The Buffalo News’ David Robinson reports how Buffalo’s regional economic strategy intends to continue a pattern of success based on Smart Growth, neighborhood reinvestment, transit-oriented development, and the utilization of the region’s educational, cultural, and urban assets:

“The second phase of the Buffalo Billion is evolutionary, not revolutionary. The first Buffalo Billion, launched three years ago by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, was focused on big projects. Each was aimed at creating hundreds of new jobs and jump-starting entire industries, while also giving a psychological pick-me-up to the Buffalo Niagara region’s battered psyche.”

“The Buffalo Billion II is intended to build on the foundation laid out by the first Buffalo Billion, while also spreading the economic development plan’s focus into smaller initiatives intended to build on the projects in the first phase and branch out into new neighborhoods and communities that were not part of the first phase.”

“‘Here’s what this means for the community: More downtown development, transit-oriented development, East Side and neighborhood development, Medical Campus development and more business development,’ said Howard Zemsky, the Buffalo developer who is president of Empire State Development.”

Among the Smart Growth and transit-oriented development initiatives are:

• DL&W Terminal: $20 million to extend Metro Rail to the terminal and redevelop the building and surroundings. Project also would require about $20 million in federal funding.
• Extend Metro Rail to Amherst: $5 million for preliminary studies on an extension, which could cost upward of $1.2 billion.
• Buffalo train station: $25 million toward the construction of a new train station in Buffalo.

Read the full story here