around the Medical Campus. The new project introduces on-demand shuttle services enabled by a user-friendly mobile app, website, kiosks, and a call center—creating a more flexible, accessible way to connect to healthcare, jobs, grocery stores, and other community destinations.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s ITS4US Deployment Program, the Buffalo All Access program features:
  • The Buffalo All Access Digital Platform: A mobile app, website, and centralized call center that helps users plan customized door-to-door trips based on individual needs, preferences, and mobility considerations.
  • On-Demand Shuttle Service: A flexible, responsive shuttle program featuring both human-driven vehicles and an autonomous shuttle that bridges gaps in existing transit coverage.
  • Smart Infrastructure & Wayfinding: Outdoor and indoor navigation technologies deployed on the medical campus and in transit hubs to support orientation, safety, and real-time directions. Indoor navigation is available at the Visually Impaired Advancement (VIA) and Buffalo General Medical Center (BGMC) buildings. Kiosks in the BGMC lobby and the NFTA Summer-Best Metro Station allow users to plan trips without needing a phone or computer.
Buffalo All Access is launching as a pilot program, with operations scaling up between January and May 2026 as the system is refined based on real-world use. Service levels will expand as more people use the system. The system will transition to long-term operations in May 2027.
Robert Jones, Deputy Director of Public Transit at NFTA said “We are delighted to lead this project for our city and beyond. This system connects our bus and rail network so that riders from across our region have better access and ease of movement.”
“All Access is the result of an incredible collaboration between community groups and public agencies working together,” said Jamie Hamann-Burney, Chief Strategy Officer for BNMC. “We’re excited to open the program to the public and continue to help build a transportation system that better meets our community’s needs.”
Dr. Benjamin Cashaw, President of the Fruit Belt Coalition, aka Fruit of the City, noted, “This new service will be invaluable for our residents—whether they need to get to an appointment, or pick up groceries, the door-to-door service Buffalo All Access provides will be a lifeline for many.”
Ray Zylinski, Project Integration Manager at VIA said, “The enhanced accessibility features on the Buffalo All Access system will ensure greater safety, while providing enhanced ease of movement for our VIA constituents and all who face accessibility challenges.”

Pilot Shuttle Service Schedule

Two on-demand shuttle services will be phased into operation in February and March: The All Access Loop and NFTA Community Shuttle. A map of the service area is included below. During the initial phase, shuttles will operate on the following schedule:

All Access Loop (Scheduled Service Monday – Friday):

  • 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
  • 2:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The All Access Loop shuttle service launched on February 2, 2026, connecting fixed stops with key destinations on and around the BNMC. This is the first fully automated on-demand bus deployed to the public in the country. It will be staffed at all times by a safety attendant who can take over manual driving. Shuttle operations are managed by ADASTEC, a company with automated bus deployments in Michigan and Europe, and a team of UB professors with expertise in transportation engineering, computer science, universal design, and other fields, oversee its deployment. To ride the shuttle, you must book a shuttle trip through the Buffalo All Access mobile app.

NFTA Community Shuttle (Monday – Friday):

  • 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
The NFTA Community Shuttle service will launch on March 2, 2026. This service allows riders to request pick-ups and drop-offs within the shuttle area during the midday hours, offering even more flexibility for appointments, errands, and work or school schedules, even to pick up lunch, or groceries! To ride the shuttle, you must book a shuttle trip through the Buffalo All Access mobile app or through a kiosk at the BGMC lobby or Summer-Best Metro Station. 

How to Get Started:

Residents, employees, students, and visitors to the Campus, aged 18 or over, are encouraged to download the Buffalo All Access app and sign up to begin using the service. By signing up early, users will help shape the future of the service and transportation in Buffalo.
More information, including how to download the app and register, is available at: https://bnmc.org/transportation/buffalo-all-access/