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Old 12-10-2017, 05:00 PM
 
729 posts, read 525,667 times
Reputation: 1563

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Before I moved from Buffalo in late 1980s, I vividly recall the promise of NFTA at that time to extend the light rail to the north campus of UB after completing the first main section. The first main section was completed in 1986 after 3 years of making the downtown a complete mess. And then...no more work on the rail. The extension(s) will NEVER be started.
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Old 12-10-2017, 08:20 PM
 
Location: Flahrida
6,289 posts, read 4,810,665 times
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I think it had to do with Federal money that was available for the project. If we didn't use it than it would go elsewhere like it did when we dithered about the Piece (spelled that way on purpose) Bridge. The new Peace bridge was sunk because some people didn't want to lose their yards and other such political nonsense.

We have this
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...13048595251705

Instead of this
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...13048672668578
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Old 12-11-2017, 06:17 AM
 
Location: Where my bills arrive
19,097 posts, read 16,922,412 times
Reputation: 15460
/\
Is the current bridge adequate for the amount of traffic using it?
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Old 12-11-2017, 07:07 AM
 
Location: Flahrida
6,289 posts, read 4,810,665 times
Reputation: 7432
Quote:
Originally Posted by VA Yankee View Post
/\
Is the current bridge adequate for the amount of traffic using it?
The current bridge was built in 1925. It was inadequate many years ago. Its only 3 lanes, they use 2 one way and 1 the other and switch back and forth. Trucks are backed up for miles on the Canadian side. I used that bridge at least 500 times and its totally inadequate. On the US side you have 1 or lanes feeding into the customs plaza and the congestion in a nightmare.
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Old 12-11-2017, 03:24 PM
 
Location: Where my bills arrive
19,097 posts, read 16,922,412 times
Reputation: 15460
I won't argue the age but I would bet the back up is from customs inspections which have become more stringent in recent years. Maybe an upgrade is tied to the Canadian Government agreeing to upgrade. Look at the Tappan Zee Bridge its finally getting replaced 25 years late because it is a backup every day m-f and that's without a customs station.
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Old 12-12-2017, 04:18 PM
 
Location: Flahrida
6,289 posts, read 4,810,665 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VA Yankee View Post
I won't argue the age but I would bet the back up is from customs inspections which have become more stringent in recent years. Maybe an upgrade is tied to the Canadian Government agreeing to upgrade. Look at the Tappan Zee Bridge its finally getting replaced 25 years late because it is a backup every day m-f and that's without a customs station.
Tappan Zee is closer to NYC which makes a big difference. The problem with the Peace Bridge is 1 or 2 lanes feeding into 15 or so Customs Booths and the bottleneck it creates. I have gotten stuck there 100's of times.
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Old 12-18-2017, 07:22 AM
 
729 posts, read 525,667 times
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As far as I remember, the Peace Bridge has ALWAYS been a bottleneck. When I lived in Buffalo from the late 70's to late mid 80's. I used to travel very often to Canada to see my girlfriend of the time. Lots and lots of times I would be an hour or two late to my date because of the backed up traffic. (And no cell phones back then either.) Thundarr457 has it correct. 1 or 2 lanes. Lots of truck freight. I remember thinking at the time how does the bridge hold up under all the weight of the freight trucks? The problems with the Peace Bridge are nothing new.

On a lighter note, I recall heavy bridge traffic at around 1 am and 4 am. Drinking age in Canada at the time was 19. (Is it still 19?) Evenings, those Americans under 21 would slowly head to the Canadian bars. The Canadian bars would close at 1 am. So the Canadians and underage American drinkers would head back to Buffalo. The Buffalo bars would close at 4 am. (Is that still the case?) So the Canadians would head back home. BTW, I was a night owl back then.
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Old 12-18-2017, 09:02 AM
 
Location: Flahrida
6,289 posts, read 4,810,665 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenHair View Post
As far as I remember, the Peace Bridge has ALWAYS been a bottleneck. When I lived in Buffalo from the late 70's to late mid 80's. I used to travel very often to Canada to see my girlfriend of the time. Lots and lots of times I would be an hour or two late to my date because of the backed up traffic. (And no cell phones back then either.) Thundarr457 has it correct. 1 or 2 lanes. Lots of truck freight. I remember thinking at the time how does the bridge hold up under all the weight of the freight trucks? The problems with the Peace Bridge are nothing new.

On a lighter note, I recall heavy bridge traffic at around 1 am and 4 am. Drinking age in Canada at the time was 19. (Is it still 19?) Evenings, those Americans under 21 would slowly head to the Canadian bars. The Canadian bars would close at 1 am. So the Canadians and underage American drinkers would head back to Buffalo. The Buffalo bars would close at 4 am. (Is that still the case?) So the Canadians would head back home. BTW, I was a night owl back then.
At least you had a good excuse to be late for your date
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Old 12-18-2017, 01:43 PM
 
14,394 posts, read 11,140,156 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenHair View Post
As far as I remember, the Peace Bridge has ALWAYS been a bottleneck. When I lived in Buffalo from the late 70's to late mid 80's. I used to travel very often to Canada to see my girlfriend of the time. Lots and lots of times I would be an hour or two late to my date because of the backed up traffic. (And no cell phones back then either.) Thundarr457 has it correct. 1 or 2 lanes. Lots of truck freight. I remember thinking at the time how does the bridge hold up under all the weight of the freight trucks? The problems with the Peace Bridge are nothing new.

On a lighter note, I recall heavy bridge traffic at around 1 am and 4 am. Drinking age in Canada at the time was 19. (Is it still 19?) Evenings, those Americans under 21 would slowly head to the Canadian bars. The Canadian bars would close at 1 am. So the Canadians and underage American drinkers would head back to Buffalo. The Buffalo bars would close at 4 am. (Is that still the case?) So the Canadians would head back home. BTW, I was a night owl back then.
Unless you had to be near Buffalo the smart people further north used the Whirlpool (aka "Lower") Bridge. Few but locals knew about it. Now you need a NEXUS card to use it, but 20 years ago it was awesome.
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Old 12-18-2017, 08:30 PM
 
Location: Vancouver
18,502 posts, read 15,417,056 times
Reputation: 11936
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenHair View Post
As far as I remember, the Peace Bridge has ALWAYS been a bottleneck. When I lived in Buffalo from the late 70's to late mid 80's. I used to travel very often to Canada to see my girlfriend of the time. Lots and lots of times I would be an hour or two late to my date because of the backed up traffic. (And no cell phones back then either.) Thundarr457 has it correct. 1 or 2 lanes. Lots of truck freight. I remember thinking at the time how does the bridge hold up under all the weight of the freight trucks? The problems with the Peace Bridge are nothing new.

On a lighter note, I recall heavy bridge traffic at around 1 am and 4 am. Drinking age in Canada at the time was 19. (Is it still 19?) Evenings, those Americans under 21 would slowly head to the Canadian bars. The Canadian bars would close at 1 am. So the Canadians and underage American drinkers would head back to Buffalo. The Buffalo bars would close at 4 am. (Is that still the case?) So the Canadians would head back home. BTW, I was a night owl back then.
19 in all provinces and territories except Manitoba, Quebec and Alberta where the age is 18.
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