The NFTA moved one step closer to extending its metro rail into Amherst Thursday, voting to approve $5 million to fund an environmental study and initial design.

"It's going to take between 24 and 30 months to complete and the next phase is project development, which is another year after that,” said Kim Minkel, NFTA executive director.

The decision to move forward with the study comes despite an effort by Rep. Brian Higgins, who wrote a letter to NFTA leadership, urging them to focus the $5 million elsewhere. 

"I'm asking them to emphasis more on improving the current system we have before extending it to Amherst,” said Higgins, (D) 26th Congressional District.

With recent development downtown, most notably the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Higgins believes the focus should be improvements to existing stations and the cars themselves, and the recently announced $42 million plan to invest in the DL&W station. 

"Providing a state-of-the-art with new cars and new track bed and an attractive corridor between Canalside and the medical campus,” said Higgins. “It will give new purpose to a rail system that's been looking for purpose for 40 years." 

NFTA Executive Director Kim Minkel says she's concerned the extension's biggest voice in Washington has shifted his opinion after championing it as recently as December.

Higgins referenced in his letter that federal funding for the project may no longer be available and it may be unwise to go forward with a project that boasts a $1.2 billion price tag, but with a lengthy timeline for the project, Minkel says they will go forward with the study regardless. 

"I think it's wise to position ourselves, get this done, so when the money becomes available, we can move forward on the project,” said Minkel.

Higgins says even though he believes the money would be better spent elsewhere, he will continue to fight for the region's best interest when it comes to public transportation.