What's Being Done

There following are several significant activities and initiatives that are intended to improve or enhance our regional transportation network.

Long-Range Plan Outlines Goals and Actions

The Genesee Transportation Council (GTC) has developed our region's Long-Range Transportation Plan. The plan outlines seven key goals for the 2007 to 2027 timeframe, and recommends a series of actions. The recommendations are included in three categories: preservation and maintenance of current assets; operations and management of the transportation network; and selected capacity expansions to meet current and projected needs. The Long-Range Plan covers all aspects of our transportation system: highways and bridges; public transit; movement of freight; and bicycle and pedestrian activity.

Federal Stimulus to Aid Local Transportation Projects

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly referred to as the federal stimulus package, provides nearly $85 million to be allocated for highway, bridge and transit projects in our region. A summary of transportation projects scheduled to benefit from the economic stimulus package has been developed by, the Genesee Transportation Council.

Is High Speed Rail on the Horizon?

The prospects for high speed passenger rail service in Upstate got a boost when the Empire Corridor was listed as one of ten potential recipients of funding under the federal stimulus package. The Empire Corridor connects Albany with Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and serves our region at Rochester. Currently, there are eight trains daily (four in each direction). The concept of high speed passenger service is incorporated into New York's 2009 Rail Service Plan. An average speed of 110 MPH is envisioned and would be achieved primarily by constructing new dedicated tracks to eliminate slow-downs caused by conflicts with freight traffic. Other track and equipment improvements would be made. A travel time from Rochester of less than five hours to mid-town Manhattan is planned. Travel to Albany would be less than three hours, and Buffalo and Syracuse would both be within one hour. In addition to increased speeds, the plan would improve reliability by dramatically reducing conflicts between passenger and freight trains, currently the leading cause of delays.  

Transit Authority Encourages Transit Use

To encourage greater use of public transit, the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority offers it Transit Orientation Program to employers and other groups.


511 Service Now Available

The New York State Department of Transportation now offers 511 telephone service. By dialing or touching 511, callers can receive up-to-date traffic and transit information, airport information, access to a trip planner and rideshare service. Service is provided for the region from which the call originates, but callers can also switch to other regions. For Internet information about the 511 system, click here.

Banner photo provided by Rochester Downtown Development Corp.