Officials from the University of Rochester Medical Center and RTS have cut the ribbon on six new, high tech bus stations at the campus and around College Town.
They are spread around a campus which is the second highest destination for RTS buses, second only to the downtown transit center, according to RTS CEO Bill Carpenter.
He says the new stations feature bike lockers, heat units, digital real time signage, lighting, trash receptacles, video surveillance and more.
Carpenter says the new high tech transit stations are improving the transit experience for employees, patients, students and residents who rely on RTS to connect them to the campus every day.
And they will be safe, thanks to the security staff at the U of R.
"This is tied in with their surveillance system, so this is designed for public transit users, and I think they'll make sure their employees, customers, patients are the ones using the shelters."
According to Carpenter, 80 percent of the funding for the $2.9 million dollar bus stations comes from the federal government.
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter says this will provide a safe, secure place for transit customers.
"So many of the people who work here, depend on bus service to get to work. A lot of the patients as well, and we didn't want them standing out on the streets in this kind of weather."
These are the locations for the new bus stations:
Strong Hospital Station: at the entrance to Golisano Children’s Hospital on Crittenden Blvd.
Mental Health & Wellness Station: at the URMC Mental Health and Wellness entrance on Crittenden Blvd.
School of Medicine Station: at the School of Medicine entrance on Elmwood Ave.
Eastman Dental Station: at the Eastman Dental entrance on Elmwood Ave.
College Town Station: on Mt. Hope at Celebration Drive.
Mt. Hope Station: on Mt. Hope next to Bruegger’s.
Here's RTS CEO Bill Carpenter talking about the new stations: