The Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany and Steuben Southern Tier Extension Railroad Authority, known more commonly as the Southern Tier Extension Railroad Authority or STERA, is a local public authority created by the New York State Legislature in response to home rule requests from Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany and Steuben Counties of New York State.

Please visit the "About STERA" pages on this web site to learn more about STERA's creation, mission, history, and ongoing operations.

Currently, STERA is involved with two railroad lines, which are called the Southern Tier Extension and the Buffalo Line.

The Southern Tier Extension is a 145-mile long rail line - the former Erie Lackawanna mainline - that runs between Corry, Pennsylvania and Hornell, New York. The Southern Tier Extension has interconnections with other rail lines at each end. The Southern Tier Extension serves the Cities of Jamestown, Salamanca, Olean, and Hornell, and the Village of Wellsville and other small villages and towns along the line.

The Buffalo Line is a 40 mile long rail line that runs between Machias Junction in Cattaraugus County, New York and the Pennsylvania State line at Portville, New York. The Buffalo Line also has interconnections with other rail lines at each end. The Buffalo Line serves the City of Olean and other villages and towns along the line in New York and Pennsylvania.

The Southern Tier Extension and the Buffalo Line interconnect in Olean.

STERA works in conjunction with its member counties, New York State Department of Transportation, Norfolk Southern Corporation, and the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad LLC to promote rail service on these two lines, and to promote economic development by improve the efficiency of freight shipping in southwestern New York State and Pennsylvania.