ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Two months after RTS ended its On Demand services for weekend and late-night riders, some more changes are coming to the transit service.
RTS says it plans to fully end its On Demand services across Monroe County in 2027 as part of its restructuring changes. Friday, Jan. 22 will be the last day of On Demand services in the Brockport, Irondequoit, Pittsford, and Webster areas. After that, Friday, April 2 will be the last day for the Greece, Henrietta, and Lexington Avenue areas.
RTS also announced new fixed bus routes in areas where riders most frequently used On Demand services. According to RTS, these new routes aim to make sure that people still have access to jobs, healthcare, and other important local destinations once On Demand ridership ends.
These new routes will start up on April 5:
- Henrietta: The Route 97 Elmwood Commuter will be extended in Henrietta to serve select destinations such as the Rochester Calkins Road VA Clinic, the Henrietta Community Center, the Henrietta Public Library, and a planned housing development near the intersection of East Henrietta Road and Calkins Road.
- Lexington Avenue/Lee Road Area: A new commuter route from the RTS Transit Center will serve destinations in the Lexington Avenue/Lee Road area, including LiDestri Foods, L3Harris, Love Beets, Flower City Group, Edison Tech High School, and Amazon. It will provide trips in the morning and evening, seven days a week.
- Greece: A new route will connect customers from the RTS Transit Center to destinations such as the Affinity Orchard Apartments and Walmart on Dewey Avenue. It will follow part of Route 22 Lake before serving portions of West Ridge Road, Stone Road, Mount Read Boulevard, and Vintage Lane.
Why RTS On Demand is ending
RTS said its On Demand services have been expensive and inefficient to operate and are sometimes unreliable. According to RTS, its On Demand services make up less than 3% of its ridership but take up 14% of its budget. That means riding On Demand costs 6.5 times more per customer than a fixed-route bus ride.
However, some community members and elected officials have criticized the decision to scale back On Demand Services. News10NBC spoke with one person who relied on On Demand ridership to get to work until it scaled back its hours in September.
In a statement, State Senator Jeremy Cooney said the end to RTS On Demand is a “direct hit” to those who rely on its services for work and other essentials. Cooney, the Senate’s Transportation Chair, is calling on state and federal lawmakers to increase public transportation funding.
“Public bus service is a critical part of our regional transportation network, serving more than 10 million people each year and supporting over 1,000 jobs. The elimination of RTS On Demand is a direct hit to those who rely on its services each day and underscores the need for greater financial support.”
According to RTS, its costs are growing faster than its revenues. RTS also faces a structural budget deficit of around $30 million. In a statement, RTS CEO Miguel Velázquez said the service has a responsibility to use taxpayer dollars efficiently:
“The entire RTS team recognizes that this service restructuring will have an impact on our customers, and we do not take that responsibility lightly. However, as stewards of taxpayer dollars, we have an obligation to ensure that we deliver service in the most reliable, efficient, and financially sustainable manner possible. Even though this was a very difficult decision to make, it is necessary to help us ensure the long-term health and sustainability of our community’s public transit system. Additionally, we are in discussions with the president of SUNY Brockport and are actively working to see if we can find a solution that aligns with our financial reality and helps meet the college’s transportation needs.”
Other changes coming to RTS
In addition to these changes, RTS will eliminate the Route 91 Newark/Lyons commuter route, with Dec. 31 being the final day. Also, Route 50 Fairport/Penfield Suburban is being rerouted to begin and end at the RTS Transit Center, instead of the Blossom Loop Connection Hub. That route will provide access to select destinations in the Pittsford On Demand Zone, including the Friendly Home and the St. John Fisher Connection Hub.
You can learn more about the restructuring changes coming to RTS here or by calling 585-288-1700.
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