Politics
Rochester City Council Approves Transit Route Expansion Plan, Bus Service Adjustments to Begin January 2027
Rochester residents using public transit will encounter revised schedules and added stops on select routes starting in the first quarter of next year after the council adopted the measure on July 8.
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How we reported this
The Rochester City Council voted 5-2 on July 8 to adopt the 2026 Transit Route Expansion Plan. The decision reallocates capital funds to extend evening and weekend service on four existing bus lines that serve the northeast and southwest sections of the city.
The vote follows the release of the city's updated five-year capital improvement document in June. That document identified gaps in current service coverage based on 2025 ridership data compiled by the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority.
Phased Rollout and Resident Schedules
Changes will occur in two stages. Route 12 and Route 17 will receive new stops and adjusted departure times beginning January 2027. Routes 22 and 31 will follow in March 2027. City officials project the additions will serve an estimated 2,400 additional daily boardings by the end of 2027, according to the adopted resolution.
Commuters who rely on these lines for shifts at Strong Memorial Hospital or manufacturing sites along the Genesee River will see the first timetable revisions posted at stops in December 2026. The resolution states that printed schedules will be distributed at the Rochester Public Library branches and the main transit center on Main Street.
Funding Source and Local Budget Impact
The plan draws $4.8 million from the city's general fund reserves, with the balance covered by a federal transit administration grant already secured for the 2026 fiscal year. Property tax bills mailed in 2027 will reflect no direct increase tied to this allocation, as the council resolution specifies use of existing reserves rather than new levies.
Implementation begins with a public comment period on proposed stop locations scheduled for August 12 at City Hall. Bidding for new bus shelters will open in September, with construction expected to finish before the January service launch.