RTS Transit Center Now Open

Dec. 8, 2014
For the first time in 152 years of Rochester transit, buses no longer line up outside on Main Street.

RTS ushered in a new era of public transit on November 28, with the opening of its new $50 million RTS Transit Center.  For the first time in 152 years of Rochester transit, buses no longer line up outside on Main Street. Today, customers catch their buses in an enclosed climate-controlled environment featuring state-of-the-art amenities and advanced technology.

RTS Chief Executive Officer Bill Carpenter said, “This is a significant milestone for RTS and for our community. We have created a world-class facility that will make it easy for current and future generations of customers to enjoy the ride.”

The opening was the culmination of years of planning and countless hours of work by RTS employees and construction partners, along with cooperation and support from Federal, state and local officials.

The building spans the block between North Clinton Avenue and St. Paul Street in Rochester, and will serve more than 20,000 customers who travel through downtown each day. It offers on-site customer service representatives, ticket vending machines, trip planning tools, rest rooms, and enhanced technology to meet the needs of visually and physically-challenged customers.

Groundbreaking for the project took place on Nov. 20, 2012. A dedication and ribbon-cutting was held on Oct. 20. The $50 million cost was funded by the Federal Transportation Administration (80 percent), the New York State Department of Transportation (10 percent), and RGRTA (10 percent).