In June 2024, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans announced the ROC Vision Zero Initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on the city’s streets. Among the 10 priority actions announced was an effort to tackle Lake Avenue, one of Rochester’s most dangerous streets. The plan calls for making Lake Avenue a multimodal safety corridor equipped with a “Bus Rapid Transit” line or BRT for short. What is a BRT and why would a fast-moving bus lane make Lake Avenue a street safer? 🤔
BRT is a high-quality-bus-based transit system that delivers fast, efficient and frequent service along a corridor by implementing dedicated bus-only lanes, signal priority, bus stations with off board fare collection and elevated platforms. The City’s proposal is in early days, so we don’t have anything specific to react to, but we do hope they’ll go for the BRT Gold Standard. Gold standard BRT also includes designing for universal access for people of all abilities and pedestrian access and safety on the street. We should strive for the best and avoid what advocates have termed “BRT Creep”, when elements of good BRT are removed to save on costs and the line becomes unrecognizable from a standard frequent service line. This will take a healthy mix of up-front capital investments (to build out the infrastructure) matched with operational dollars that keep the service running frequently (for more on operating funds, see our February letter to Governor Hochul).
Only a few systems across the US have achieved bronze or better including Albuquerque’s ABQ RIDE (Gold), Clevland’s Healthline (Silver), and Pittsburgh’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway (Bronze). More locally, Albany’s Capital District Transportation Association has upped their BRT game with 3 BRT lines connecting Albany, Schenectady and Troy. Our friend the Urban Phoenix had a lot of good things to say about his experience using the system. Recently, a big step forward for Buffalo’s east side is the proposed Bailey Avenue BRT treatment, a 7.5 mile corridor connecting the City’s south side to north side destinations and the metro rail.
We could see our BRT line going from the Transit Center all the way to Lake Ontario, about 8 miles. Rochester’s initiative on Lake Avenue wouldn’t just add a BRT line to the existing street. It would redesign the street to enhance and advance multi-modal safety. BRT would be a component in a design that would enhance pedestrian and bicycle facilities while improving access to the transit system. While we don’t have formal designs yet, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) thinks it could look something like this:
Courtesy of NACTO https://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-design-guide/street-design-elements/transit-streets/dedicated-median-bus-lanes/
Planners often frame BRT as a potential catalyst transit project and on this one, we agree. BRT can offer Rochester a unique opportunity to connect Edgerton, Maplewood and Downtown with faster and more efficient bus service, and provide opportunities to invest in more transit-oriented development along the corridor. Basically, that means dense, walkable, mixed-use development near the bus stops that adds amenities closer to where people live and use the bus.
Currently, the City of Rochester is building a transit-oriented development in the Bull’s Head area where West Main St. meets Genesee St., Brown St. and Chili Ave. Local credit union ESL committed to being the first tenant in the redevelopment, bringing back banking services to the 19th Ward for the first time in a decade.
The City of Rochester identified Lake Avenue as a top transit-oriented development (TOD) corridor opportunity in the 2018 Transit Supportive Corridors Study. While improving transportation is a core goal, BRT on Lake Avenue goes beyond simply moving people. It’s a strategic investment with a ripple effect of positive outcomes:
- Economic Development & Housing: BRT is a proven catalyst for transit-oriented development (TOD). By providing faster, more reliable service, it attracts businesses, housing, and services to the corridor. This is especially promising near underutilized parking areas around Kodak/Eastman Business Park, where BRT could spur valuable development and create a mixed-use hub.
- Activating a Key Corridor: BRT will amplify Lake Ave’s potential, transforming the corridor into a thriving destination with increased foot traffic and economic activity.
- Addressing Safety Concerns: The current state of Lake Avenue presents a barrier and many safety risks for residents accessing the Genesee River and other destinations. BRT will prioritize safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, making the corridor safer and more inviting for everyone.
- A Stepping Stone to the Future: BRT is not an endpoint but a stepping stone. The infrastructure built for BRT can serve as the foundation for future transit options like streetcars or light rail. This approach allows Rochester to incrementally build towards a more robust and interconnected transit network.
Safety, better transit options, economic stimulus. What’s not to like about BRT? Detractors in some places have promulgated fears that adding dedicated bus lines would create car congestion. As with most multimodal improvements, the opposite is shown to happen: Studies have consistently shown that BRT does not worsen traffic; in fact, it often improves traffic flow by prioritizing efficient transit and encouraging more people to leave their cars at home. The current levels of congestion on Lake Avenue is primarily limited to peak commute hours, and BRT will help alleviate this by providing a reliable alternative for commuters.
What’s it going to take to launch the BRT planning process? Well, RTS has gotten things off to a good start by announcing last September that the 22 Lake Ave line is getting restored to 15 minute service as was envisioned in Reimagine RTS. The next step is to get a study underway to scope the project. Lake Avenue BRT represents a transformative opportunity for Rochester. It’s a chance to create a more connected, equitable, and sustainable city – one where everyone has access to opportunity and a vibrant public realm.
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