As Western New York experiences prolonged cold temperatures, lake-effect snow, and winter storm conditions, WNY Bus Co. President Igor Finkelshtein has outlined the company's focus on safety, preparedness, and transparent communication with families and school districts. The region has faced persistent subfreezing temperatures, heavy wind gusts, and repeated lake-effect snow events over recent weeks, with nighttime lows routinely dropping well below freezing and snowfall bands producing wind-driven snow and reduced visibility. Finkelshtein stated that these conditions demand respect and that the company's first priority remains safety, with drivers and support teams working under tough conditions impacting visibility and surface traction.
The winter season has presented specific challenges including frequent lake-effect snow and snow showers with periodic accumulations requiring careful route adjustments, strong winds and blowing snow creating low visibility and drifting, and prolonged cold periods with temperatures well below seasonal averages. Local forecasts continue to show additional snow showers, blowing snow, and cold conditions at least through the coming week, emphasizing the need for caution on roadways. In response, WNY Bus Co. has implemented targeted measures including enhanced winter driver refresher sessions focusing on winter driving techniques and safety protocols, more frequent fleet winter checks covering tires, braking systems, heaters, and emergency equipment, and real-time route monitoring and communication with school transportation departments and parents.
The company coordinates extensively with local districts through established channels including their operational portal at https://www.wnybusco.com/operations. Finkelshtein added that the team continues to rise to the challenge, prioritizing student safety without shortcuts, even when adjusting timing or making operational calls behind the scenes. The company maintains continuous weather monitoring using resources from the National Weather Service available at https://www.weather.gov/buf/ to inform daily decisions. While forecasts show the possibility of continued snow events and wind in the near term, there are indications of reducing severity as the season progresses. WNY Bus Co. remains ready to adapt and is actively planning next steps as spring approaches.
Finkelshtein emphasized that the effort is about trust, with the company working every day to earn it. This approach demonstrates how specialized transportation providers must balance operational efficiency with absolute safety priorities during extreme weather events that directly impact student wellbeing and community confidence in critical infrastructure. The company's measures reflect a broader necessity for robust preparedness in regions prone to severe winter weather, where transportation safety directly affects educational continuity and family assurance. The persistent conditions underscore the importance of proactive communication and adaptive strategies in maintaining reliable services despite environmental challenges.
