Back to School: Parking, Directions, and Logistics

Buffalo State will welcome new students to campus for residence hall move-in days (August 22–28), first-year orientation (August 24–25), transfer orientation (August 26), and the first day of the fall semester (August 29).

The beginning of the academic year is always an active time for students, visitors, and guests to campus, are requires patience to navigate. Cooperation and understanding as new and returning resident students are welcomed back to campus is appreciated.

Elmwood Avenue Construction
The Elmwood Avenue bridge over NY Route 198 (Scajaquada Expressway) is currently being replaced by the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) and bridge traffic has been reduced to one lane in each direction.

This off-campus construction will affect travel to and from campus, and traffic delays are expected.

Buffalo State does not manage this project, but is reminding the campus community to expect delays on surrounding roadways, account for these traffic changes in their daily routine, and allow for extra travel time.

Getting Here
The off-ramps from Route 198 East and West onto Elmwood Avenue remain open; however, traffic has been slowed due to lane restrictions. The campus may also be accessed from the Grant Street exit of the 198.

Directions | Maps and Tours | Parking

For Commuters
The NFTA has announced that it will restore service to Buffalo State College via Route 32 (Amherst) beginning Sunday, September 4. The Buffalo State stop—at the corner of Rockwell Road and Elmwood Avenue—was discontinued in June.

To accommodate students, faculty, and staff members who will use the Route 32 bus to travel to campus, the NFTA will also temporarily expand the schedule of its 206 circulator from Monday, August 22, to Saturday, September 3. The 206 circulator connects the campus with Tops on Grant Street and Wegmans on Amherst Street. This temporary service for the 206 circulator between the campus, Tops, and Wegmans will operate at 25-minute intervals from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily through September 3. Riders can connect to Route 32 at various stops along Amherst Street. Stop options can be viewed via the NFTA’s Metro Trip Planner online. Additionally, passengers can connect to Route 32 via the Route 20 (Elmwood) or Route 3 (Grant) buses operating at the edges of campus. The 206 circulator will resume its regular schedule on September 4.

NFTA services available to Buffalo State students, faculty, and staff.

Student Move-In Days 
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday—August 22, 23, 25, 27, and 28—will be move-in days for resident students. To facilitate the move for our nearly 2,800 residents and their families, temporary changes to campus parking and traffic will be made as follows:

Some parking areas near the residence halls will be reserved for move-in day activity and will not be available for faculty, staff, or student parking. The following lots will be used for move-in activity:

Monday, August 22, and Tuesday, August 23

• Lot R-1 (Rockwell Road, north and south sides) from Cleveland Circle Drive west to Academic Drive
• Lot R-6 (Academic Drive)* except parking spaces designated for people with disabilities
• Lot R-7 (Union Place)* all parking spaces

Perry Hall and Cassety Hall will be accessed via the roadway west of the Science and Mathematics Complex (Bengal Drive), with egress between Upton Hall and the Science and Mathematics Complex.

*Please note that numbered reserve and general reserve parking spaces in lots R-6 and R-7 are included in those parking spaces that will be unavailable for staff parking. On Tuesday, August 23, these reserve-space holders are asked to park in other campus parking lots to accommodate our students.

Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday – August 25, 27, and 28

• Tower Road traffic will be one way only (east to west) from Tower 1 to Tower 4 and Moore Complex.
• Student Apartment Complex traffic will be one way only (south to north) on Rees Street.

University Police officers, University Police student assistants, and Residence Life staff members will be available to direct students and their families. Thank you for you cooperation as we welcome our new and returning resident students.