Moving People Around Onondaga County

The City of Syracuse and District 9 are located within Onondaga County. In ideal cases, residents are able to at least live, shop, and play in close proximity to their homes, if not also work. However, we know that in many places throughout District 9 and the City, the places where people live are not in walking distance to the resources they need, the spaces they desire to gather with others, and all the more to employment opportunities. For those with cars, they can typically drive to their destinations, but what about the approximately 1 out of 3 people in our city who do not have cars / personal vehicles? We need a truly reliable and functional public transportation system that works not just locally, but regionally (throughout Onondaga County).

Onondaga County actively partners with our public transportation company Centro (Central New York Regional Transportation Authority), and funds a portion of their operations annually. In the 2026 Onondaga County budget, the County appropriated $2,409,878 in funding for Centro. Additionally, the Onondaga County Executive, Legislature, Planning Board, Department of Transportation, and the Department of Planning are members of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The MPO is “a transportation policy making and planning body made up of representatives of local, state, and federal government and transportation authorities” (Vitale & Frasier, 2025). Onondaga County Legislators approve the annual County budget, participate in groups such as the MPO, and have the opportunity to advocate for meaningful policies.

Centro is planning for some changes and is in the process of implementing the “Better Bus” plan, aimed at updating current bus routes, improving infrastructure, and making transportation more accessible. Additionally, the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system aims to improve accessibility, reliability, and speed, while complementing broader infrastructure efforts (such as the I-81 project and the arrival of Micron). One of those BRT routes is planned to run right through District 9 on Syracuse's Northside. 

So what is the timeline of the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) system actually starting?

• February-April 2025: Centro analyzed rider trends and collected community data/input to inform their proposal. They worked to identify how routes could be changed to service "high demand” areas, how travel delays could be minimized, and how new services can be introduced to reach underserved areas.

• April-May 2025: Centro conducted various community engagement activities to collect input on proposals.

• June-September 2025, potentially continuing into Winter 2026: Based on input received from the community, the proposal will be refined and compiled into a final, county-wide, comprehensive improvement plan.

• Spring 2026: Additional community engagement and finalization of the plan.

So, what does this mean for us on Syracuse's Northside?

The maps below show proposed changes to routes on the Northside. Map A highlights “existing routes,” shown as green lines; Map B highlights “proposed routes,” shown as blue lines, and “eliminated segments,” shown as red dotted lines. According to this proposal, bus services will be more frequent along BRT corridors. For example, along the North Salina corridor, buses will run every 20-25 minutes all day, every day (this will continue to become more frequent, as BRT is fully implemented). Another Northside line, Grant Boulevard to Shop City will also run more frequently. The proposed routes can be found here: https://fitp.maps.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/624c11f196a541618dd76dd57603c0a4/data.

Map A: Existing Centro Routes (Source: Centro Better Bus, https://centro-fitp.hub.arcgis.com/)

Map B: Proposed New & Eliminated Centro Routes (Source: Centro Better Bus, https://centro-fitp.hub.arcgis.com/)

BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) has been implemented in other communities, such as in Albany, New York, with a good deal of success. This has prompted additional investment and expansion of the program, largely due to partnerships with large employers locally who have provided free rides to employees.

If elected, Nicole Watts will advocate for the timely and strategic implementation of BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) by Centro, believing that it could be not only successful in our community, but also go a long way towards improving access to public transportation (and therefore resource access) in the area. As Onondaga County Legislator for District 9, I will continue to advocate for:

• Increased access to public transportation (including timetables that benefit working members of our community, particularly those needing to get to work at unusual times)

• Partnerships with local businesses, government leaders, and community members to craft community-informed, creative, and impactful public transit initiatives

• Bus shelters to be installed along BRT routes, particularly in our neighborhood

• Expansion of the MOVE On-Demand network (a shared-ride, on-demand shuttle service) to District 9

This is an incredible opportunity for our community to engage and create spaces and systems that work for us. Vote Nicole Watts for Onondaga County Legislator - District 9! Early Voting runs October 25 - November 2nd, and November 4th is the last day to vote.