October 23, 2026 by No Comments

Where They Stand: 2026 Monroe County Candidates for Congress, State Legislature, Town, and Village races

Reconnect Rochester surveyed all Monroe County candidates for US Congress, State Legislature, and Town & Village races to learn where they stand on issues related to transportation and mobility.

Click on the candidate names below to read their full, unedited responses. Candidates appear in the order presented on the Monroe County Board of Elections Certification of Candidates list. If you are interested to learn more about how we conduct our candidate questionnaire, feel free to take a look at our methodology dropdown below.

We hope this information will help you make an informed decision when you head to the polls! Early voting for the primary election starts Saturday, October 24th and runs through Sunday, November 1st. Click here to find early voting sites! Polls will also be open from 6am to 9pm on Election Day, November 3rd.

To check if you are registered to vote, confirm your polling location for the November 4th general election, and even see a preview of what your ballot will look like: click here.

Our Methodology & Process

Reconnect Rochester has run a campaign questionnaire for several years with the goal of informing our audience where candidates for elected office stand on issues related to transportation and mobility. In the past we have focused on elections in the City of Rochester Mayor & City Council, Monroe County Legislature & Executive, NY Senate & Assembly, and our Congressional District (NY-25). To match our commitment to all municipalities in Monroe County, last year we expanded the questionnaire to cover town and village races.

For the 2026 election year, we are running two candidate questionnaires to cover the primary election and the general election. You are currently looking at our general election questionnaire. To view our primary election questionnaire from June, click here.

For the general election, we surveyed 74 candidates from across our region. We began by referring to the list of certified candidates provided by the Monroe County Board of Elections. With a list of all candidates, we located campaign emails and websites to send our questionnaire.

All candidates initially received our questionnaire in the mail. We then sent several reminder notifications to encourage candidates to participate. Candidates with functional campaign webpages and emails received at least one reminder digitally. The hyper local nature of some elections often made finding the email addresses of candidates difficult. Many candidates run campaigns from Facebook pages or through word of mouth. Candidates without clear digital contact methods received a second copy of the questionnaire in the mail to the address the candidate filed with the Monroe County Board of Elections.

Regardless of the contact method, candidates received at least two communications explaining our questionnaire asking for responses. The majority of our outreaches were sent on the week of September 7th, September 28th and October 19th with a deadline of October 21st to give us time to upload the responses to this webpage.

If you have any questions about our candidate questionnaire, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for taking the time to see where your candidates stand and for voting.

Congressional and State Legislature Elections

Candidates for US Congress (NY-25)

Joseph Morelle

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: paul@votemorelle.com

Website: votemorelle.com

1. What do you think are Rochester/Monroe County’s greatest transportation challenges?

Rochester and Monroe County continue to face several key transportation challenges, including aging infrastructure, limited transportation options in some communities, and persistent pedestrian and cyclist safety concerns. Many residents still lack safe and convenient ways to access jobs, healthcare, schools, and other essential services without relying on a personal vehicle.

We also face the challenge of modernizing our transportation network in a way that reconnects neighborhoods, reduces emissions, and creates safer streets for everyone. Addressing these issues requires sustained investment in infrastructure, public transit, and multimodal transportation options that improve mobility and quality of life throughout our community.

2. Currently, Congress is debating the details of Transportation Reauthorization, the bill which largely shapes our nation’s transportation system investments over the next 5 years. It is currently unclear if the Reauthorization bill will be passed in 2026 or 2027. Will you commit to ensuring that the following program elements are included:

– Robust funding for Transportation Alternatives

– Legislative language of the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Act and the Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act

– Reauthorization and fund for the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program

Yes. I support robust funding for Transportation Alternatives programs and the continued authorization and funding of the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. These investments have already made a significant difference in our community.

In 2024, I helped secure $23.7 million through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program for the City of Rochester, the largest award of its kind in New York State. That funding is helping improve safety and accessibility throughout our transportation network and making some of our most dangerous roadways safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

As Congress considers the next transportation authorization bill, I will continue advocating for investments that improve safety, expand mobility, strengthen public transit, and help communities build transportation systems that work for everyone.

3. In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 83% since 2009. In Monroe County, an average of 12 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Rochester recently announced a commitment to “ROC Vision Zero” aiming to eliminate traffic deaths from our streets. If elected, would you support this program and if so, how?

Yes, and I have already worked to support many of the goals behind ROC Vision Zero.

Eliminating traffic deaths requires coordinated investments in safer road design, improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, better transit access, and data-driven safety improvements.

These investments help make dangerous roadways safer and more accessible while connecting residents to jobs, healthcare providers, community centers, and other critical resources. I will continue working with local leaders and advocates to secure the federal resources needed to make Rochester’s Vision Zero goals a reality.

4. Emissions from Transportation make up over 40% of Co2 emissions in Monroe County. To meet our climate goals, personal vehicle trips will have to be reduced. How will you support transportation options such as walking, biking and public transportation in our community, and improve accessibility to jobs and resources for residents who don’t own or want to use a car?

Expanding transportation options is essential both for reducing emissions and ensuring that all residents can access economic opportunity.

In Congress, I have supported legislation including the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which would significantly reduce carbon emissions, and the Environmental Justice for All Act, which would strengthen protections for communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and environmental hazards.

I have also worked to secure federal investments that support sustainable transportation here in Monroe County. In 2025, I helped secure nearly $100 million for the Inner Loop North Transformation Project, which will reconnect neighborhoods divided by highway construction and improve mobility throughout Rochester. I also secured $850,000 for RGRTA to improve the efficiency of its growing hydrogen-powered bus fleet, helping modernize public transit while reducing emissions.

By investing in public transportation, safer pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and projects that reconnect communities, we can reduce emissions while improving access to jobs, services, and opportunity.

5. Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

I have a proven record of turning these priorities into action.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to secure federal support for projects that improve roadway safety, strengthen public transit, and reconnect communities that have too often been left behind. From supporting Rochester’s Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative to helping advance the Inner Loop North Transformation Project and investments in cleaner public transit, I have consistently fought for transportation investments that make our community safer, more connected, and more accessible.

I also recognize that transportation policy is about more than infrastructure. It is about whether people can safely get to work, access healthcare, reach school, and participate fully in their community. That’s why I have supported legislation such as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act and the Environmental Justice for All Act, because transportation decisions should promote both opportunity and sustainability.

I will continue working to ensure the Rochester community has transportation systems that are safe, reliable, accessible, and built for the future.

Virgina E McIntyre

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: info@virginiamcintyreforcongress.com

Website: https://virginiamcintyreforcongress.com/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for NY Senate 54th District

Pamela A Helming

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: pamhelming@gmail.com

Website: https://www.helmingforny.com/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Michael Mills

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: michael@electmills.com

Website: https://electmills.com/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for NY Senate 55th District

Samra G Brouk

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: info@samraforsenate.com

Website: https://www.samrabrouk.org/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Chris Brown

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website: https://chrisbrownfornysenate.com/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for NY Senate 56th District

Jeremy A Cooney

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: info@jeremycooney.com

Website: www.jeremycooney.com

1. Across Upstate New York, transit agencies are facing a fiscal crisis due to a lack of dedicated funding while the costs of operating transit continue to rise. In 2025, lawmakers fully funded the MTA while without addressing shortfalls upstate. Lawmakers have proposed raising STOA contributions from the general fund and increasing dedicated revenue streams directed to transit. Will you commit to ensuring that RGRTA and all upstate transit authorities are fully funded in your next term?

Yes, I absolute support fully funding for all upstate transit authorities, including RGRTA. As Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, I advanced conversations around needed dedicated funding, and ensured the Senate’s proposed budget fully funded upstate transit. I stood with transit advocates during the budget process to advocate for fully funding upstate transit, and while I was happy to see a 7% increase, it is not enough I’m committed to fighting for more. The work continues. I recently authored an Op-Ed calling for fully funding upstate transit, while specifically pointing to the economic benefits of doing so. I will also be pushing for more aid in next year’s budget.

2. Amtrak’s Empire Service has far exceeded pre-pandemic ridership numbers and trains to and from NYC regularly sell out Thursday-Sunday. As a state supported rail service, Amtrak operates the Empire Corridor as decided by the New York State Department of Transportation. What actions by the NYS legislature will you take to support the expansion of rail service and make other improvements to inter-city travel in upstate New York?

I believe New York needs to follow the lead of many other states and adopt a set rail plan that outlines specific improvements that will help advance passenger rail across the state. I also support using the 90B study to identify improvements that the state could help fund, that would shorten travel time and decrease the number of delays. I also think we should continue dreaming big about passenger rail for our future. High speed rail can be our future, but we need to plan now. I helped secure $500,000 to examine the feasibility of putting high speed rail along the Thruway right of way, and will continue advocating for more money to develop higher speed options across the state.

3. In 2024, Reconnect Rochester successfully advocated for $18 million dollars to be included in the New York state budget to bring Inter-City buses to Louise M. Slaughter Intermodal Station. As of now, the project has not started. What will you do as a legislator to move this project forward with NYSDOT and Amtrak to ensure that intercity bus riders are given dignified amenities?

I helped bring the $18 million through the budget for Phase II of the Louise M. Slaughter Station development, for the construction of an intermodal station. I have consistently worked with NYSDOT and Amtrak to advance the project, including pressing Amtrak to select a developer, while working with NYSDOT to advocate for them to begin a design process while Amtrak worked out specifics. I will continue to work with all interested parties to work toward a final completed project that utilizes the $18 million I’ve already helped secure.

4. In 2024, a Brookings report examining state DOT planning, investment, and accountability practices ranked New York 49th in the country, only outpacing Alabama. NYSDOT continues to prioritize the flow of vehicle traffic in the majority of its projects, has slow-walked strategic reform processes/plans, and keeps data such as crash reports out of the public eye. Proposed bike lanes on state roads are often symbolic and not safe or connected. Reconnect Rochester sits on both the New York Safe Streets Coalition and the New Yorkers for Transportation Equity Coalition which are advocating for systemic NYSDOT reforms. How will you work to advance NYSDOT transparency and accountability reforms in the legislature?

I believe NYSDOT needs to be more transparent, both in processes it goes through to issue reports and in delivering reports on time. For example, each year the NYSDOT is statutorily required to release a pavement conditions report by June, yet it consistently ignores this requirement and does not release reports for months, and only after my consistent advocacy to get them to do so. The Active Transportation Plan is another example where I’ve called on DOT to speed up the process and include more voices for input, yet it is also overdue for release. I will work with advocacy groups like Reconnect Rochester to continue to seek ways to reform DOT’s processes.

5. Many residents of the Rochester area either can’t, or can barely afford to own a car. Before the war in Iran caused gas prices to skyrocket, AAA estimated that car ownership costs over $11,500 a year. How will you support affordable transportation options such as walking, biking and public transportation in our community, and improve accessibility to jobs and resources for residents who don’t own or want to use a car?

I am a firm believer of using complete street elements in every road project, that would require the consideration of sidewalks, paths, bike lanes and road diet elements. I carry legislation that would require complete street elements be used for road maintenance projects, which are the vast majority of road projects done across the state. I also believe employers can do more to promote public transportation. I carry a bill to allow employers to offer additional fringe benefits for more transportation options, like public bike share networks. I also believe employers could support more transit options to places of employment, following a model Amazon has used to support transit to its facility in Gates, where the company helps subsidize the cost of the route, bringing public transit options to an area employer.

6. Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

I have used my role as Senate Transportation Committee Chair to advocate for robust transit funding, complete street elements across our communities, advance transportation options through funding for the intermodal station, and push for options like sidewalks on our streets. I’ve worked legislatively for safety measures like the Super Speeders law, and will keep fighting to see it extended statewide. I’ve passed additional safety measures like school bus cameras to catch vehicles that threaten our children by passing stopped school buses. I will continue to fight for public transit and safer streets.

Orlando Rivera

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Carl Fitzsimmons

Political Party: Democratic

Candidate Email: friends@friendsofbutch.com

Website: fitzsimmonsforassembly.com

Yes, I commit to that — and I want to explain why this is not just a transit issue, but a fundamental question of fairness.

The numbers tell a clear story. Upstate transit aid has grown 115% over the past 15 years while downstate aid grew nearly 150%. Non-MTA systems like RGRTA receive state revenue that is 80% lower per resident than what the MTA receives. In the most recent budget, downstate systems received a 7% STOA increase while upstate got 3.4% — less than half. And RGRTA is staring down a structural deficit that will balloon over the next several years if state assistance stays essentially flat, potentially forcing service cuts to the people who need it most.

That is not an accident. It is the result of upstate transit having far fewer dedicated revenue sources. The MTA has 18 dedicated funding streams. Upstate systems have four. Closing that structural gap — through increased STOA, new dedicated revenue streams, and equitable capital investment — will be a legislative priority for me.

I also want to be direct about the path this investment should take: I support transitioning RGRTA’s bus fleet to electric vehicles as part of this funding effort. The state has already invested in non-MTA zero-emission programs, and RGRTA should be a full beneficiary of that pipeline. Electric buses cost more upfront, but reduce long-term operating costs and align with the state’s own climate commitments. Funding upstate transit and electrifying it at the same time is not a contradiction — it is the smarter long-term investment.

But I want to go further than buses. Rochester once had something remarkable: a subway system built in the bed of the old Erie Canal that opened in 1927 and connected the city with surrounding communities — Greece, Brighton, Pittsford — running on electric overhead wires for nearly 30 years. It was abandoned in 1956, not because it failed the public, but because highway policy and the politics of the automobile era made it easier to fill the canal bed with expressways than to invest in what we already had.

We made that mistake once. I don’t think we should accept it as permanent.

Modern light rail — the kind operating today in Buffalo, Seattle, and dozens of other cities — is exactly the subway-style rapid transit Rochester once had, updated for the 21st century. A well-designed light rail corridor connecting Rochester’s core to surrounding towns would reduce traffic, serve residents who don’t own cars, and give car owners a genuine alternative for commuting and recreation. It deserves serious study and serious advocacy at the state level, and I will bring that to Albany.

Fully funding RGRTA, electrifying the fleet, and beginning the long work of building rapid transit that extends into the surrounding towns — these are connected goals, not competing ones. The question is whether we have the political will to pursue all three.

Thank you for raising this — rail service between upstate New York and NYC is something our family knows well. We’ve taken the Empire Service many times over the years and have always appreciated the convenience and scenery. I’ll admit, we do miss the dining car experience from years past — there was something special about having a proper meal while watching the Hudson Valley roll by!

You’re absolutely right that the Empire Service’s ridership numbers tell a compelling story. When trains are selling out Thursday through Sunday, that’s the market speaking loudly, and Albany should be listening.

In the legislature, I will actively support and advocate for:

**Increased state funding** for the Empire Corridor through the DOT budget, ensuring New York lives up to its obligation as a state-supported service and doesn’t leave federal matching dollars on the table.
**More daily frequencies** — the current schedule leaves too many travelers without options. Adding runs, particularly mid-week and early morning departures, would reduce sellouts and open the service to more commuters and occasional riders alike.
**Station improvements** across upstate cities like Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany — modernizing platforms, improving accessibility, and creating true multi-modal hubs that connect to local transit.
**On-time performance accountability** — working with NYSDOT to hold Amtrak and CSX (which owns much of the corridor track) accountable for delays that undermine ridership confidence.
**Empire Corridor High Speed Rail** — continuing to push for the long-planned upgrades that would dramatically cut travel times and make rail genuinely competitive with driving and flying.
**Restored dining and amenity services** — I’ll advocate with our federal delegation to pressure Amtrak to restore meaningful on-board service, because the experience matters for ridership retention.

Robust intercity rail is an economic development issue, a climate issue, and a quality-of-life issue for upstate New York. I’m fully committed to using every legislative lever available to move this forward.

Reconnect Rochester did exactly what civic advocacy is supposed to do — organized, petitioned, and won. $18 million in the state budget is a real victory, and the community deserves to see it become a reality.

I’ll be honest: I’m coming to this fresh, and one of my first priorities will be to formally request the complete project plan and budget documents behind that $18 million allocation. The public should know exactly what was designed, what the timeline was supposed to be, and who is responsible for each step.

What I’ve learned is that the stall comes down to a specific structural problem: NYSDOT holds the money, but Amtrak owns the station. Neither agency has a signed agreement assigning clear responsibility, and no developer has even been selected. That is a coordination problem, not a funding problem.

As your representative I would work to:

Use budget hearings and DOT committee oversight to bring NYSDOT and Amtrak to the table and produce a public project timeline with real milestones and named responsible parties
Advocate for a formal interagency agreement between NYSDOT and Amtrak so the project has clear ownership and can move forward
Maintain an ongoing relationship with Reconnect Rochester so community advocates have a direct line into the process

Intercity bus riders have been waiting in a rundown trailer since 2012. The funding exists. I want to help make sure it gets used

Being ranked 49th in the country is not a statistic to debate — it is a call to action. And it should embarrass Albany.

I want to share something about where I come from on this. Much of my professional background has been in research design and development across clinical products, health sciences, telecommunications, and robotics — work that led to holding several patents. In every one of those fields, the principle is the same: you cannot make sound decisions without reliable data, and withholding data doesn’t protect anyone — it protects bad outcomes. The fact that NYSDOT keeps crash reports out of public view is not just a transparency failure, it is an engineering failure. You cannot fix what you cannot measure, and communities cannot advocate for solutions they cannot see the evidence for.

So I want to ask you the same question you’re asking me: which specific reform processes do you believe NYSDOT has slow-walked most harmfully? I have identified two that stand out and would like to work with Reconnect Rochester and the coalitions you’re part of to prioritize them.

The first is NYSDOT’s Active Transportation Strategic Plan. Their current pedestrian and bike plan dates to 1997. A replacement has been in development for years and was projected for release in early 2026 — decades overdue and still not final. That delay has real consequences for how projects get designed and funded across the state.

The second is the NYSDOT Transportation Master Plan 2050, which advocates have noted still lacks clear, measurable commitments on Complete Streets funding, active transportation infrastructure spending, and vulnerable road user safety — despite extensive public comment pushing for exactly that.

On the legislative side, I will support the NY Safe Streets Coalition’s reform package, specifically:

DOT Crash Data Transparency — requiring public access to the crash location, time, and cause data NYSDOT already collects but does not release. This data exists. There is no legitimate reason it should require a fight to make it public.
Complete Streets Fiscal Reporting — requiring clear accounting of how Complete Streets project funds are actually spent, so we can hold NYSDOT accountable to its own stated commitments.

But I want to be clear: I would rather arrive at these priorities with you than hand you a predetermined list. If you can walk me through where you believe the most critical reform processes have stalled, I will bring that into the legislative work with me. That kind of partnership between advocates with deep knowledge and legislators with access to oversight tools is exactly how reform actually happens.

The $11,500 annual cost of car ownership is not just a statistic for many Rochester-area residents — it is an impossible number. And it doesn’t get easier as you move into Wayne County, where the distances are greater and the alternatives are fewer. This is fundamentally an equity issue, and it requires a regional solution, not just a city one.

But I want to say something to everyone in this room who does own a car: this conversation is also for you. A well-connected trail network, a reliable regional bus system, a safe walking route to a local restaurant — these are not consolation prizes for people who can’t afford a car. They are amenities that make a region more livable, more enjoyable, and more economically vibrant for everyone. When you park the car on a Saturday morning and ride the Erie Canal trail to a coffee shop in a neighboring town, or take the bus to a Rhinos game without worrying about parking, that is the same infrastructure. The investment serves all of us — it just becomes essential for some of us.

I want to be direct about something else: the infrastructure we’re talking about — connected walking and biking paths, reliable transit routes, safe access to jobs and services — also happens to be good economic development. When you build a path that links a neighborhood to a coffee shop, a health clinic, a bus stop, and eventually a train station, you are building a corridor that serves people without cars and also draws people out of cars. Those are the same investment.

On the transit side, RGRTA already operates RTS Wayne serving Wayne County and RTS Monroe serving the city and suburbs — but the connections between them for people trying to reach Rochester, the train station, or the airport are limited and infrequent. That gap matters enormously to someone who depends entirely on public transit. I will advocate for increased state operating support for RGRTA to strengthen those cross-county connections, with particular attention to routes that link Wayne County residents to the Louise M. Slaughter Intermodal Station and the airport.

But transit alone won’t solve this. Here is how I see the broader picture:

Multi-county planning coordination. City, town, and county planning across Monroe and Wayne counties needs to work together on a shared mobility vision — not separately. Active transportation paths that dead-end at a municipal boundary serve no one. I will push for joint planning requirements and funding structures that incentivize cross-jurisdictional coordination.
Paths that go somewhere people actually want to go. A bike lane that leads nowhere useful is not infrastructure — it is decoration. Planned routes need to integrate local destinations: small businesses, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, employment centers. That kind of planning builds both ridership and community economic vitality for car owners and non-car owners alike.
Longer-distance active transportation corridors linking Wayne County to Rochester. The Erie Canal trail and existing rail corridors offer real potential as spine routes that Wayne County residents could use to reach transit hubs — and that families could use for weekend recreation. • Supporting the Lake Avenue Bus Rapid Transit study. State funding has already been secured to study BRT on one of Rochester’s busiest and most dangerous corridors. I will support moving that from study to implementation.
Expanding fare accessibility. Monroe County’s EBT bus fare pilot — which lets transit-assistance recipients tap their EBT card directly instead of waiting for a bus pass in the mail — is the right idea. I will advocate for expanding that model region wide, including Wayne County.

And then there is the question of culture — because infrastructure alone does not change behavior. In the early days of aviation, it wasn’t just the planes that built public enthusiasm for flight. It was the barnstormers and the air shows: events that brought ordinary people face to face with something new, made it exciting, and invited them to imagine themselves participating. We need the same energy around active transportation and trails.

That means organizing signature community events — trail openings, guided group rides along the Erie Canal corridor, walking festivals connecting neighborhoods to local businesses, ‘try the bus’ days with incentives for first-time riders. Not one-off gestures, but a sustained regional effort to make these options visible, fun, and socially normal. Small businesses along planned corridors should be partners and beneficiaries in that effort, not afterthoughts. When a coffee shop on a new trail route sees weekend foot traffic triple — from cyclists and walkers who drove there to start their ride — that story spreads faster than any public service announcement.

Finally, I want to say plainly: this region has under invested in the people who need these options most for far too long. Making this work requires treating mobility as infrastructure with the same seriousness we give roads and bridges — because for residents without a car, it is. And for everyone else, it makes this a better place to live.

6. Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

Because I’ve spent this entire conversation doing something that doesn’t always happen at candidate forums: telling you what I don’t know yet, and what I intend to find out.

I haven’t promised you that I’ve been fighting for these issues for years. What I’ve promised is that I will show up with the right questions, the right tools, and a genuine commitment to getting to answers — and then act on them.

My background is in research and development — clinical products, health sciences, telecommunications, robotics — work that led to holding several patents. In every one of those fields, the discipline is the same: you define the problem clearly, you gather the data, you let the evidence point to the solution, and you build something that actually works. That approach doesn’t change when the problem is a stalled bus terminal, an underfunded transit agency, or a NYSDOT that ranks 49th in the country while keeping crash data out of the public eye.

Here is what I’ve committed to in this conversation:

On rail: I will advocate for more Empire Service frequencies, better on-time performance, and restored on-board amenities — because we use this train and we know what it used to be.

On the intermodal station: I will request the full project plan behind the $18 million allocation, identify who between NYSDOT and Amtrak is responsible for the stall, and use every legislative oversight tool available to break that logjam.

On NYSDOT reform: I will support crash data transparency, Complete Streets fiscal reporting, and hold the agency accountable to its own stated plans — because you cannot make sound decisions without data, and withholding it protects bad outcomes, not people.

On mobility: I will push for multi-county planning coordination across Monroe and Wayne, paths that connect to real destinations, longer Erie Canal corridor routes, and the kind of sustained community events that make these options visible and exciting — not just functional.

On transit funding: I will commit to full and equitable STOA funding for RGRTA, advocate for electric bus fleet transition, and carry into Albany the case for the light rail Rochester once had and gave up too soon.

But here is the deeper reason to vote for me. Every one of these issues — the stalled terminal, the underfunded buses, the missing crash data, the disconnected bike lanes — has the same root cause: decisions made without the right data, without real coordination, and without someone willing to ask the uncomfortable questions publicly and on the record.

That is what I do. It is what my career has been built on. And it is exactly what this work requires.

I’m not asking you to trust that I already have all the answers. I’m asking you to trust that along with you we will go get them — and bring them back to enable progress.

Mark C Johns

Political Party: Republican

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for NY Assembly 133th District

Gladys Flores

Political Party: Democratic

Candidate Email: gladys.floresgarcia@gmail.com

Website: https://gladysfloresfornewyork.com/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Andrea K Bailey

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: andrea@andreabaileyforassembly.com

Website: andreabaileyforassembly.com

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for NY Assembly 134th District

Kurt VanWuyckhuyse

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: kurt@kurtforprogress.com

Website: kurtforprogress.com

I fully commit to ensuring RGRTA and all upstate transit authorities are fully funded. The chronic underfunding of upstate transit compared to the MTA is unacceptable. We need dedicated, reliable revenue streams for our local agencies. I support raising STOA contributions and utilizing progressive revenue measures—such as a 3–5% wealth tax on assets exceeding $5 million—to guarantee working families in our region have a fully funded, robust transit network without placing the burden on the working class.

We really need to get serious about bringing true high-speed rail to New York if we want to cut down on traffic and pollution. Instead of blowing money on adding more highway lanes, we should put those funds into making our trains faster and more modern. The Empire Corridor has so much potential, but it needs real investment. In Albany, I’ll push hard to get the capital funding needed to upgrade our tracks for high-speed trains. I want trains that run fast, run often, and stay on schedule, making rail the absolute best, everyday choice for traveling across the state.

It’s ridiculous that this $18 million project from 2024 is just sitting there. People taking intercity buses shouldn’t be treated like an afterthought—they deserve a decent, comfortable, and accessible place to wait. The good news is that Senator Jeremy Cooney is now chairing the Transportation Committee in the State Senate. I’ve met with Senator Cooney multiple times, and I fully intend work with him to make this happen. Between my pressure in the Assembly, his leadership in the Senate, and working directly with local advocates, we can finally cut through the bureaucratic red tape and make sure this intermodal hub actually gets built like we were promised.

The fact that our state DOT ranks 49th in the country says it all. They’re still designing roads just to move cars as fast as possible, completely ignoring the safety of the people who actually live and walk there. We need to flip the script. I want to give our local towns more control over their own streets. I’ll push to make sure DOT stops hiding crash data, starts building real, protected bike lanes instead of just slapping some paint on the road, and actually follows through on our safety and climate goals.

I’m totally on board with the SAFE Streets Package and the Greenway Trails Act. Whether it’s walking, biking, using an e-bike, or taking the bus, getting around the greater Rochester area needs to be safe and easy.

We also need to make sure these alternatives are financially accessible. That’s why I strongly advocate for free or very low-cost rates for regular bus routes and RTS On Demand travel. We also need to ensure things like Veo scooter and bike rentals have highly discounted rates for people of lower means, similar to their current Veo Access program. You shouldn’t have to own a car just to get to work or the grocery store.

6. Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

I’m running a grassroots campaign built on one simple idea: putting everyday people ahead of corporate profits. My opponent is backed by big corporate money and wants to keep things exactly how they are. I actually want to fix things. I’m ready to fight for safer streets, better public transit, and common-sense ideas—like the Ghostbuster Act.

But true community health and safety go beyond just how we move around. That’s why I’m also fighting to pass the New York Health Act to guarantee comprehensive healthcare for every New Yorker, saving working families money by eliminating premiums and co-pays. And I will fiercely advocate for the NY HEAT Act to finally rein in the utility monopolies that are price-gouging our residents, while capping energy bills so nobody has to choose between heating their home and feeding their family.

We need to make the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share so we can properly fund our communities. If you want a representative who’s actually going to work for safer streets, affordable healthcare, and lower utility bills in Monroe County, I will not stop fighting to make that a reality.

Josh Jensen

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: jensenfornewyork@gmail.com

Website: https://www.jensenforassembly.com/about-josh

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for NY Assembly 135th District

Jen Lunsford

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: jen@votejenlunsford.com

Website: votejenlunsford.com

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Kalinda Washington

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: kalinda@kalindafornysassembly.com

Website: kalindafornysassembly.com

Yes. For too long, Albany has treated the MTA as its only transit priority while upstate systems like RGRTA are left fighting for scraps. That is fundamentally unfair to upstate taxpayers, who send billions downstate every year. I will fight to ensure RGRTA and all upstate transit authorities receive their fair share of state operating assistance, and I support increasing STOA contributions so upstate riders, seniors, workers, and students are not second-class citizens in our state’s transportation budget.

The demand is clearly there, and we should meet it. I support working with NYSDOT and Amtrak to add frequencies on the Empire Corridor, improve on-time performance, and invest in station and track upgrades that deliver measurable results for riders. Rail expansion should be evaluated like any other investment: on ridership, cost-effectiveness, and economic return for upstate communities. On those measures, expanding Empire Service is a smart, fiscally responsible investment that connects Rochester to jobs and opportunity

The Legislature already committed $18 million to this project. Taxpayers approved it, and it should be delivered. As a legislator, I will demand accountability from NYSDOT on why this project has stalled, push for a firm timeline, and conduct oversight until intercity bus riders have the safe, dignified facilities they were promised. When Albany appropriates money and nothing happens, that is a failure of government management, and fixing exactly that kind of failure is why I am running.

Ranking 49th in the nation is unacceptable, and it is not a partisan issue. Taxpayers deserve to know how their transportation dollars are spent and whether projects actually improve safety. I will support requiring NYSDOT to publish crash data and project evaluations, set clear performance measures, and justify its spending priorities publicly. Transparency and accountability in state agencies are core conservative principles, and I will apply them to NYSDOT the same way I would to any other part of state government.

Affordability is the number one issue facing Rochester families, and transportation is a major part of it. Not everyone can afford $11,500 a year for a car, and government should not assume they can. I support reliable bus service, safe sidewalks and crossings, and practical, well-designed bike infrastructure that connects people to jobs, school, and medical care. My test is simple: does the project genuinely improve access and safety for residents, and does it deliver value for the taxpayer? If yes, I will support it.

6. Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

Because I will bring accountability to a system that has failed Monroe County. Safer streets and better transit are not partisan goals; they are quality-of-life and economic issues. I will fight for upstate’s fair share of transit funding, demand NYSDOT deliver projects it has already been funded to build, and measure every proposal by whether it makes life safer and more affordable for the people of this community. Rochester deserves a legislator who watches the money and gets results, not excuses.

Candidates for NY Assembly 136th District

Sarah Clark

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: sarah@sarahclarkforassembly.com

Website: sarahclarkforassembly.com

Yes, and hopefully more.

As someone who takes the train to Albany when I can- this is extremely important. I think investing in a dedicated passenger rail track from Buffalo to Albany, is most important. We can’t get serious about rail until we do.

Yes, however is needed. Happy to make calls or put pressure where needed to get this started.

I can imagine this is frustrating, I support transparency in all forms. If there are recommendations to change DOT- I am ready to lend my voice.

Public transportation works best when those that don’t need to use it do, we have to build a much larger, integrated system. This ensures those who can’t afford a car will have a system they can rely on. As for other forms- we must guarantee complete street design when doing any transportations projects, including true biking lanes and safe walking communities.

6. Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

I believe in the City’s vision 0 plan and a vibrant multi model community. We can do this in the City and beyond. I commit myself to whatever is needed to make this a reality.

Clianda A Florence

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: cliandaflorence@friendsofcliandaflorence.com

Website: https://friendsofcliandaflorence.com/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for NY Assembly 137th District

Demond Meeks

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: teammeeks2026@gmail.com

Website: https://votedemondmeeks.com/

Yes. Public transportation is a lifeline for many residents in Rochester and communities across Upstate New York. I will continue to advocate for fair and sustainable transit funding that ensures RGRTA and other upstate transit authorities have the resources necessary to provide reliable, accessible service for the people who depend on it every day.

As ridership continues to grow, New York must invest in a transportation network that meets the needs of residents across Upstate communities. I support efforts to expand rail service, improve reliability and accessibility, and make strategic infrastructure investments that strengthen connections between Rochester and the rest of the state while creating economic opportunities for local residents.

Securing funding is only the first step; delivering results for the community is what matters. I will advocate for timely action from NYSDOT and Amtrak, monitor the project’s progress and work with local partners to ensure intercity bus riders have access to safe, comfortable and dignified amenities at the Louise M. Slaughter Intermodal Station.

New Yorkers deserve a transportation system that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to community needs. I support efforts to improve public access to transportation data, strengthen oversight of state transportation investments, and ensure that safety, accessibility and equity are central considerations in project planning and implementation.

Transportation should never be a barrier to opportunity. I support investments in reliable public transit, safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists and transportation infrastructure that connects residents to jobs, schools, healthcare and essential services while providing affordable alternatives to car ownership.

6. Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

Monroe County residents deserve a transportation system that is safe, accessible, and works for everyone. Throughout my time in office, I have fought to expand opportunity, strengthen communities and ensure that working families have access to the resources they need. I will continue to support investments that improve safety, mobility and transportation access for all residents.

Dave Ferris

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: davidferris4assembly@gmail.com

Website: https://www.monroegop.com/dave-ferris

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for NY Assembly 138th District

Harry Bronson

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: info@voteharrybronson.com

Website: https://voteharrybronson.com/

Yes. Upstate transit riders depend on these services to get to work, school, medical care and more. I worked with RGRTA and the other upstate transit authorities to get a significant increase in the most recent budget but we need to do more. I will again support the 15% requested increase through the state’s general fund contribution for STOA. Importantly, I will also work to create a dedicated revenue stream so that RGRTA has predictable funding going forward.

Ridership on the Empire Service shows there is real demand for more trains between Upstate New York and New York City. I will support funding for expanded service and for the track, station, and equipment improvements needed to run more trains, and I will push NYSDOT and Amtrak to put the Empire Corridor on a clear plan for growth. Better inter-city rail connections are good for Rochester’s economy and take cars off the Thruway.

The $18 million in the 2024 budget was meant to be used, and bus riders in Rochester deserve safe, comfortable, and accessible facilities. I will press NYSDOT and Amtrak for a clear timeline and regular public updates on the project, and I will use the budget process and my oversight role to make sure the funding moves forward.

New York’s ranking in the Brookings report shows that reform is needed. I will support legislation that requires NYSDOT to publish project data, including crash reports, in a timely and public way, and that holds the agency to clear standards for safety and for the planning of walking, biking, and transit facilities, not just vehicle traffic. I will also continue to listen to advocates like those in the Safe Streets Coalition and the New Yorkers for Transportation Equity Coalition about what reforms matter most.

Families should not have to spend more than $11,000 a year on a car just to get to work. I support increased funding for upstate public transit so that RGRTA can provide reliable service. I support incentives for connected, bike-friendly infrastructure and for zoning changes that allow more housing near jobs, services, and transit. Together these steps can make it easier for Rochester and Monroe County residents to reach jobs and resources whether or not they own a car. It also will have a positive impact on our environment.

6. Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

I have spent my time in the Assembly working on the issues that affect people’s daily lives in Rochester and Monroe County, from helping bring $4 billion in utility and inflation rebates back to families to establishing a commission to lower utility costs. I support increased funding for RGRTA and upstate transit, incentives for safe, connected bike infrastructure, and zoning changes that allow more housing near jobs and services. I also support holding NYSDOT accountable so that state roads are designed for people walking, biking, and riding transit, not just for moving cars. I will keep working to make it easier and more affordable for people in our community to get around, whether or not they own a car.

Tracy DiFlorio

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: votetracydiflorio@gmail.com

Website: https://votediflorio.com/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for NY Assembly 139th District

Sarah Wolcott

Political Party: Democratic

Candidate Email: votewolcott@gmail.com

Website: votewolcott.com

I will support any legislation that supports, grows, or defends public transportation funding. As a blue collar worker I understand the importance of needing to make it to work everyday and not everyone can afford their own vehicle. The transportation crisis in rural NY is especially devastating. Residents in rural communities struggle as it is to obtain or retain resources. Transportation cuts impact rural communities the most. Without a way to get from place to place, residents, especially the elderly miss opportunities for important life sustaining activities, such as doctor appointments and grocery shopping.

Investing in inter-city pubic transportation is important. I will support any legislation that will incentivize or improve inter-city travel. My district is not in a city so my main focus would be to help rural transit issues. However I would support other legislators who do represent the cities. I look forward to working with other legislators and staff on this issue and coming up with viable solutions.

I would like to see more streamlined approaches to construction projects. I recognize the importance of public hearings, environmental studies, and the need for regulations. There are too many steps and red tape to get anything accomplished. Any state could benefit on how to make the paperwork processes more efficient.

For having some of the highest taxes in the country , it is appalling that NY comes 49th in anything. There should be more transparency to the public. The government’s job is literally to provide essential services for the common good. The USA is a Democratic Republic, which means the government works for the people. I would like to work on finding ways to hold the government accountable when it intentionally deceives residents.

There are many spinning plates when it comes to transportation. Meaning it’s a complicated topic.I will support any efforts that make anything more efficient and improve the environment as well as the lives of residents.

6. Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

There is no one more willing to learn everything I can about issues that matter to my constituents. There is no one who will fight harder for the betterment of the common good. I’m not one to shy away from a challenge, just look at my campaign and who I took on as an opponent. That alone should speak volumes to my determination and grit.

Stephen M Hawley

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Town & Village Board & Supervisor Elections

Candidates for Brighton Town Supervisor

Nate Salzman

Political Party: Democratic

Candidate Email:

Website: https://www.nateforbrighton.com/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Chili Town Supervisor

Emily Kalouch

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: emily.kalouch@gmail.com

Website: www.emilykalouchforchili.com

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

We have no bike lanes and we do not have a lot of side walks – especially along main roads where they are needed. There are apartment complexes and large areas of residential neighborhoods that are completely cut off from the town center, bus lines and amenities if you do not have a car. In my opinion, this is something where Chili has fallen behind and we need to remedy it.

2. The United States has 3 times the motorist fatality rate compared to 18 other developed countries (2019, CDC data). In the U.S., pedestrian fatalities are up 75% since 2010. In Monroe County, an average of 13 bicyclists and pedestrians die on our streets every year and thousands more are injured. Across the country, municipalities are embracing Vision Zero as well as the Safe System Approach. How would you work with other town officials, County and State DOTs to improve road safety in your town?

I would revisit the bike plan and start to initiate the creation of bike lanes, apply for federal, state and county grants where applicable. I would also expand sidewalks to the best of my ability.

3. What steps are you taking to fund key active transportation improvement projects outlined in your town planning documents? Do you plan to and take advantage of matching funds such as the Monroe County’s Municipal sidewalk funding?

Yes – I would like to take advantage of whatever funds or grants are available to expand sidewalks and bike lanes. I am not in office yet, so I do not know all of the options available but this is a big part of my platform.

[Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?
4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] Last year, RGRTA launched significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps will you take to advocate for improved transit service in your community?

I would like to see Chili become a more accessible and transit-friendly community. This starts with improving existing bus stops by exploring the installation of benches, covered shelters, and safe, accessible pedestrian connections. I would also help identify gaps where we need more bus stops for the residents living in those areas.

5. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?

One challenge in Chili is we have extremely limited public transportation to begin with. I am fully on board with developing job opportunities along existing corridors, but honestly we need to create those corridors, too.

David Dunning

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: dunning.davidj@gmail.com

Website: N/A

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

The Town of Chilis infrastructure was developed decades ago. The lack of vision at that time has created challenges today as we try to accommodate safer streets, provide for safe pedestrian and cyclist travel. Public transit provides minimal service to Chili. Though we have advocated for increases, low ridership hinders the willingness of public transit providers to fund additional service.

This is something we already do. We are also conducting meetings with residents who have a direct concern for cyclists and pedestrian safety. Chili has installed several new sidewalks, connecting neighborhoods with areas of interest and will continue targeting new areas. We also keep in close contact with State and County DOT’s as they control most of the major roadways in Chili.

We have already taken advantage of this funding opportunity. We shared the cost of a $1.2 million sidewalk on Paul Rd. Which extends from a populated subdivision to the Chili Center shopping area.

The Town does and will continue to assure sidewalks and roadways are constructed in a manner that supports access to the limited bus service. We also partner with Lifespan who provide a ride service for those unable to get to public transit.

We constantly review our Town Zoning code for areas where we may be able to provide opportunities. There are limited open lands at this time for development that creates jobs. Additionally, infrastructure such as Seward, water and power are commonly impede some opportunities. Should we be able to overcome those impediments, public transportation services would need to cooperate to provide access to potential employers facilities.

Candidates for Clarkson Town Supervisor

Ursula Liotta

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Gates Town Supervisor

Nick Coffee

Political Party: Working Families

Candidate Email: nickcoffee@gmail.com

Website:

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

Winter transportation is a huge problem for both the residents of Gates and the workers here. For whatever reason the Town has decided to not care for sidewalks during the winter months leaving people trudging through snow and slush on the shoulder to try and reach buses. When they arrive they frequently are greeted with no shelter and no safe space to stand. Howard Rd which is a huge connector is not pedestrian friendly.

The Town of Gates has been widely publicized recently for traffic fatalities. The Town government’s approach seems to be to point the finger at other entities as responsible. I would take more personal responsibility for the safety of my residents by advocating at all levels of government for the appropriate steps to be taken.

As a challenger, I haven’t yet been empowered to embrace sidewalk funding. However when Hinchey Rd was recently redone I was very upset to learn that sidewalks weren’t included. When I reached out to the county to complain I was told that the town government actively refused the funding from a desire not to have to maintain sidewalks. I find this completely unacceptable.

4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town?

Working to add new shelters and crosswalks will be a focus of my campaign. While I’m aware that in this venue it seems self serving to say that, watching our residents stand in the rain where shelter could easily be provided has one of the inhumantites that inspired my run.

4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] Last year, RGRTA launched significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps will you take to advocate for improved transit service in your community?

Public education is, in my opinion, the key to improving access to this program. I’d like to particularly attack Howard Rd with a signage program designed for those who currently walk that route in frequently unsafe conditions. We see wide ridership on the East West Routes but seemingly less on the connecting routes.

The Town of Gates lacks identity and a sense of center. By building attractive and friendly transportation hubs we can make the idea of using public transit accessible for all of our residents. I’m also excited to experiment with programs targeted at the growing group of E-bike riders,

Cosmo Giunta

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Greece Town Council Ward 1

Ryan J McDonald

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: voteformcdonald@gmail.com

Website:

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

I was fortunate to grow up in the Dewey-Stone neighborhood in the 1980s and 1990s, when it was still a very walkable neighborhood with convenient access to public transportation. You could walk or bike to many of the places you needed to go, and regular RTS routes gave residents an alternative to driving.

That is no longer the reality for many people in Greece. Most of our dedicated RTS routes are gone. On Demand service is inconsistent, operates only during limited hours, and is not a practical replacement for regular bus service for everyone who relies on public transportation. At the same time, many of our busiest roads are difficult to cross, and our sidewalks and bicycle connections often stop abruptly or do not exist at all.

I want Greece to be a town where children can safely walk or ride their bikes, older residents can remain independent, and people who cannot or do not drive can still get to work, school, medical appointments, stores, and community services.

Residents who care about these issues should vote for me because I will treat transportation as a basic quality-of-life issue. I will listen to residents, focus on practical improvements, and work with the Town, Monroe County, New York State, RTS, and our school districts to make Greece safer and easier to get around.

We have several roads in Greece where the risks to pedestrians are obvious. NYS Route 104 is perhaps the clearest example. In some places, a person must cross as many as eight lanes of traffic, while crosswalks are spaced very far apart. Multiple pedestrians have been killed trying to cross Route 104. It is not enough to tell people to walk a long distance to the nearest crosswalk when bus stops, businesses, housing, and other destinations are located on both sides of the road.

I would push NYSDOT to conduct a thorough pedestrian-safety review of Route 104 in Greece. That review should look at where additional crosswalks are needed, whether pedestrian signals provide enough time to cross, lighting, vehicle speeds, bus-stop locations, and whether pedestrian refuge areas or other safety improvements could be added. Greenleaf Road is another example. Greenleaf is a County road that crosses a State right-ofway over the Lake Ontario State Parkway, but there is no sidewalk connecting the areas north and south of the Parkway. People regularly walk or ride bicycles along the shoulder, in an area with poor lighting, and obstructed sight lines.

Recently, a child riding a scooter between the two disconnected sections of sidewalk was struck by a car. Thankfully, the child was not seriously injured, but we should not wait for someone to be killed before fixing an obvious safety problem. I am already working with Senator Jeremy Cooney and Supervisor Jeff McCann to advocate for a sidewalk connection on Greenleaf Road. It will take cooperation among the Town, County, and State, but bringing the right people together and continuing to press for a solution is part of the job. I would bring that same approach to other dangerous locations.

The Town should use crash data and residents’ experiences to identify its highest-risk roads and intersections, then pursue practical improvements such as safer and more frequent crosswalks, better lighting, accessible curb ramps, pedestrian signals, traffic calming, and protected space for bicyclists. I would also support a Complete Streets policy so that every Town road project considers the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, people with disabilities, and drivers from the beginning.

Yes. Greece should be actively pursuing Monroe County’s municipal sidewalk funding, along with available state and federal grants. We should not leave funding on the table when residents are asking for basic safety improvements. As a Town Board member, I would support creating a public, prioritized list of sidewalk, crossing, trail, and bicycle projects.

Priorities should be based on clear factors: accident history, proximity to schools and bus stops, accessibility concerns, the number of people who would benefit, and whether the project would close a major gap in the existing network. Once those priorities are established, the Town should include them in its long-term capital planning, set aside money for required local matches, and make sure someone is responsible for pursuing grant opportunities. We should also coordinate sidewalk and bicycle improvements with road paving, drainage, utility, and development projects whenever possible. It is generally less expensive and less disruptive to do this work together.

New development should also contribute to a connected transportation network. Instead of approving isolated sections of sidewalk that lead nowhere, the Town should look at how each project can help complete a safe, continuous route.

Greece does not operate RTS, but the Town does control many of the sidewalks and public spaces people use to reach bus stops. That gives us both an opportunity and a responsibility to make those stops safer and more accessible. I would work with RTS and the people who actually ride the bus to identify the busiest and most difficult stops in Greece. Improvements could include shelters, benches, lighting, accessible boarding areas, curb ramps, safer street crossings, and sidewalks that actually connect to the stop.

We also need to think about year-round access. A bus stop is not accessible if snow, poor sidewalk conditions, or a lack of safe crossings prevents someone from reaching it. Transit access should also be considered when the Town reviews major new developments, particularly apartment communities, large employers, medical offices, shopping areas, and senior housing. People should not have to cross a large parking lot or walk along the shoulder of a busy road to reach a nearby bus stop.

4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] Last year, RGRTA launched significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps will you take to advocate for improved transit service in your community?

On Demand service is not an adequate replacement for dependable fixed-route service. Residents cannot rely on public transportation if it is inconsistent, stops running before their workday is over, or is unavailable when they need it on weekends.

I would start by listening directly to Greece riders about missed connections, wait times, limited-service hours, difficult transfers, and destinations they cannot reliably reach. I would bring those concerns to RTS leadership and its governing board and work with our County and State representatives to advocate for more reliable service, longer hours, weekend availability, and better connections between On Demand service and the remaining fixed routes.

Greece also needs to be more visible in regional transportation discussions. When RTS considers service changes, our residents should know about them and have a meaningful opportunity to be heard. The experiences of workers, older adults, people with disabilities, students, and households without cars should be part of those decisions from the beginning.

Transportation and development decisions have to be made together. If we continue placing jobs, housing, stores, and services farther apart without sidewalks or reliable transit, residents become even more dependent on cars and people without cars are left behind. I would encourage responsible redevelopment along established commercial corridors such as Dewey Avenue, Latta Road, and West Ridge Road, particularly on vacant or underused commercial properties. Reinvesting in places that already have roads, utilities, and nearby neighborhoods makes more sense than allowing existing corridors to decline while development spreads farther outward.

Where it makes sense, our zoning should allow a practical mix of housing, jobs, neighborhood businesses, and services. New development should include accessible sidewalks, safe pedestrian connections, bicycle parking, and connections to nearby transit. We should avoid designs that force people to cross large parking lots or navigate unsafe driveways just to reach a building.

If a developer receives financial assistance or other incentives from the Town, residents should receive something meaningful in return, such as good jobs, safer sidewalks, improved transit access, or other public infrastructure. Done thoughtfully, redevelopment along our existing corridors can support local businesses, create jobs, expand access to services, and make our neighborhoods more connected without sacrificing the character of Greece.

David DiPonzio

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: votediponzio@gmail.com

Website: votediponzio.com

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

Greece was built for cars, and too many streets leave out everyone else: missing sidewalks, hard crossings, and trails that don’t connect. As a father of four who walks and bikes Ward 1, I’m working to close the sidewalk gap on Greenleaf Road to the parkway trail, and I voted to pursue funding to rebuild the Route 390 trail.

I support Vision Zero. Most of our busiest roads belong to the state or county, so safety here takes partnership. I’d work with my fellow board members, our DPW and police to use crash data to identify our worst intersections, then bring that list to the County and State DOTs and push for safer crossings, sidewalks and lower speeds. On town roads, I’ve already asked for targeted enforcement and speed trailers where residents report problems.

Grants first. This year I voted for the Town to apply for state Transportation Alternatives funding to rebuild the Route 390 multi-use trail. In Ward 1, I’m working with our DPW on a sidewalk connecting Latta Road to the Lake Ontario State Parkway Trail. And yes, I support applying for Monroe County’s municipal sidewalk funding. Matching dollars let us build more sidewalks without raising property taxes, and I’d use them on the gaps residents tell us about.

4A: Start with the basics the Town controls. A bus stop isn’t much use if you can’t safely walk to it or stand at it. I’d prioritize sidewalks and curb ramps leading to our busiest stops, concrete pads so riders aren’t waiting in the mud, and making sure stops are cleared of snow in winter. I’d also work with RTS and plaza owners to add shelters and benches where ridership is highest.

4B: Listen first, then advocate. Seniors and veterans tell me at my ward meetings that getting to appointments is a real barrier. I’d collect what residents are experiencing with On Demand, including wait times and coverage gaps, and bring that directly to RGRTA with my fellow board members. I’d also ask RTS to present to the Town Board publicly, so residents can ask questions and hear the answers.

I voted to modernize our business district zoning. Greece now has a mixed-use district along Dewey Avenue, allows apartments above shops, and has cut parking and lot-coverage rules so empty buildings can be reused. This year the Town launched storefront grants in the Dewey/Stone area. My focus now is putting those tools to work: filling vacant plazas on our existing bus routes, moving permits online, and holding plaza owners to our maintenance code.

Candidates for Greece Town Council Ward 2

Frank Femia

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: votefrank@femia.fyi

Website: https://frankforgreece.com/

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

One of Greece’s greatest transportation challenges is that much of our town was developed around cars. While that works well for many residents, it can make getting around difficult for those who cannot drive or would prefer other options. Sidewalk connectivity, safe pedestrian crossings along busy roads, and access to reliable public transportation are all areas where I believe we can improve.

This is an issue I’ve taken a personal interest in. Earlier this year, I volunteered with Reconnect Rochester’s Downtown SmART Streets initiative, helping paint curb extensions designed to improve pedestrian safety. I appreciate the practical, community-driven approach behind projects like this.

As an engineer, I believe in using data to identify problems, evaluate potential solutions, and make informed decisions. I would bring that same approach to transportation planning in Greece, with an emphasis on safer streets, better connectivity, and improvements that make sense for our town.

I would work with town officials and our county and state partners to identify areas where safety improvements are most needed, using traffic data, crash reports, and feedback from residents. I believe we should prioritize practical improvements like safer pedestrian crossings, better signage, improved sidewalk connectivity, and traffic calming measures where appropriate. Many of Greece’s busiest roads are maintained by the county or state, so coordination with those agencies is essential. I would also support pursuing available grant funding to help make these improvements without placing an unnecessary burden on local taxpayers.

Greece already has a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan that identifies opportunities to improve sidewalks and bicycle infrastructure. I would support re-visiting that plan to identify which projects should be prioritized based on safety, community need, and cost. I would also support actively pursuing available county, state, and federal funding, including Monroe County’s Municipal Sidewalk Funding Program, to help make improvements financially feasible. Taking advantage of outside funding opportunities is an important way to invest in our infrastructure while being responsible with local tax dollars.

4a. I would support working with RTS to identify bus stops in Greece that would benefit most from improvements such as shelters, benches, better lighting, and accessible sidewalks. I believe we should prioritize locations with higher ridership and those serving seniors and residents with disabilities. We should also look for opportunities to incorporate these improvements into existing road and sidewalk projects to minimize costs.

4b. While the Town Board does not directly control RTS service, I believe we have a responsibility to advocate for residents who depend on public transportation. I would work with RTS to better understand the needs of riders in Greece, particularly seniors, people with disabilities, and those who rely on transit to get to work or medical appointments. I would also encourage RTS to consider feedback from residents when evaluating service hours, coverage, and accessibility.

I believe we should encourage new development in areas that already have the infrastructure and transportation connections to support it. In Greece, that means looking for opportunities to revitalize existing commercial corridors, encourage the reuse of vacant properties, and support businesses in locations that are accessible by public transportation. I would also support reviewing our zoning and land use policies to make sure they encourage responsible development while balancing the needs of existing neighborhoods. This approach can help create jobs, improve accessibility, and make more efficient use of our existing infrastructure.

Spencer Bernard

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website: https://spencerforgreece.com/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Greece Town Council Ward 3

Amorette Miller

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: info@voteamorette.org

Website: https://www.voteamorette.org/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Megan Ferra

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: info@meganferraforgreece.com

Website: meganferraforgreece.com

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Greece Town Council Ward 4

Rick Antelli, Jr

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Stephen L Schultz

Political Party: Democratic

Candidate Email: steve@chooseschultz.org

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Irondequoit Town Supervisor

John Perticone

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Friends-of-John-Perticone-61576798580483/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Irondequoit Town Council – 1 Year Term

Michael Cotsworth

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email: mikecotsworth@gmail.com

Website:

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

Safety and usage. I have experience dealing with transportation issues both during my time with the Rochester Police Dept. (RPD) and as I have a family member we are ensuring ages in place at home.

Once an issue is identified there may be several factor contributing to the situation requiring the ability to work with different departments or agencies. I have years of experience doing just that with RPD. One of my last assignments was with the Neighborhood Service Center and leading the Homeless Outreach Team. Addressing the transportation needs and safety was one of the constant needs we handled. Whether it was to get the team or the unhoused from one point to another or addressing other issues with safety or site problems. It often meant working with other agencies both private or public to get the task done.

Exploring funding options are always part of the equation for each project and might mean accessing the county’s sidewalk fund.

Improvements to amenities will depend on where the needs are. Some sites are on private property and others could be town areas, each would be a case by case decision. As far as advocating usually that requires organizing or coordinating an effort with various departments and with both private and public/government organizations and I have that experience.

One of the main concerns we are campaigning on is getting good businesses to open in Irondequoit and with that comes job creation. The areas where growth is possible are areas within RTS routes, like E. Ridge Rd. or Hudson Ave.

Steven Barz

Political Party: Democratic

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Irondequoit Town Council – Term ending in 2028

Ryan Trevas

Political Party: Democratic

Candidate Email: Trevas4Irondequoit@gmail.com

Website: https://www.trevas4irondequoit.com/

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

The town of Irondequoit faces several transportation challenges, including adding and maintaining aging roads and sidewalks, addressing gaps in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and improving safety along busy arterial roads (e.g., East Ridge Road, Titus and Hudson Avenues, etc.). The Town also needs to strengthen public transit connections and provide more accessible transportation options for older adults, people with special needs, and residents without reliable access to an automobile within town. The decision of Regional Transit Service’s (RTS) to restructure its On-Demand service, that begin on 9/7/2026, eliminating weekend service and shortening weekday hours, has impacted the options for community residents. Because many major transportation corridors in Irondequoit involve Monroe County or New York State roads, regional coordination with these municipalities can also make improvements more complex. Overall, Irondequoit’s challenge is to maintain its existing transportation network while creating a safer, more connected system that serves drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders, all while maintaining the transportation flow in the community.

I am an advocate and proponent of safer streets, better mobility options, and improved public transit options for all residents. I am an avid bicyclist around Irondequoit for exercise and occasionally commute to work during the summer by bicycle. As someone who has used public transportation through RTS as a service, increasing options and routes for different populations of people is essential to providing improved quality-of-life services for residents while decreasing the impacts of climate change from too many vehicles on the roadside. I live on Saint Paul Boulevard, and when I moved in 2018, we had an RTS bus route that was convenient. I would like to see routes as a regular fare again.

I am in full support of a Safe System approach to traffic and pedestrian safety. I believe that no one should be killed or injured using the road system. Applying the Safe System approach in Irondequoit and Monroe County involves anticipating human mistakes by designing and managing the road infrastructure to keep the risk of mistakes low, and to ensure that when mistakes lead to a crash, the impact energy on the human body stays at tolerable levels. I am supportive of incorporating the six principles of a Safe System and six elements of Zero Tolerance for traffic and road users. As a member of the Irondequoit Town Council, I have a role to help implement the Safe System approach to help save lives in the Irondequoit community and reach the goal of zero deaths. Without a doubt, I use and apply the Safe System lens when reviewing upcoming projects and plans in my community. Specifically, I will help raise awareness through education, word of mouth, and marketing materials, integrating the Safe System approach in the action-planning process, helping to establish a Safe System framework for intersections, partnering with the Monroe County engineers, while involving other local, state, and federal stakeholders.

Currently, I am a candidate running for the Irondequoit Town Council and have reviewed the Irondequoit Active Transportation Plan from May 2017. I have reviewed the Monroe County Municipal sidewalk funding program and believe this is an excellent program to leverage County funds to develop, build, and care for stronger local sidewalk infrastructure. I would partner with our four current legislators – Long (LD 16), Barnhart (LD 17), Cruz (LD 21), and President Roman (LD 26) – to help support opportunities where such investments can be made and have a significant impact on the community for residents. Having and maintaining strong relationships with elected partners in the County Legislature will help deliver projects that improve the safety and quality of life for residents in Irondequoit.

4A. To make riding the public bus more comfortable in Irondequoit, the town and RTS could partner to improve bus stops by adding more comfortable amenities, including benches, shelters, lighting, and clear signage with route and arrival information. Bus stops should also have accessible sidewalks, ramps, and boarding areas for inclusivity. During the winter months, keeping sidewalks and bus stops clear of snow would make waiting safer and easier. Adding trees for shade, bike racks for individuals who use alternative transportation modes, and better connections to nearby businesses could also improve the user experience for those individuals who rely on public transportation to handle their personal needs. These improvements would make public transportation more comfortable, convenient, and welcoming for everyone throughout our community. For example, the new Irondequoit Plaza Connection Hub on Hudson Avenue includes many of the aforementioned amenities and is an excellent model for how to upgrade public transportation amenities in our community. I would like to see additional improvements made to public transportation amenities throughout our town.

4B. To coordinate and improve transit services in the town of Irondequoit, as a candidate and future elected official, I will use my role in government to influence land-use decisions and promote a community that provides residents with meaningful transportation choices beyond the automobile. I will work with the Department of Public Works, Zoning and Planning Boards, developers, and community stakeholders to incorporate sidewalks, improved bus-stop infrastructure, and other amenities that support walkability, biking, and public transportation. I will also review the Town’s 2017 Active Transportation Plan to assess what has already been accomplished and identify which recommendations and improvements to prioritize moving forward. Understanding the challenges with our current transit system—including delays, limited service, long wait times, and opportunities to improve connections and transfers—will provide important evidence for identifying practical solutions. In addition, I will engage with community groups, neighborhood associations, Regional Transit Service (RTS), Reconnect Rochester, and other transportation stakeholders to better understand how different modes of transportation can be incorporated into an updated Active Transportation Plan, with an emphasis on accessibility, walkability, biking, and expanded transit options. I believe providing multiple transportation options benefits residents who already rely on alternatives to driving while also giving those who currently depend on automobiles more choices for traveling throughout our community. By listening to residents, evaluating clear and measurable evidence, and advocating for specific and realistic improvements, we can make better-informed decisions that expand mobility, strengthen connectivity, and improve quality of life for the residents of Irondequoit.

I would encourage new development and job creation along Irondequoit’s existing large transportation corridors (East Ridge Road) and vascular roads (Culver, Portland, Titus, North Goodman, etc.) by updating zoning to allow more mixed-use, walkable development with businesses on the ground floor and housing or offices above, while reducing unnecessary parking requirements and encouraging buildings to be located closer to sidewalks. I would also support incentives for renovating vacant or underused properties, small-business development, and new employers along corridors such as Titus Avenue, Hudson Avenue, and East Ridge Road. These investments should be paired with safer sidewalks, crosswalks, bike facilities, lighting, and improved bus access so that residents without cars can reach jobs and businesses. Irondequoit’s existing planning documents already emphasize connecting residential areas, commercial centers, and transit while encouraging economic development. A reliable public transportation system will support economic opportunity in our community.

Daniel Gaiteri

Political Party: Republican

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Mendon Town Supervisor

Joseph W Alati

Political Party: Democratic

Candidate Email: FutureOfMendon@gmail.com

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Cynthia Gleason

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Cindy-C-Gleason-for-Mendon-Town-Supervisor-61590356911933/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Ogden Town Supervisor

Mike Zale

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/MikeZaleOgdenTownSupervisor

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Parma Town Supervisor

Linda Judd

Political Party: Democratic

Candidate Email: lindaforsupervisor@gmail.com

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Dave Ciufo

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Parma Town Council – 1 Year Term

Stephanie Michalowski

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Penfield Town Supervisor

Kevin Berry

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: kdberry64@gmail.com

Website: unitedpenfield.org

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

Penfield’s greatest transportation challege is the safety of our motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. Residents should vote for me because I have made this issue a priority. I met with the Sheriff and representatives from the Sheriff’s office and asked for increased patrols in Penfield. This request was honored and approximately 2,500 traffic tickets have been issued in Penfield this year, along with many warnings. I have met with residents to hear their concerns regarding problem areas for safety. I have communicated these and other concerns to the County and State Departments of Transportation and advocated for changes. The Town Board adopted an Active Transportation Plan that aims to improve safety and mobility for pedestrians and cyclists. In keeping with that plan, the Town put in approximately two miles of new sidewalks this year and plans to put in more next year. My office has started an initiative to make the public aware of State laws regarding e-bikes. The Town Board will be considering Town code additions regarding e-bikes.

I actively work with the Departments of Transportation to improve road safety. Town Staff and I met with officials from the State DOT to discuss areas of concern across the town. I will continue to advocate for physical changes to roads that will improve safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. I also advocate to elected officials at the county and State levels regarding transportation safety improvements.

In 2026, the Town of Penfield utilized an award of $750,000 in County sidewalk matching funds, and plans to apply for more. We will have funds budgeted for sidewalks in the 2027 budget. The Town paid for the development of an Active Transportation Plan which the Town Board adopted this year. The Board will identify priorities from the plan and work to obtain grant and other funding to implement them.

[Please answer this question(s) if your town is in bold. If your town is not in bold please skip this question.]
4A. While your town [Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford, East Rochester] does not have control over RTS bus service, your town does control considerable parts of the public right-of-way such as town roads and sidewalks. How do you plan to improve bus amenities to make riding the bus a more comfortable experience in your town? 4B. [Ogden, Clarkson, Sweden, Chili, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta, Pittsford] Last year, RGRTA launched significant changes to its On Demand service across Monroe County. What steps will you take to advocate for improved transit service in your community?

4A. The Town currently has no plans to improve bus amenities, but is working to improve pedestrian and cyclist connectivity to bus routes.

I will work to direct denser housing options and commercial and light industrial projects to areas that are on bus routes and are accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.

Andris E Silins

Political Party: Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Penfield Town Council – 1 Year Term

Catherine Dean

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: catherinedean463@gmail.com

Website: unitedpenfield.org

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

The town of Penfield is a solidly suburban town and having easy, reliable and accessible public transportation is a challenge. RTS has been reducing services making the challenge even greater. As to how RTS conducts its business and how it offers its services, that is outside my abilities as a town board member. However, wherever possible, I will advocate for expansion of public transportation in Penfield. Town residents should also know that I am committed to implementing the recommendations of our Active Transportation Plan to help make the town safer for walkability and bikeability.

The town has met with Monroe County and the State DOT and has advocated for areas of concern. Added safety features were put into the Browncroft Blvd project with extended sidewalks and a dedicated acceleration lane. We also used $750,000 of county funds in 2026 for sidewalks, adding nearly 2 miles of sidewalks this year.

We have budgeted for additional work on sidewalks and as mentioned above, took advantage of sidewalk funding.

Due to limited available funds, we do not have any plans at present for covered kiosks. Presently, we are looking to our Active Transportation Plan for the walkability and bikeability safety recommendations as well as other recommendations to help make bikes more visible, filling in sidewalk gaps and implementing methods to help calm traffic. We have already partnered with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office to help enforce speed limits and we will be looking into bike lanes on select routes where possible.

Policies could include denser housing where feasible and possible, or where RTS service already exists. We do have bus service on selected routes already, but denser housing may help to increase available services.

Candidates for Perinton Town Supervisor

Jenn Townsend

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: jtownsend@perinton.gov

Website:

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

If I’m being honest, Perinton has not historically been designed with multi-modal transportation in mind. We’ve done a good job building a road network for cars, but we have more work to do when it comes to walking and biking.I am interested in approaches that go beyond bike lanes alone. Traffic calming, street trees, safer crossings, connected sidewalks and trails, and physical separation between vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians can all make streets safer and more comfortable. My goal isn’t to make driving harder. It’s to make it possible for people to choose other ways of getting around when they want to, and to do so safely.

I am looking forward to work with the County on their Vision Zero initiative. I hope to have Perinton involved at the beginning, to set an example of what changes can be made.

We are currently doing sub-area planning in several of our higher-growth areas, and one of the recurring themes we’re hearing is that many of these corridors don’t feel comfortable or safe for people walking or biking. At the same time, we’re trying to create more housing, more neighborhood destinations, and more walkability. The challenge is that many of these roads were widened over the years to move traffic as efficiently as possible. While that improved vehicle flow, it often came at the expense of the pedestrian experience.I see our sub-area plans as an opportunity to have a different conversation with the State and County about the future of these corridors. I’d like to explore ways to slow traffic where appropriate, consider roundabouts and other traffic-calming measures, improve crossings, and create safer accommodations for people walking and biking. The goal is to design streets that work well for everyone, not just vehicles passing through.

N/A

I believe the best places for future job creation and development are along existing transportation corridors and in our traditional hamlets and village centers. Concentrating growth in these areas makes it easier for residents to access jobs, services, and housing without needing to drive everywhere. As mentioned above, in Perinton, we’re using sub-area planning to identify opportunities for mixed-use development, housing, and walkable destinations in areas that already have infrastructure in place. When growth is paired with safe sidewalks, bike connections, and transit access, it creates communities that are more accessible, economically vibrant, and less dependent on the automobile.

Candidates for Pittsford Town Supervisor

Max Gordon

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/gordonforpittsford/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

William A Smith, Jr

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Riga Town Supervisor

Brad O'Brocta

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/bobrocta/

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Rush Town Supervisor

Lee Hankins

Political Party: Democratic

Candidate Email: leehankins2026@gmail.com

Website: rushdemocrats.org

*Note* This candidate did not respond to the General Election Questionaire but offered the following response during our Primary Election Questionnaire:

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

Our town completed a Genesee Transportation Council study to improve the safety of our intersections and roadways. We are a rural community and have state, county and local roads, and many drive through our town hamlet too fast. I am committed to implementing the study and do my best to improve the safety of our intersections, and calm down our areas.

I am committed to making our roadways safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. The Genesee Council Transportation Council study completed in December 2025 offers solid recommendations that we can implement through grants. As a start, I prepared and submitted a $1.7 million dollar proposal in Marcch for our main intersection at Rte. 15 A and 251 in our town that will make that intersection safer for pedestrians and bicyclists; and also help mitigate stormwater flooding that has been occuring in that intersection through under-sidewalk drain system. In addition, I would like to advocate for on-demand bus service for our community.

i am very interested in expanding our sidewalks to establish safer connections between our neighborhoods, especially in our town hamlet, with the Lehigh Valley Trail. I am deeply committed to having our community be safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. The grant we submitted to NYS Department of Transportation in March would include a mile of new sidewalks, which would connect to the sidewalks in our hamlet. In addition, we have the Lehigh Valley Trail going through our hamlet, and we can establish walking routes to encourage increased use of these trails for health, being outside, and socialization. My current personal walking habit is 15 miles a week and I can attest to how beneficial walking can be to your health and wellbeing. I would like to lead in that effort for my commuity.

I would like to reestablish bus service for our community and Bus Service on Demand to increase the availability of bus service in our community. We have Rte. 15, 15A, East River Rd going north and south, connecting Avon and towns further to the south with Henrietta and the City of Rochester to the North. We are a crossroads town and could be a connection for employers and employees. I would also like to promote travel training for our residents to assist them in using public transportation to increase their opportunities for employment, cultural and educational opportunities, reducing their reliance on cars — as a start to go to park and ride areas and then taking bus service.

Frank D Tasber

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Sweden Town Supervisor

Patricia Hayles

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Webster Town Supervisor

Alex Scialdone

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: ScialdoneForWebster@gmail.com

Website: www.Votescialdone.com

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

Webster’s biggest transportation challenge is that safe, affordable options are limited for residents who don’t drive, or who can’t afford to. Most of our roads were built for cars first, and some of the busiest corridors, like Route 104, Route 250, and Holt Road, belong to the County or State, so we have to make progress through partnership. Cost is the thread through all of it: it’s expensive to build and maintain sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes, and expensive for families who have to own a car just to get to work, school, or the grocery store.

As Supervisor, I’ve made safety decisions, like the Bay Road diet, on the merits, and not on politics. The Town has become a more effective partner by going after outside dollars instead of relying only on local taxpayers: continuing the task of securing millions of dollars in grants. I’ve also partnered with Chief Kohlmeier and the Webster Police Department on a dedicated traffic safety program. Residents who care about safer streets want someone who listens to their concerns, shows up, builds relationships with County and State leaders, and gets projects funded. That’s how I’ve worked, and it’s what I’ll keep doing.

I believe every traffic death and serious injury is preventable, and the Safe System approach is the right framework for us in Webster: safer streets, safer speeds, and design that forgives human error. In Webster, that starts with data. That’s the approach I took with the Bay Road diet: I took politics out of the decision and made safety the deciding factor. I will continue to work with the Webster Police Department, whose traffic safety program I’ve already helped launch, to identify where crashes and near-misses are concentrated.

Bringing that data to the table with Monroe County and NYSDOT, is critical, since many of our most dangerous roads aren’t ours to change alone. Practical steps include requesting speed and safety studies on state and county roads, pursuing lighted crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, and lower speed limits near schools, parks, and the Village, and making complete streets standard in every project we review. I am working on reviewing the environmental assessment and ensuring that safety criteria applies to every Planning Board reviews so new development doesn’t create the next problem corridor. I’ll keep meeting with Local, County and State officials regularly and make our grant applications stronger by showing safety data and community support and the differences we can make.

We are currently updating our comprehensive plan, and active transportation is one of the most common topics residents have raised. Upon adoption of the plan, I want to continue to invest in updating projects like sidewalks, lighted crosswalks, and bike lanes. Yes, I plan to take advantage of Monroe County’s municipal sidewalk matching funds and other grant programs. A dedicated local fund is what makes us match-ready, and my record of making grants accessible to Webster, shows I know how to put that kind of funding to work.

RTS controls the service, but the Town controls the sidewalks, crosswalks and right-of-way around every stop, and I would use that. With On Demand ending next April, the groundwork we lay now matters even more, because it decides how quickly Webster can host service when it returns. First, I would use the comprehensive plan update to identify likely stop locations at places like Phillips Village, Country Manor, The Holt Road Plaza and Dewitt Road, and connect them with safety features like sidewalks and lighted crosswalks. Second, I would write bus-stop access into our site plan reviews, so new commercial and residential development along Holt Road, Phillips Road and Route 104 plans for stops up front instead of retrofitting them later. Third, I’d work with RTS to pair each stop with an accessible and safe landing pad, a bench and a shelter where ridership supports it. The active transportation investments will continue to enhance these improvements, so we can offer RTS a stop that is already safe and usable.

With RTS On Demand ending in Webster next April, our town would lose its local public transit service. That is not acceptable for residents who rely on transit to get to work, medical appointments and school. I have already started working on it. Last week, I met with RTS along with Josh Artuso, our Director of Community Development, and a representaive of the Webster Community Chest to discuss how Webster can advocate for funding to bring service here. In the meantime, the Town increased funding for WSPS this year so it can keep transporting seniors around town as ON Demand goes away. I will keep working with Monroe County and RGRTA to bring service back to Webster, starting with the areas where people live and shop, and follow up with RGRTA leadership and our County legislators, bringing ridership and resident data, making the case that Webster is ready to be a partner. I will also support widening Ridge Road to accommodate buses if it meant safer roads for everyone.

About 11% of Monroe Country households do not have a car, and Webster has residents int hat group, including seniors, students, families and workers. My approach is to focus on new housing and jobs where transportation already exist instead of spreading development outward. That means supporting mixed-use development and higher-density housing near existing corridors like Ridge Road, Holt Road, and the Village’s traditional main street, while preserving green space, which s why I backed the development moratorium. Through our comprehensive plan update, I would encourage zoning that allows people to live, work, and shop in the same area, require sidewalks and transit-ready design in new projects, and continue to support small businesses on our main streets. I have also taken the first step toward the State Pro-Housing Community designation which can open up funding for exactly this kind of walkable growth.

As an elected village official and a human, Vision Zero is that standard that we should all be striving for. As mayor, I would be focusing on 3 of the objectives where I think we could make the biggest impact for residents of the Village of Fairport. Safer Speeds by asking DOT to allow us to decrease the speed limit on main roads and in neighborhoods. I am currently working with representatives from FCSD to improve safety and awareness for students and drivers at all school crosswalks, particularly with the school time changes coming this fall. Safer Roads would be accounted for whenever we have the opportunity to add traffic calming features to roads that are being repaired, repaved or are in need of increased safety. We can encourage the Safer People objective thru targeted education cooperating with schools and our police department to encourage safe, responsible driver behavior.

The Village of Fairport has planned sidewalk replacement in different areas of the village each construction season included in our yearly budget. We recently completed a $5 million Streetscape project on our Main street through a TAP grant that included new ADA compliant sidewalks, new trees, new signage, new lighting and complete electrical upgrades. Beacon activated crosswalks have been added throughout the village and I’d like to see more added to allow for safe crossing and connection of different neighborhoods. There are a few areas in the village where sidewalks simply end and one of my goals is to extend these sidewalks to completion. We have measures included in our budget as finances allow and will continue to pursue grant opportunities to assist with our transportation safety goals.

4. Roughly 11% of Monroe County Households do not have access to a car and rely on public transportation and active transportation to get around. What land use and economic development policies would you pursue to encourage job creation and development along existing transportation corridors and traditional main streets?

I would pursue policies that prioritize accessibility and safety for residents and visitors wanting to have a less car centric experience while living, working or traveling in the Village of Fairport. I will work with community partners, experts and residents to determine what would best suit the needs of our village.

Candidates for Fairport Village Trustee

Adam Bonosky

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: adam.bonosky@gmail.com

Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586635224657; and https://www.facebook.com/adamforfairport

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

We currently have been working to improve our pedestrian infrastructure. Main Street has received new sidewalks and we continue to repair and replace sidewalks annually. That being said, streets that better slow down traffic to improve walkability, along with bike infrastructure to make it more comfortable for parents to bike with their children would be a great step forward. Our entire region could benefit from more frequent transit to better connect and improve the economic sustainability of our communities.

My background in helping other communities enhance their walkability and bikeability enables me to bring the most current best practices to the village. For example, I have been working with residents to determine test installations for enhanced walkability to slow down cars, reduce the distance for crossing, and perhaps find locations for temporary bike infrastructure tests.

Improving our options for ways to get around is a quality of life issue. I would continue to work with people in our neighborhoods to find ways to enhance our walkability and bikeability through tests that engage neighborhood residents. I will highlight other areas where it is uncomfortable to walk, or where sidewalks are still needed and include their installation during our budgeting process. I will continue to advocate for enhanced regional transit from our County, State, and Federal representatives

I continue to fund our sidewalk maintenance and replacement program each year in the budget, having doubled our efforts in the past two years. I am working with our various departments to determine the timelines and costs involved for installing new infrastructure, from pedestrian to bicycle. There are few Monroe County roads in Fairport, but where they do exist, I will work to get grant funding for sidewalks.

Fairport recently passed an updated zoning code, allowing for a greater range of housing types in the Village along with more opportunities for housing in our downtown. This will help support our local businesses, enabling them to expand and provide more jobs, and make it easier for entrepreneurs to start their own venture. More housing options will also make it easier for our residents to also work in the village, encouraging more people to walk provide a greater range of options to get to work.

Sarah Nazarian

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email: sknazarian@gmail.com

Website: https://www.perintondemocrats.com/

1. What are your town’s greatest transportation challenges? Why should town residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

Our greatest challenge is keeping Fairport Village safe and walkable while managing increasing traffic flow to Village businesses.

Interestingly, we have the opportunity to hear from Cody and Lourdes from your organization as well as two other national experts at our board meeting last night about safe system approaches. We’re exploring ideas and looking at tactical urbanism to help generate community interest in traffic calming and, in turn, mitigating accidents between pedestrians and vehicles. We know there are challenges, but our board is dedicated to the safety of our residents.

We’ve already made strides toward transportation improvement like safer crosswalks, calming intersections, working with our new police chief on ways we can improve transportation. I’m not certain of we’d qualify for matching funds. We’re working on a second DRI application which includes transportation projects and safety improvements.

N/A

In Fairport Village, we’re uniquely walkable–our whole village is a little less than one square mile. However, we’re trying to work with the Town of Perinton with which we share our major roadways to make sure the whole area has access to transportation.
We do have RTS bus service through Fairport, though we’d like to improve our bus stop facilities to make the bus a more attractive option for residents.
We’ve also addressed transportation in our sustainability policy that we’re currently reworking and should adopt by November. These efforts would not only be good for the environment and the community as a whole, but would also improve transportation efficiency and opportunities for Village residents.

Paul Keitz

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Ian Winner

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Candidates for Fairport Village Trustee – 1 Year Term

Matthew Brown

Political Party: Democratic, Working Families

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Jason Rinaudo

Political Party: Republican, Conservative

Candidate Email:

Website:

We did not receive a response from this candidate.

Reconnect Rochester would like to thank all of the candidates (and their teams) for the time and effort they’ve dedicated to our community, and for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to working with them very soon.

October 8, 2026 by No Comments

Reflecting on the 2026 Week Without Driving

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2026 Week Without Driving! Getting this real life perspective of the joys and challenges of car free living is important and will serve as a reminder of why we do this work.

With 24% of Rochester residents and 12% of Monroe County residents lacking car access, thousands of our neighbors don’t have the option to wait until the system improves. They rely on it today. The more of us who understand the benefits and the barriers firsthand, the more likely we are to build a multimodal community that works for everyone.

In 2026 we saw 43 participants logged a stunning 642 non-car trips for a total of 2,362.52 non-driving miles!

Special shout out to Hannah Geitner who used Flix bus to get to Ithaca instead of driving! We have included her thoughts on the experience below your comments.

Biking Comments

I biked to and from school today and I did better than I thought when I was biking up one of the hills, but the way back was much harder than I thought. My hack is remembering to switch gears when I go up big hills.

Biked to the eye dr, about 2.5 miles from my house. The route is pretty ok, but I wished there was bike parking.

Biked, Roundtrip, Home to the grocery store to buy more coffee beans. Not tricky. It was very easy and I’ve done it before. Mine was the only bike in the rack and I wondered if I’d ever find it full? Would be nice…

I went out for coffee. The biggest challenge was the pavement quality – potholes and broken pavement forced me into the road even when there were bike lanes next to the driving lane.

Today I biked from the Erie canal trail to Jefferson Rd for work today. There’s no good connection from the trail to Jefferson. I needed to bike on the shoulder S winton road which was awful

I rode from home to the Greece Library, using primarily bike boulevards. It’s tricky crossing Latta and Long Pond (several left and right hand turning cars), so I make sure the cars see me before I move into the intersection. I have a light in the front and rear of my bike and on my helmet, and wear a high visibility jacket. It’s pretty hard NOT to see me!

I biked to the pharmacy then stopped at the grocery store on the way back to pick up some stuff. My route starts going north on Mt Read for about 1 mile. The only difficult part is the intersection at Mt. Read/Stone. It’s tricky on a bike.

I’ve been working on low-stress bike route mapping for a few months, and today really emphasized the challenges of our current network. As a confident cyclist, I took some very direct routes that have little or no formal infrastructure (Scio St, Circle St, Woodbury Blvd) rendering them very uncomfortable for many. Anyone who is less confident is stuck using meandering, indirect routes that can add significant amounts of time to a trip. If we want to encourage cycling in our City, we need to make the most direct routes safe for all ages and abilites; even if that means re-routing or inconveniencing drivers.

I rode my bike to the public market to do some produce shopping on my way to the Roc the Riverway guided bike ride. I forgot to snap a picture but Jesse saw me there. Then I picked up a bottle of wine for dinner from Schuber on Park on my way home.

I’m in my own forever war against disappearing bike lanes. Shouts to Culver and Winton! Constantly asking myself if I should just take the lane even when the current stretch has a bike lane just so I don’t risk getting clipped when trying to get in the lane when the bike lane ends. But then I risk the revenge pass! Where a driver passes unsafely because they were annoyed that I slowed them down.

I did a big grocery shopping trip on bike, including a full-size watermelon and a carton of eggs! My panniers make me feel unstoppable!! However, I do despise the East Ave Wegmans parking lot with any form of transportation, but especially on a bike…

Heavy headwinds coming home on the Canal Trail in the afternoon. “Slow but steady wins the race.

Commute to and from work that I do all the time. Riding 7/10 miles on the canal is great. Rough spots are Lee Rd north of the canal, the Chili Ave intersection, and getting to near the Brickyard Trail from the canal.

Bowling on Monday night. I decided to get a locker last year so I could ride my bike without having to worry about carrying my bowling ball and shoes every week.

I rode my bike to the Y for yoga class this morning, then on to Walgreens to pick up photos. This afternoon I rode my bike to get a haircut and used bike boulevards to travel there and home safely.

Biked with my 6-year old to his choir practice on S Clinton. It required a very circuitous route and more sidewalk riding than we typically do. Luckily, the weather was perfect. We probably won’t do this regularly, but I’m glad to know it’s an option.

Cold morning – warmed up after 5 miles or so, but it was a brisk start to the day.

On my bike home from work on Monday, I took a detour to run an errand near Cobbs Hill Park. I usually would’ve taken the Harvard St bike boulevard for this route, but I decided to try out Park Ave itself. And what a nice ride it was! Super low traffic volume on Park Ave at 4:30pm on a Monday, and I played “tag” with a roller skater headed the same way as me; we passed each other a few times. Then to get home from there I biked up and over Cobbs Hill & Highland Park, which were tough but rewarding climbs with beautiful views.

Walking Comments

The weather was perfect today. Walking downtown with the construction on Main Street

There wasn’t always a side walk, other than that it was an easy trip.

All of my walks today were extremely pleasant on account of the perfect weather and being in Manhattan for work. I love when a City supports all 4 of Jeff Speck’s walkability tenets (useful, safe, comfortable, interesting).

I walked to Trillium Ribbon Cutting on Jefferson Ave and very surprised by the lack of visible crosswalks

Walked to dinner and convinced all my friends to go walk too!

Downtown construction made staying on the same side in the correct lane difficult and placed me walking into places cars werent expecting- the closer to State st, the more difficult

I walked from my house to The Rochester Oak Street Complex Center for the HBCU Tailgate party..I walked through the Bullshead Revitalization area and so excited to see ao much done and stating to see the vision come together. If I would have drove im sure I would had been frustrated by the detours.

First time walking to my house to the gym in Gates. I noticed the total difference walking in a town vs city…I almost don’t want to complain anymore about city sidewalks….what an adventure….not sure if I will do that again.

Walked to and from the Y on Thurston, then to and from work downtown and to and from a neighborhood community event. A beautiful day to be outside walking.

I walked from my job County Office Building to Local’s Only on 311 Alexander Street for a lunch meeting and let me tell you I love walking downtown. Seeing the diversity in people walking, handling their business, sitting out talking or people watching makes me happy.

I walked from work to the convention center and truly took in the view of the Genesee River.

Bus Comments

Super easy bus ride to and from work!

Loved event at Salinger’s. Took bus there and back.

Brighton bus line ends in a highway with no sidewalk to cross the river- was disappointed since there’s a trail system right underneath that could be connected by the bridge!

Grateful for living on the bus line direct to work when it’s pouring outside!

I like bikes and I like the bus but I don’t like transferring buses because there’s so much waiting in-between. So I bike to the transfer point where I get on the bus that gets me to work.

My Amtrak got into Rochester late so I had to litterally run with a week’s worth of luggage from the train station to the Transit center to catch the 18:00 pulse or I would have been stuck waiting for an hour. We need 15 minute frequencies or better on all urban fixed routes ASAP

One thing that’s been on my mind for months is the RTS policy of closing its bathrooms during the busiest hours of the commute to prevent bad behavior, but also preventing accessibility and basic human dignity.

Bus to an actual brewery + Bug Jar!

I had a bus delay completely alter my route home today. While this delay was happening at the Transit Center I helped another man pack up his groceries while RTS staff chided him and told him he couldn’t get on another bus. Feels like the bus system requires a lot of patience from riders without giving riders any respect in return, to put it delicately. I had a time I needed to be back, and thankfully I gave myself a lot of time, so I made it home by 6 pm, but it was closer than it should have been.

E-Bikes/E-Scooters

I took an ambitious trip up to Irondequoit from Rochester on my e-scooter. It was a lot of fun! The bike accomodations were spotty, but no one was yelling at me in the road and there weren’t many moments I felt unsafe, even when riding at night.

I took a trip up to Home Depot on Ridge Road, I had to return some items and buy more. Using my scooter in a hostile environment was challenging. I rode a lot on the sidewalks near the Home Depot because there was no dedicated bike lane and driving in traffic felt risky. But coming up from the city there’s bike lanes / easier roads on Goodman, Norton, and Main street. So most of the trip had some infrastructure.

I rode my e-scooter to RIT for a meeting. I rode down the Lehigh Valley Trail for the first time. It could definitely use some maintenance, but it’s a nice way to get between UofR and RIT.

I’ve found that it is sometimes faster to use a e-scooter than the bus since the routes are sparse. The lack of connection leaves long walk times at either end, so using the e-scooter shaves off quite a bit of time compared to the crosstown bus.

Hanna Geitner’s Flix Bus Experience

It is Reconnect Rochester, Inc‘s #weekwithoutdriving! Yesterday’s challenge was to take public transportation. At first, this seemed like a challenge as I had two site visits in Ithaca (75 miles away) but with a quick internet search I booked a round-trip ticket on a Flixbus! Conveniently, the Rochester bus stop is within walking distance to my office where I stashed my bike for the day and the Ithaca bus stop was 0.2 miles from my first meeting. I was able to walk to almost every other meeting site thanks to Ithaca’s downtown density and carpooled with 4 colleagues to one site outside the city center not connected via sidewalks.

Some things I noticed–

Its much easier than you think to use the bus. Flixbus, Greyhound, Trailways, etc. have impressive routes across the country that can get you where you need to go.
Taking the bus is like having a personal driver, I answered emails, took a quick nap, prepped for my meetings, and enjoyed the first glimpses of fall foliage around the Finger Lakes!
Dense community design makes being carless far less intimidating. All but one of my meetings in Ithaca were in a 0.5 mile radius. Within this, I stopped to check out 3 different restaurants/cafes and spent some down time in the public library taking advantage of the free wifi and phone chargers.
You can learn a lot about a place by showing up without a car and not relying on rideshares. This felt important as I showed up as a non-native to analyze potential projects. Before my first meeting, I had seen the main bus stops, saw how folks can access them (or not), seen their proximity to services, food, and stores, and used them myself. This was an incredibly small glimpse but it was one I would not have had if I had driven from my house, parked right outside each meeting, then drove back to Rochester.

What our elected officials say

State Senator Jeremy Cooney, Transportation Committee Chair, on RTS

“We like our drivers, we feel safe on the bus, RTS buses are newer and riding is a great experience! But do they get you to your destination frequently and on time?

We secured money to study Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to dedicate a lane just for bus service with transit signal priority to move our buses quicker. So if someone misses a bus they’re not waiting 45 minutes for the next one, they’re waiting 5-10 minutes.

I need everyone to call their state representatives and tell them to make transit a priority this budget session. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”

Watch State Senator Cooney’s video on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.

Deputy Mayor Michael Burns on Walking

“One of the great things about living downtown is that we reduced the number of cars in our house from one to two because of good public transit and the walkability of downtown.

ROC Vision Zero is our initiative to make sure our streets are safer for all residents whether they drive, walk, or bike. A key component is safe crosswalks with crossing times that are adequate especially at high traffic intersections.

We also have a hazardous sidewalk repair program that identifies hazardous sidewalk areas throughout the city to ensure that folks walking have safe sidewalks.”

Watch Deputy Mayor Burns’ video on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello on Biking

“Monroe County believes there should be a complete streets approach to how we design our streets. To make sure it’s safe for everybody to use our roads regardless of the mode they choose.

We changed county policy to allow for bike lanes to be installed on county roads. We have more lane miles planned for the future so it’s not just the city of Rochester but we’re connected into the suburbs as well.

Try riding a bike to get to where you’re going today and Monroe County’s commitment is to design roads that are safe for you to ride your bike and safe for motorists as well.”

Watch County Executive Bello’s video on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.

Dr. Miriam Moore, Chief Diversity Officer for Brighton on Disabled Mobility

“I do think if there were better transit options there would be fewer cars on the road subsequently lending more parking for individuals who need accessible parking.

Living with Avascular necrosis makes walking difficult. Having infrastructure that is in good condition with no cracks or bumps is important. Brighton now has a crosswalk that lights up. I’ve used it and I think it’s awesome for individuals who may not be able to cross at the speed that healthy individuals can.”

Watch Dr. Moore’s video on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky

Our local Week Without Driving initiative inspired the following news coverage:

Could you go a week without driving? A Rochester nonprofit thinks you can and says it could save you money (News 10 WHEC)
Could you go a week without driving in Rochester? (Democrat and Chronicle)

Thanks again to all of our participants!

July 30, 2026 by No Comments

Making Rochester Streets Safer for All: The 2026 Complete Streets Makeover of Genesee Park Blvd and Pioneer St

Over the years, we’ve received dozens of thoughtful submissions from Rochester residents for places where it doesn’t feel safe to walk or bike. Responding to this growing epidemic was the impetus behind our Complete Streets Makeover program, created to bring attention to street design as one critical factor in the safe streets equation. Do you know of a risky spot in your daily travels? Make sure to nominate it for consideration and you could see this change on YOUR street!

The Selection Process

A steering committee made up of our program partners selected Genesee Park Boulevard and Pioneer Street from a pool of 48 community submissions. “There are [crashes] at this intersection at least every other week. It has always been a problem…” is what the original nominator mentioned as a concern. As we dug deeper, other neighbors mentioned that drivers failing to yield to the right of way has made them feel unsafe rolling or walking through the intersection.

That’s especially concerning because this intersection connects people to Genesee Valley Park and some of Rochester’s most popular active transportation routes, including the Empire State Trail and Genesee Riverway Trail. It’s also a key connection for University of Rochester students, families, and children traveling to and from School #53.

When an intersection makes people change their route out of fear, it’s a sign that it’s time to rethink the design.

Getting Community Input

At our neighborhood design workshop in March, 19th Ward residents gathered to discuss the specific concerns they have while traveling through this intersection on a daily basis. Neighbors of all ages joined to envision safer crossings, playful sidewalks, better wayfinding, public art, and a reference to the 19th Ward’s neighborhood traffic calming turkey to serve as a symbol for the need to address safety for all road users.

As fate would have it, the turkey showed up an hour before the installation began to check on our progress!

Our partners at Stantec created a rendering based on the neighborhood feedback. The final design used flexible delineator posts to visually narrow the roadway; using a design strategy backed by traffic safety research to slow traffic and daylight the intersection which prevents parked vehicles from obstructing visibility of oncoming road users when crossing.

While neighborhood residents favored a temporary neighborhood traffic circle, the additional approvals and complex logistics were not possible within the timeline. We moved forward with a curb extension design for the strongest improvement we could install immediately.

We will be working with the 19th Ward to strongly advocate for a traffic circle to be tried in the next couple of years. If efficacious in reducing speed (without barring the ability for larger vehicles to pass through), we will push to have this design element included in the planned reconstruction of Genesee Park Blvd planned for 2032.

Making Magic at Genesee Park and Pioneer

At the installation in May, more than 100 neighbors came together to paint, volunteer, celebrate, and reclaim their intersection. With a vibrant burst of color and tributes to Rochester’s Flower City logo, this design transformed the space to reflect the pride and spirit of our community.

Just as the last of the paint was drying, the sky opened up with rain yet volunteers stayed to pack up supplies and help one another. The timing was eerily perfect as the design was finished! We are so grateful for the camaraderie and giving spirit of our 19th Ward neighbors.

Nothing captures the life of a project better than film. Reconnect Rochester is pleased to share this short film, produced by Floating Home Films, that tells the full story.

The Impact

But did it make a difference? YES!

Drivers traveling above the posted 30mph speed limit decreased by nearly 18%. More importantly, the changes weren’t limited to just the fastest drivers. Speeds decreased across the entire range of drivers, especially for eastbound traffic, showing that this encouraged safer driving behavior overall rather than simply curbing the most excessive speeding.

This type of broad behavioral change is exactly what traffic engineers hope to see from “self-enforcing” street design. Research shows that by using visual cues and subtle geometric changes, projects like this encourage drivers to choose safer speeds naturally, without overreliance on enforcement to slow speeds.

Even small reductions in vehicle speed can significantly improve safety for people walking and biking, reducing both the likelihood of a crash and the severity of injuries if one does occur.

Learn even more about the Complete Streets Makeover of Genesee Park and Pioneer

Looking Ahead

In the eight years since we began the Complete Streets Makeover initiative, we have seen time and time again when communities are given the tools to reimagine their streets, safer neighborhoods become possible.These temporary projects help city officials evaluate future investments while transforming neighborhood experiences into meaningful transportation data.

Keep nominating intersections and trouble spots you experience in your daily travels that could use a re-design! Together, we’ll keep advocating to design our streets for people, and we’ll keep making it happen one intersection at a time.

*Community Partners

The Complete Streets Makeover of Genesee Park Blvd & Pioneer St is a collaborative venture with the following community partners:

Reconnect Rochester

The Healthi Kids Coalition, convened by Common Ground Health

Stantec

City of Rochester

Genesee Transportation Council

19th Ward Community Association

Cub Scouts Troop 1965

Southwest Rotary Club

Southwest Neighborhood Services

Trillium Health

June 11, 2026 by No Comments

Where They Stand: 2026 Primary Monroe County Candidates for Congress, State Legislature, and Town & Village races

Reconnect Rochester surveyed all candidates with a primary election for US Congress, State Legislature, and Town & Village races to learn where they stand on issues related to transportation and mobility.

This questionnaire only covers candidates with a primary election. We will cover all general election candidates in another questionnaire later this year. New York has a closed primary election meaning only registered members of an official party are eligible to vote. The races we cover have primary elections in the Democratic, Republican, and Working Families Parties and are grouped by party below.

We hope this information will help you make an informed decision when you head to the polls! Early voting for the primary election starts Saturday, June 13th and runs through Sunday, June 21st. Click here to find early voting sites!

To check if you are registered to vote, confirm your polling location for the June 24th primary election, and even see a preview of what your ballot will look like: click here.

Our Methodology & Process

For the 2026 election year, we are running two candidate questionnaires to cover the primary election and the general election.

For the primary election, we surveyed 21 candidates from across our region. We began by referring to the list of certified candidates provided by the Monroe County Board of Elections. With a list of all primary candidates, we located campaign emails and websites to send our questionnaire.

All candidates initially received our questionnaire in the mail. We then sent several reminder notifications to encourage candidates to participate. Candidates with functional campaign webpages and emails received at least two reminders digitally. The hyper local nature of some elections often made finding the email addresses of candidates difficult. Many candidates run campaigns from Facebook pages or through word of mouth. Candidates without clear digital contact methods received a second copy of the questionnaire in the mail to the address the candidate filed with the Monroe County Board of Elections.

Regardless of the contact method, candidates received at least two communications explaining our questionnaire asking for responses. The majority of our outreaches were sent on the week of May 7th, May 19th and June 8th with a deadline of June 10th to give us time to upload the responses to this webpage.

If you have any questions about our candidate questionnaire, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for taking the time to see where your candidates stand and for voting.

Democratic Party Primary Election Candidates

Democratic Primary Candidates for US Congress (NY-25)

Robin Wilt

Political Party: Democratic

Candidate Email: campaign@robinforus.com

Website: RobinForUS.com

1. What do you think are Rochester/Monroe County’s greatest transportation challenges?

Monroe County and Rochester have an outmoded and outdated public transportation system that is neither accessible, nor practical for many of its residents. Moreover, although slowly improving, cycling infrastructure tends to lack connectivity and sufficient safety measures to make it a practical alternative for most commuters and across all demographics. Our car-first mentality has created a mindset where increasing access to multimodal forms of transportation is an afterthought, not the priority it should be.

– Robust funding for Transportation Alternatives

– Legislative language of the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Act and the Magnus White and Safe Streets for Everyone Act

– Reauthorization and fund for the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program

Yes. I am familiar with Safe Streets for All initiatives and wholly back their implementation. As indicated in my previous answer, I believe that transportation alternatives should be a priority, not an afterthought, especially from intersectional and equity standpoints. I would also back the Safe and Affordable Transit Act, which aims to expand and subsidize public transit to make it more affordable and reliable including: 1) Expanding transit funding to underserved communities; Reducing fare costs for low- and middle-income riders; Supporting multi-modal transit and active transportation (walking, biking) as part of safe streets goals.

Yes. I was examining a Vision Zero plan for the Town of Brighton, and I would definitely support it for Rochester and Monroe County. I would spearhead efforts to expand the Vision Zero discussion from just the city to the County level, which would address some of the skepticism currently being raised.

For me, as often is the case with issues involving the environment, it is not only a matter of sustainability, but also a matter of equity to improve multimodal transportation opportunities within our community. The communities most directly impacting by CO2 emissions are often the communities most vulnerable from a wealth and ability to mitigate perspective.

5. Why should Monroe County residents who care about safer streets, better mobility, and better public transit vote for you?

As a Town Councilmember, I consistently championed safe street initiatives within the Town of Brighton, and it remains a priority for me at every jurisdictional level. I would work with my partners at all levels of government to make streets safer, improve mobility and increase public transit alternatives.