Volunteers get hands dirty

Local volunteers couldn't have asked for a nicer day to get their hands dirty.

Hundreds of volunteers came out Saturday afternoon to restore and clean up Buffalo's Central Terminal and the surrounding area.

"I would say that there is twice as many volunteers this year compared to last year," said Volunteer Pierre Aubertin.

Each volunteer came together with one common goal.

To help the earth.

"It's a wonderful old building that deserves some use and shouldn't be torn down," said volunteer Frank Wierzbowski.

The last train left the Central Terminal in 1979, but the volunteers that came out here today hope to get the area rolling in the right direction again.

The Obama Administration is working to build ten high speed rail corridors across the US, and one of them is expected to connect New York City to Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

"I think this could certainly help to revitalize the area not only the east side of buffalo but downtown buffalo. And I think this could be a good place where Canadian businesses could stage some of their businesses and operations here in the US as well," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.

"If rail comes back to this location the whole east side is going to change this place is not only going to be for rail but its also going to be a place where you can live. that tower has some of the best views of the city...under our feet is 400 parking space," said Board Member Hank Olejniczak.

Many western New Yorkers have a strong connection with the central terminal, whether they worked there in the past or used the rail system, and that is why substantial progress has been made over the past 12 years in the clean up and restoration efforts.

"A lot of people are here to support it and help it out there's a little bit of hope left."

Hope that brought these volunteers to clean up, restore and revitalize the Central Terminal one "sweep" at a time.