The Niagara Falls Tourism Advisory Board is studying “the problems of traffic congestion and vehicle emissions related to charter buses in downtown Niagara Falls,” according to Tourism Advisory Board Chairman Jerry Genova.

The board has a challenge ahead of them.

Buses from Paradise Tours, L and L Travel, Sunshine Travels, Happy Vacations and others bring hundreds of thousands of tourists to Niagara Falls each year.

These tourists often stay overnight at hotels and eat at restaurants.

During past years, the city has been less than welcoming to drivers of these buses who often park and idle in places that slow or stop traffic during busy times in downtown Niagara Falls.

Sometimes the city has - like it did with Nik Wallenda observers at his wirewalk practice – given the bus drivers tickets.

According to Johnny Helms, who manages One Niagara, several bus tours steered their customers to eat at restaurants out of town where they could park without being hassled.

Most tour guides are Oriental, as are their customers, coming from Korea, China and India.

Hotels vie for the bus customers and offer discounts for rooms reserved in blocks of thousands. Restaurant owners give tour guides incentives for steering passengers into their places. Gift shops pay 10 percent or better for every dollar customers spend - paid to tour guides whose earnings come mainly from incentive fees and tips.

Mr. Genova is spearheading a balancing effort to make tour companies feel welcome while trying to avoid congestion problems.

“Our board is going to respectfully ask the City Council to amend the existing charter bus ordinance in a manner that will provide for designated bus drop-off points with a time limit to load and unload passengers,” Mr. Genova said, “But nothing is etched in stone. We will probably study it this year and implement it next year or the year after. We want to talk to stakeholders.”

Council Chairman Sam Fruscione said he hopes the city can select a designated place to park buses that will alleviate congestion and pollution but still be convenient for bus drivers.

One location suggested is on 2nd street between Main and Niagara in front of properties owned by Joseph Anderson, a felon who admitted trying to bribe a city official. He is the operator of a tax-free Indian smoke shop, two downtown hotels, an unsightly and mainly vacant snow park and a buffet in one of his teepees there that caters to – ironically - bus customers.
The idea of parking all tour busses in front of his buffet met with harsh criticism among several downtown businessmen who compete for bus tour business.

One of the largest hosts to tour operators is One Niagara at its food court. Paul Grenga, managing member of the company, does not support a plan that would direct buses away from his business to the front door of his competitor.

“The Council knows that every time the City rushed to adjust downtown traffic patterns in the past, they just made it worse,” said Mr. Grenga. “Careful, professional study is obviously needed, not only to understand the economic impact, but more importantly to address motor vehicle and pedestrian safety.”

Mr. Genova agreed it would be improper to favor one businessman over others.

“I understand. It would be like a Pavlovian response,” he said. “The bus drivers would start by parking empty buses there and in time they would say – ‘why park an empty bus? Why bother to drop off elsewhere? We will give all our business to Anderson since it is right here.’”

Mr. Fruscione said he hoped a win win deal could be crafted. “While the modification to the existing ordinance passed into law in 1940 is needed,” he said “I feel the council, with the tourism board, can address the situation to everyone’s satisfaction.”
Overall, the Fruscione – Genova plan makes sense to some tour operators contacted by the Niagara Falls Reporter. At least as far as their idea of not hassling buses.

Jack Lok, travel consultant at L and L Travel, arranged for the transport of more than 100,000 tourists to Niagara Falls last year on company busses. “Local law enforcement in Niagara Falls tickets buses,” said Mr. Lok. “If buses were allowed to park somewhere, it would take a lot of stress off of the bus drivers. It would most likely increase travel to NF."

Jason Fong, bus chartering manager of L and L agreed. “Our drivers shouldn’t have to worry about places to park. I wish the city would do something, especially when we are bringing all these people from all over the world to the beautiful Niagara Falls.”