May 12, 2015
Network of shelters will combine transit center amenities and easy access.
The area surrounding the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and College Town soon will see six new innovative bus shelters that will make up the Mt. Hope Stations Transit Center. The installation is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.
The shelters will provide convenience and amenities to better serve customers at RTS’ second busiest destination—and improve connectivity to the region’s largest employer, the University of Rochester. The stations also will relieve traffic congestion along the busy Mt. Hope corridor and help ease URMC’s parking crunch. Eight RTS routes currently serve the area.
RTS Director of Engineering Mark Ballerstein says, “"This project really addresses some unique transit needs in this area. We think spreading the station out over the large area of the URMC campus will make transit more easily accessible for employees, patients, residents and students.”
“RTS continues to do a great job making bus service a convenient option for the thousands of faculty and staff who commute to the Medical Center campus every day,” said Mary Ockenden, Associate Vice President and Director for Space Planning at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
The contemporary design of the stations blends with the urban environment of College Town. Customers can look forward to features such as bike racks, seating and lean rails, lighting, trash receptacles, video surveillance, and heat and Blue Light security systems at designated locations. Digital signage will display messaging and RTS arrival data in real time.
A smaller prototype has already been installed on Mt. Hope Ave. at Celebration Drive. Other locations are:
- Golisano Children’s Hospital entrance at Strong Memorial Hospital (Crittenden Blvd. side)
- Mental Health & Wellness entrance of URMC (on Crittenden Blvd., between Whipple Circle and Kendrick Road)
- School of Medicine (on Elmwood Ave.)
- Eastman Dental (on Elmwood Ave.)
- Between Bruegger’s and McDonalds on Mt. Hope Ave.
Construction on the remaining five shelters will begin in June 2015 and be completed by year-end. The Mt. Hope Stations Transit Center is the result of a partnership with the University of Rochester.
Cost of the project is $3 million and is being funded by the Federal Transportation Administration (80 percent), New York State Department of Transportation (10 percent), and RTS (10 percent). Design and construction of the stations is being performed by Bergmann Associates, The Pike Co. and Brasco International.
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