City of Buffalo SMART Grant Project

The City of Buffalo was awarded funds through the US Department of Transportation (DOT) SMART Grant program to assist the City in improving our emergency management system (EMS) and real-time curb management through digital signage.

These signs will provide immediate notifications of parking restrictions or policy alerts due to emergencies or emergency service events, such as snow removal. Additionally, these digital signs will display parking availability at alternative locations to reduce congestion in popular areas.

Proposed Pilot Sites:

  • Medical Corridor

    The equivalent of approximately 10 city blocks, this is the largest project site proposed. It is a high-density site with several different medical facilities located within it. The concentration of medical infrastructure means it attracts myriad users from a large geographic area.

  • Chippewa

    This area is composed of two perpendicular streets in the hotel and convention center area of downtown Buffalo. This is mainly an entertainment district, with a number of hotels, restaurants, and bars in the area.

  • Canalside

    A public greenspace that hosts number of events throughout the year. Canalside is a destination itself, the area boasts a Children’s Museum, a fully solar-powered Carousel, plenty of Winter/Summer activities to keep residents and visitors busy all year round. The pilot area also encompasses the BMHA Marine Drive Apartments.

In an effort to create safer streets and enhance public awareness, our project will leverage the latest advancements in digital and e-paper based signage. These technologies will provide dynamic, real-time information to the public, integrating seamlessly with EMS/BuffAlert system alerts to ensure efficient emergency responses. By utilizing occupancy, usage, and availability data, we aim to manage zones effectively, adapting to changing conditions with precision and agility.

  • Sensors will collect curb-use data, which will be used to provide real-time availability of parking in the area on associated signs.

  • The goal is to identify heavily used routes and improve public awareness of parking restrictions, aiding in the efficiency of emergency services (e.g., plowing and EMS).

  • Provide a street-level messaging system to alert the public of parking restrictions, city information or emergency alerts to prevent traffic congestion in the area, ensuring that EMS vehicles can travel safely and efficiently.

  • Create flex zones that have dynamic signage that can be used for multiple policies, that are dynamically driven by traffic, emergencies, parking occupancy.