The Regional Transit Service is launching a system-wide study of its public bus routes, looking into a possible complete overhaul of the system that’s been in place for more than 40 years.
The Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority announced the “Reimagine RTS” project today. The study begins next month and should be completed in a little over a year.
RTS CEO Bill Carpenter says the current routes running like spokes of a wheel from downtown out to the suburbs was designed when downtown Rochester was the center of the community in every sense. He says today the demographics of the region are different, major employment centers have changed and people have other options like ride-sharing and bike-sharing services to get around.
RTS has hired a consultant to conduct a three-stage study that will consult local stakeholders in public transit, transit riders and area employers (many new ones are no longer on major bus routes). It will analyze the data and come up with a proposal for an entirely new route system.
Carpenter says it will be a methodical process that will give everyone involved who wants to comment a chance to do it.