Hochul announces proposal for creation of cruise terminal at Buffalo's Outer Harbor
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday a request for proposals for the creation of a new cruise terminal at Buffalo's Outer Harbor to serve as a docking location for domestic and international travel.
The proposal, issued by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC), calls for the terminal to support Great Lakes cruise operations at Slip 2 on the harbor. Hochul's office said cruise companies have expressed interest in the location and that Buffalo could serve as a port by 2027.
"That area hasn't really been touched since The Pier restaurant was taken down," said Mark Wendel, president of ECHDC. "This gives us the opportunity to really bring forth an improvement to that project, not just to receive cruise ships, but [to] also make it more accessible to the public and really start the trails and be able to enjoy the Outer Harbor both if you're local or if you're a visitor."
Aside from a new cruise terminal, the project proposed upgrades to seawall shoring, improved public access and landscaping, along with creating a small parking lot and single-story buildings for customs processing and public restrooms.
The proposal comes after the ECHDC's Market Demand Study completed in 2024, which recommended Slip 2 as a destination for the terminal out of six other locations along the waterfront.
“Adding Buffalo as a terminal on a Great Lakes cruise itinerary is a tremendous opportunity for the City of Buffalo and Western New York,” Hochul said in a statement. “Buffalo is well-positioned as a destination in the growing industry, allowing the city and region to benefit from the increased visitors and resulting positive economic impact. New York State is committed to providing the facilities needed to accommodate the cruise operations and ensure smooth sailing ahead.”
Wendel said the study estimated a $17 million cost to "get things going" with the new terminal. He is also hoping for construction to start in the spring of 2026 with docking starting mid-summer in 2027. The cruise ships would hold anywhere from 180 to just under 300 guests.
After Hochul announced a string of projects planned for the waterfront back in 2022, she referred to more passenger cruise ships coming to Buffalo as "a radical idea." She spoke about the possibility of Buffalo functioning as a cruise line stop after seeing a map of stops from a "very profitable cruise ship line" at a meeting of Great Lakes governors and Canadian premiers in Quebec.
The request for proposals will allow for a final analysis of the cruise terminal's decided location at Slip 2.
"The RFP is out there to bring a design team together, to really do the final analysis of the site, analyze the infrastructure, what improvements need to be there, work with Customs and Border Patrol on what their needs are to receive visitors, really help us hone in the final design to make this a successful terminal," Wendel said.
Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.