Smartly Enhanced Multimodal Arterial (SEMA)

The Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC), through its Moving Forward 2025 update, identified the development of a Smartly Enhanced Multimodal Arterial (SEMA) as a key concept of the region’s long-term transportation strategy. A Smartly Enhanced Multimodal Arterial (SEMA) is a concept that refers to a major roadway corridor equipped with advanced technologies and designed to support multiple modes of transportation including cars, transit, bicycles, and pedestrians.

This initiative focuses on identifying a network of key corridors that will serve as a strategic framework for the deployment of advanced transportation technologies across the Buffalo Niagara region. The primary objective is to guide future investments and policy efforts aimed at improving traffic flow, enhancing roadway safety, reducing congestion, and promoting a shift toward more sustainable and interconnected modes of transportation. By targeting specific corridors for innovation, the SEMA network will play a vital role in ensuring the region’s infrastructure is equipped to meet the demands of a dynamic and evolving transportation landscape.

SEMA Phase 1 Technical Memo

This technical memo describes the SEMA process, including how corridors were selected and scored, and provides detailed breakdowns of SEMA technologies and their potential application.

SEMA Phase 1 Summary Report

This report is an easy-to-digest summary of the SEMA Phase 1 process.

SEMA Phase 1 Dashboard

An interactive map showing all of the corridors examined as part of the SEMA Phase 1 process, and how they scored for each of the 11 criteria. Click on the image below to navigate the map.

SEMA Phase 2 - Genesee Street

As part of GBNRTC's Smartly Enhanced Multimodal Arterials (SEMA) initiative, two segments of Genesee Street have been selected as initial corridors for deploying SEMA treatments.

One segment is Genesee Street within the City of Buffalo, between Huron Street and East End Avenue. The second segment is in the Town of Tonawanda, from East End Avenue to Transit Road.

GBNRTC is now studying these two segments of Genesee Street — working to identify technologies and other treatments to modernize and enhance Genesee Street. The work involves collecting a range of data about Genesee Street and how travelers and residents use it. Afterwards, we will be considering which possible improvements would have the greatest positive impact.

GBNRTC welcomes feedback/suggestions relating to Genesee Street — please write to us at staff@gbnrtc.org or call (716) 856-2026.