TRANSPORTATION
Recently, Rochester Public Transit launched a pilot micro transit program, RPT Go, to offer affordable, on-demand rides within a specific area of southeast Rochester to enhance and improve local transportation options. Riders can book trips on-demand for an immediate need or for later in the day from an app or via phone call and ride anywhere within a pre- determined zone. Contained within the triangular area of 12 St. SE/Hwy. 14, west of 50 Avenue SE, and east of Badger Run Creek, including both sides of Marion Road. People can travel from that zone to or from any one of five “hubs” (Cub Foods SE, Rochester Community and Technical College, Mayo High School, Quarry Hill Park, or Fairgrounds Park and Ride). Rochester’s transportation network is set to expand with the introduction of the Link Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. Spanning 2.8 miles along 2nd Street SW, the Link BRT will connect key downtown destinations, including the Mayo Clinic Campus, Downtown Waterfront, Rochester Public Library, parks, educational institutions, and prominent businesses. Designed as a high-capacity transit system, the Link BRT will provide fast, dependable service with the added benefit of free rides for everyone. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2025, with service expected to launch in 2026. Once operational, the system will serve approximately 5,900 daily riders, offering wait times as short as five minutes during peak hours. The project will improve mobility for residents, visitors, and Mayo Clinic patients, while reducing traffic congestion and supporting sustainable transportation solutions. Of course, thanks to millions of visitors to the Mayo Clinic each year, the Rochester International Airport has become a central transportation hub for the region. The airport offers daily flights to Chicago and Minneapolis, and is served by two air carriers, transporting about 190,000 commercial passengers each year. The airport also welcomes general aviation aircraft and features a U.S. customs facility, which enjoys continued growth in international general aviation passenger arrivals. The airport provides an impressive annual economic impact for the region of $190 million in economic activity, 1,624 jobs, and $63 million in annual payroll. The airport’s Fed Ex Air Freight Center handled more than 17.5 million pounds of landed weight in 2023.
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