Transit Takes a Back Seat at University of Rochester

This article was scraped from Rochester Subway. This is a blog about Rochester history and urbanism has not been published since 2017. The current owners are now publishing link spam which made me want to preserve this history.. The original article was published September 30, 2012 and can be found here.

In case you haven't heard, plans for a transit center at University of Rochester's College Town have been scrapped. The project is set to receive     $20 Million in public loans

but the     D&C reported

that plans for an enclosed transit center--which would have had 10 to 12 bus bays--no longer fits the developers' needs.

This is a sad and unfortunate decision.

I asked RGRTA if they are still committed to improving transit service to the UofR Medical Center. They are indeed. RGRTA says while there will not be an enclosed facility, alternative solutions might include new routes, premium shelters and curb cuts within the Mt Hope / Crittenden / Kendrick / Elmwood block with stops at both sides of the main entrance.

But the greater issue may be that Joel Seligman and leaders at Rochester's most influential educational institution do not appear to understand how important it is for they themselves to show leadership in prioritizing transit options over automobile use.

   College Town's 1,525 space, five-story parking garage     seems to grow larger every time plans are updated

. This is not 21st century thinking. Building     a new highway interchange

to ease automobile congestion is not 21st century thinking.
   Shutting out public transit and transportation alternatives is not 21st century thinking.

These regressive decisions by the University set a poor example for students and for future community developments. In the long run they are damaging to Rochester's environment, our health, and our economy.

Elementary school children understand these concepts. Are those in charge of Rochester's prestigious educational institution still in the dark? Maybe we should all contact Mr. Seligman and tell him why we think public transit options need to be given greater priority at UofR...

Joel Seligman
   Office of the President
   University of Rochester
   240 Wallis Hall
   Rochester, NY 14627
   Phone: (585) 275-8356
     [email protected]

Related Links:

Rachel Barnhart calls College Town "a travesty"

    $20 million federal loan for College Town