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With the critical access provided to jobs, education, food, health care, and more, it’s hard to find a part of our regional economy that isn’t touched by public transportation. The Regional Transit Service has consistently demonstrated the critical role that public transit systems play in our Greater Rochester community. Through and through, public transit connects people, places, and economies.
Businesses and development projects throughout our region can attest to the importance of transit systems like RTS. We have already seen what investment in public transit can do for our community’s economic development. Look no further than RTS extending service to the new T-Mobile facility in Henrietta, the new UR Medicine orthopaedic facility at Marketplace Mall, and the new Amazon distribution facility in Gates, where over 52 percent of their workforce commutes by bus. These are critical job destinations and public transit is a great way to connect people looking for jobs with employers looking to recruit and retain employees.
A greater investment in RTS from New York State would provide more connectivity and access to the new business developments that are opening up within and outside the city of Rochester. State funding helped RTS implement a redesigned transit system that is safe, reliable, convenient, and sustainable for the people it serves. And with fares at $1 per ride and capped at $3 per day, it is also very affordable.
Combine these efforts with RTS’ universal pass partnership with the city of Rochester and its partnership with Monroe County to allow public benefit recipients to use their EBT cards on RTS buses, and the road ahead offers a clear path to continued development, growth, and prosperity for our region.
With clear benefits for New Yorkers across the state, increasing operating aid and capital funding for transit systems just makes sense. In collaboration with RTS and other transit systems across Upstate New York, we are committed to working with our legislators to help make funding match the growing demand for safe, modern public transit services and infrastructure.
Now is the time to significantly invest in high-quality transportation networks like RTS here in Rochester and across Upstate New York. Transit systems need dedicated, sustainable revenues to provide the essential services their communities require and to support the state’s initiatives for climate change, affordable housing and economic growth.
For our communities, for our economy, and for our future, it’s time to invest in public transportation.
Bob Duffy, CEO of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, served as Rochester mayor from 2006 to 2010 and New York lieutenant governor from January 2011 to December 2014.
The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. See “Leave a Reply” below to discuss on this post. Comments of a general nature may be submitted to the Letters page by emailing [email protected].
It would be great to have improved travel options but RTS bus service has instead declined over the years. When I first moved to Perinton and worked at Midtown Tower, I had a choice of 3 morning busses that brought me directly to Midtown in 22 minutes. Now, there is only one bus each way. leaving for downtown at 7 AM and leaving the Transit Center at 5:30 PM. (This is a recent change from the previous schedule of about 6:30 AM and 7:30 PM). This would work for someone on a strict 8 to 5 office schedule, but it is not useful for those working other jobs. And it may require a walk or transfer from the Transit Center. When I wanted to attend an event at Monroe Community College, the RTS Trip Planner suggested I leave the night before, presumably to camp out on the campus until the next day,
RTS does not offer On Demand service for Seniors in much of Perinton. If I become unable to drive, I will need to move or use much more expensive taxis or rideshare vehicles to get to medical and other appointments. A taxi to UR Medicine can cost over $50 EACH WAY. Yet the RTS On Demand service is offered to seniors and people with disabilities in less populated areas outside of Monroe County. Improved transit would be welcome, but it is unlikely because the emphasis at RTS seems to be on cost, not service.
And get rid of parking requirements like they did in Tempe and elsewhere.
If we had fast, reliable public transit throughout Webster, I could finally ditch my car and save *hundreds* on gas and insurance alone each month! That’s money I could spend locally instead of at giant corporations like Sunoco or Geico! Not to mention there’s something nice about being able to read on a commute