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Panel discusses future of transportation in Rochester

Transportation's role in transforming the future of the city was the topic of a panel discussion at Rochester Rotary's first meeting Tuesday afternoon.

A number of guest speakers discussed ways to increase and enhance transportation services, suggesting more buses, faster routes and introducing van pool and ride-share services.

Demographics were discussed by RGRTA CEO Bill Carpenter, mainly how to get younger people to use buses more.

"To say this is a cool way to go, I don’t have to pay attention when I’m on the bus, I can text, I can talk to a friend there’s other things I can do."

He also noted the speed of current routes as a deterrent.

"We have to make it so within 10, 15, maybe 20 minutes there’s going to be a bus. Not, "I missed it; another one will be coming in an hour. I’ll just wait here."

Carpenter also hopes the addition of 10 electric buses attracts more riders.

Erik Frisch is the transportation specialist for the city of Rochester. He said providing choices was their main focus, whether it’s a better bus system, possible ride-sharing, or riding a bike safely.

"Now there’s about 75 miles of on-street bike facilities. Those are your bike lanes, shared-use lanes, bike boulevards, and protected lanes, and that gets bicyclists out of the street and protected by curb or other means."

Frisch said the city is working with Zagster, a private bike-share service provider to develop a bike share in the city, expected to have roughly 25 stations and/or 250 bikes available by this spring.