About this Location

Facility Overview

The Exit 49 Tandem Lot is a strategically engineered, multi-purpose transit facility operated by the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) at Interchange 49 along Interstate 90. Located at the intersection of Transit Road (NY Route 78) on the border of Williamsville, Depew, and Cheektowaga (Buffalo, NY 14221), this open-air surface lot serves a dual purpose: facilitating commercial Longer Combination Vehicle (LCV) tandem trailer operations and providing a dependable public Park & Ride carpool lot for regional commuters. Because it is a completely open-air grade-level facility with no overhead decks or height bars, there are no vertical clearance limits, making it exceptionally suited for high-roof commercial vans, oversized pickup trucks, SUVs, and passenger cars, while accommodating permitted multi-trailer freight haulers in designated commercial staging lanes.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned along one of Western New York’s primary north-south commercial arteries, the lot serves as an optimal jumping-off point for regional travelers, daily commuters, and eventgoers alike:

Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF): Situated just 4.5 miles west (approximately an 8- to 10-minute drive), making this an ideal meet-up location for airport drop-offs, pickups, and carpooling.
Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park): Located roughly 15 miles south via I-90 West (approximately 20 minutes), the lot is a premier rally point for Buffalo Bills fans consolidating vehicles before heading to stadium tailgates.
Downtown Buffalo & Canalside: Located approximately 14 miles west (18 to 22 minutes away), offering straightforward access to the KeyBank Center, Sahlen Field, and the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.
University at Buffalo (UB North & South Campuses): Roughly 7 to 9 miles northwest via Transit Road and Maple Road or I-90 to I-290, popular among commuting university staff and students.
Transit Road Shopping & Dining Corridor: Just outside the lot entrance are numerous national retailers, hotels, quick-serve dining spots, and premier restaurants, including Russell's Steaks, Chops & More.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward via Transit Road (NY Route 78) directly at the I-90 interchange ramps. Drivers exiting the Thruway can pull directly into the access road serving the commuter parking bays and tandem assembly yard without navigating through local neighborhood traffic. When departing, direct on-ramps provide immediate access east toward Rochester and Syracuse, or west toward downtown Buffalo, Erie (PA), and the I-290 interchange heading to Niagara Falls. Additionally, regional public transit connections are accessible along the Transit Road corridor via NFTA-Metro bus lines, supporting integrated multi-modal transit.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Free Commuter Stalls: Designated passenger car spaces provided at zero cost with no permit required for daily ridesharing.
Unrestricted Headroom: Fully flat, open-air surface layout accommodating vehicles of any height, including commercial rigs and tall cargo vans.
Overnight Staging for Commercial Transport: Engineered wide-turn lanes and deep stalls tailored for tandem breakdown and hookup operations.
Area Lighting: Elevated overhead lighting across parking bays and drive aisles for enhanced visibility and night-time security.
Paved Surface: Asphalt-paved lot with clearly delineated lane markers separating commuter stalls from commercial freight zones.
Designated ADA Parking: Marked accessible parking bays conveniently located close to lot access points.

Ideal For

Carpoolers and Ridesharers: Commuters meeting up along the I-90 corridor to share rides into downtown Buffalo, Amherst, or surrounding business parks.
Game-Day & Concert Fans: Groups traveling together to Highmark Stadium, KeyBank Center, or Darien Lake Amphitheater looking to minimize parking costs and congestion.
Commercial Truckers & LCV Operators: Logistics drivers legally staging, splitting, or connecting tandem trailers in accordance with NYS Thruway regulations.
Airport Navigators: Travelers coordinating shared rides or drivers waiting for arrivals outside the active airport terminal cell phone lots.

Visitor & Driver Tips

While standard carpool parking is free, the New York State Thruway Authority enforces a posted 16-hour maximum consecutive stay limit; leaving vehicles unattended for multiple days or overnight camping is prohibited without special authorization. Commuters should keep standard passenger vehicles within designated carpool stalls and avoid parking in the broad turnarounds and commercial truck lanes, which must remain unobstructed for heavy tandem maneuvers. Winter drivers should remain mindful of Western New York’s notorious lake-effect snowstorms; winter maintenance crews plow the lot regularly, but early-morning ice may form along the perimeter aisles during sub-freezing conditions.