Some significant changes are taking place for many RTS bus riders starting Monday due to a recent agreement reached with the Rochester City School District to provide additional bus transportation for high school students.
RTS is changing seven of its frequent routes which recently began 15-minute service as part of the Reimagine RTS plan. Those seven routes will now have 30-minute wait times.
RTS spokesman Tom Brede said it is disappointing they have to change the frequent service times after they just went into effect in May.
“It’s a little discouraging that we have to take it away but we need to make sure these kids are getting in the classroom, and so I think everyone understands the importance of that,” said Brede. “(It’s) unfortunate that this has to be the way to do it, but if this is the way we have to do it right now, then this is what we’re going to do and we just hope that folks in the community understand that.”
Brede said RTS would like to eventually restore the 15-minute wait times, but there’s no specific date yet on when that will happen. He said that RTS will work with area state and federal lawmakers to see if they can get additional funding to help make that happen.
That sentiment was echoed late last week by the local transportation advocacy organization, Reconnect Rochester, whichissued a statement saying that it supports RTS’ decision to help address the immediate school transportation crisis. It also said that more resources will help RTS restore service to previous levels as soon as possible.
These are the seven RTS routes moving from 15-minute wait times to 30-minute times, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The impacted routes are:
3 Joseph
4 Hudson
5 Portland
8 East Main
11 Monroe
16 Genesee
22 Lake
Route 21 Dewey will continue to have 15-minute frequency.
You can get more details on the RTS website.
