The Regional Transit Service has been the backbone of Greater Rochester’s transportation system since the RGRTA was founded in 1969. Through its fixed-route buses, RTS On Demand and RTS Access, riders take nearly 18.5 million trips every year.
For the last month, I’ve been reporting on public transit and mobility in Rochester — talking to residents and local leaders to find out if the bus system adequately meets the community’s needs.
Nationally, bus ridership has recovered to about 86% of 2019 levels — leading among fixed-route public transit — but RTS has lagged behind, recovering 76.5% of its ridership as of the end of 2024, according to the New York State Data Portal and our calculations.
What do we think about RTS, transportation in Rochester?
I’ve spoken to several riders who deeply appreciate the reach, frequency and affordability of RTS.
I’ve also met people who have faced challenges using it. Some say On Demand isn’t reliable enough. Others have safety concerns. Some feel defeated, saying Rochester’s car-centric layout makes public transit difficult to navigate.
But there are still hundreds of thousands who ride every year — and I want to hear from you.
What challenges do you face while riding RTS? What’s working well? What changes would make accessing and riding buses better?
Share your story by filling out our quick survey below or by scanning the QR code in print. Your experiences will help us spotlight problems and solutions for public transit in Rochester.
We may reach out for an interview to hear more. Thank you for helping us tell this story!
— Misha Manjuran Oberoi is a summer intern at the Democrat & Chronicle covering transportation and mobility, and a rising junior at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Is the bus in your neighborhood reliable, and does it meet your daily commute needs? Why or why not? I’d love to hear more about your experiences! You can reach me with any tips or concerns at moberoi@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester bus riders: Tell us about your transit experience
Reporting by Misha Manjuran Oberoi, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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