If you’ve lived in Buffalo long enough, you’ve probably developed a sixth sense for when the Skyway is about to shut down due to a stiff breeze or why the Scajaquada feels like a 30 mph existential crisis. We love to complain about our commute. It’s a local pastime, right up there with debating who has the best wings or shoveling out a neighbor’s driveway. But honestly, traffic in Buffalo NY is a weirdly misunderstood beast.
Depending on who you ask, we’re either a city of easy "20-minute commutes" or a gridlocked nightmare trapped in a construction zone that never ends. The reality is somewhere in the messy middle.
The 20-Minute Myth vs. The 2026 Reality
For decades, the "Buffalo 20" was a point of pride. You could get from North Tonawanda to the Southtowns in twenty minutes. From Clarence to Canalside? Twenty minutes. It was the gold standard.
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Things have changed. Recent data from the 2025 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard suggests the average driver in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro area now loses about 44 hours a year to congestion. That’s nearly two full days of your life spent staring at the bumper of a Ford F-150 on the I-190. While that’s nothing compared to the 100+ hours lost by drivers in New York City or Chicago, it’s a far cry from the breezy drives of the 1990s.
We’re seeing a shift. The city isn’t just a pass-through anymore. We have a growing medical campus, a revitalized waterfront, and a suburban sprawl that keeps pushing further into Transit Road territory.
The Big Projects Changing Everything
If you think the orange barrels are multiplying, you aren’t crazy. We are currently in the middle of some of the most aggressive infrastructure shifts the region has seen since the expressways were first plowed through our neighborhoods in the '50s.
The Kensington Expressway (Route 33) Saga
Right now, the "Queen City Forward" initiative is the talk of the town. The state has been wrestling with how to fix the Kensington Expressway, a road that literally divided the East Side decades ago. As of early 2026, the project has hit a major pivot point. After some legal back-and-forth and a court-ordered Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the NYS Department of Transportation is holding fresh listening sessions.
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The plan involves a massive tunnel—roughly 4,150 feet long—between Dodge and Sidney Streets. On top? About 11 acres of new parkland. It’s meant to restore the old Humboldt Parkway vibe. But here’s the kicker for your morning drive: when construction finally kicks into high gear, the 80,000 cars that use the 33 every day are going to need somewhere to go. If you think the 198 is slow now, just wait until it’s the primary detour.
The Skyway: Stay or Go?
It’s the most beautiful and terrifying bridge in Western New York. The Skyway offers a view of Lake Erie that’ll make you weep, usually right before a 40 mph gust of wind makes you grip the steering wheel until your knuckles turn white.
There has been talk of tearing it down for years. As of 2026, it's still standing, though it’s officially classified as "functionally obsolete." The state has looked at replacing it with a surface boulevard or even a new Buffalo Harbor Bridge. For now, it remains a vital, if temperamental, link for commuters coming from Hamburg and Lackawanna. Just keep an eye on the NITTEC alerts during lake effect season; if those gates go down, your commute just doubled.
Hotspots You Should Probably Avoid
If you value your sanity, there are specific spots where traffic in Buffalo NY tends to curdle.
- The Blue Water Tower (I-90/I-290 Split): It’s a classic for a reason. The weaving pattern where the Thruway meets the Youngmann is a masterclass in "hope for the best."
- The Peace Bridge Approach: Even with modern NEXUS lanes, holiday weekends or Bills home games can back up I-190 South for miles.
- Transit Road (Route 78): Specifically the stretch between Sheridan and Maple. It’s not "traffic" in the highway sense; it’s a grueling gauntlet of stoplights and left-turning SUVs. Honestly, just take the back roads.
The Public Transit Pivot
It isn't all about cars. The NFTA is currently pushing through the Metro Rail expansion. They’re looking to extend the line from University Station all the way to UB North and the I-990 corridor.
We’re talking about a "one-seat ride" from downtown to the heart of Amherst. While the "Rail Renewal" project has been a headache with shuttle buses replacing trains during track work, the payoff is supposed to be a system that doesn't just serve people who have to take the bus, but people who want to. The new DL&W Station near KeyBank Center opened recently, finally linking the rail directly to the waterfront and sports district. It's a game-changer for Sabres fans who don't want to pay $30 for parking.
Winter Driving: The Buffalo Equalizer
You can’t talk about Buffalo traffic without talking about the "Big One." We don't just have traffic; we have meteorological events.
When a lake effect band set up over the Southtowns, the rules of the road evaporate. The I-90 becomes a parking lot. Local police often issue travel bans, and they aren't suggestions. If you're new here, the best advice for Buffalo traffic in the winter is simple: Stay home. If you can’t, make sure you have a full tank of gas and a real snow brush—not just a credit card to scrape a tiny hole in the windshield.
How to Win Your Commute
So, how do you actually navigate this mess? You have to be proactive.
- Use NITTEC: Seriously. The Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition has the best live cameras and sensor data for the region. Google Maps is okay, but NITTEC knows exactly when a tractor-trailer has jackknifed on the Grand Island Bridge.
- The "Secret" Bridge: If the Peace Bridge is backed up, check the Lewiston-Queenston. It’s a hike, but sometimes the 20-minute extra drive saves you 60 minutes of idling.
- Time the 33: If you’re heading downtown, try to hit the Kensington before 7:15 AM. By 7:45 AM, the bottleneck at the Elm Street exit is a lost cause.
- Embrace the 190: It’s longer in mileage for some, but often faster than cutting through the city's grid of stoplights, especially with the ongoing "Queen City Forward" construction on local streets.
Traffic in Buffalo isn't going back to the way it was in the '80s. We’re a more active, more populated city than we were a decade ago. That means more cars, more construction, and more delays. But if you know the shortcuts and stay on top of the project updates, you can still find that elusive 20-minute commute—mostly.
Actionable Next Steps
- Bookmark NITTEC.org: Check the "Construction Summary Report" every Sunday night before your work week begins to see where new lane closures are popping up.
- Monitor the 33 Project: Attend one of the upcoming public listening sessions at the Cheektowaga Senior Citizen Center or the Buffalo Museum of Science to see how the Kensington redesign will affect your specific neighborhood's property values and noise levels.
- Get a NEXUS Card: If you cross the border even twice a year, the reduced wait times at the Peace Bridge and Rainbow Bridge are worth the $50 and the background check.