Regional Transit Service (RTS) CEO Miguel Velázquez and City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans were joined today by Urban League of Rochester President Dr. Seanelle Hawkins to celebrate Transit Equity Day and announce a new partnership to provide City employees with free access to RTS Connect and RTS On Demand services.

Regional Transit Service (RTS) is looking to improve its transit services in Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties. Building on the success of updated transit services in Monroe County and the City of Rochester, this study is expanding focus to rural areas to complete region-wide transit improvements. This project will examine the service needs in these seven counties, with the goal of the study focused on identifying opportunities for on-demand, technology-driven, point-to-point transit services as an option for residents of the study area.

The Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) Board of Commissioners announced today that Deputy CEO Miguel Velázquez has been appointed as the next CEO and will begin in his new role on January 1, 2023.

Regional Transit Service (RTS) CEO Bill Carpenter announced at today’s meeting of the RGRTA Board of Commissioners that he will retire by the end of June 2023.

Effective immediately, masks are optional for customers and employees on all Regional Transit Service (RTS) vehicles and in all RTS facilities. The change in this RTS policy comes after the announcement today by Governor Kathy Hochul that the mask mandate on public transportation is no longer in effect.

The study is focusing on communities in Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties.

Following conversations yesterday with the office of New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, it was made clear that the mask requirement on public transit in New York remains in effect for now, pursuant to a March 2, 2022, determination by the New York State Department of Health. Therefore, starting immediately, customers and employees must wear a face mask that covers their nose and mouth on all RTS buses and in the public areas of all RTS facilities.

Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lifting the mask mandate for public transit, Regional Transit Service (RTS) is making masks optional for customers and employees on all RTS vehicles and in all RTS facilities, effective immediately.

The New York Public Transit Association released the following statement today in support of transit funding in the One-House Budget released on Saturday, March 13.

Regional Transit Service (RTS) announced today that it is expanding the free fares for military veterans program to Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne and Wyoming Counties. The free fares apply to regular route service only. Dial-a-ride service is not included.