Getting Around: Rochester, NY

I rode Amtrak into Rochester and checked the Transit app to find which bus would arrive next. There was a bus stop about a block away. No shelter or bench, just a sign. It took about 15 minutes to arrive, which is as much time as I would have spent walking. The app initially estimated a shorter wait, but I think the bus got stuck in traffic.

While waiting, I pulled up the Transit app, which prompted me to add money to a digital wallet inside the app. I added $10 via Apple Pay. It was easy.

When you’re ready to ride, tap Ride Now in the Transit app, and it brings up a QR code. The driver showed me where to scan it.

In this screenshot, I’ve scrolled up a bit to see how far away the bus is.

The buses are pleasant and modern onboard.

All the routes I took (maybe all the routes in town) end at the Transit Center downtown. It’s a nice, modern facility, well staffed, with very good signage. Someone really knew what they were doing here. A departure board tells you which gate to wait at, and there are benches at each gate. The door to the bus unlocks when it’s ready to board; until then, you’re waiting inside the pleasant, climate controlled transit center.

The downside to this is that all buses seem to end at the transit center, so if you’re going from the south end of town to the north end, you’re probably going to need a transfer. If this is outside of rush hour, it could be 30-60 minutes for that transfer.

The buses are pleasant enough, and pretty efficient. They also run decently late, although not that often at night. I went for a late dinner at a brewery, and was watching the bus tracker to make sure I’d catch it. But I actually ended up with a bit of extra time, and visited the gorgeous upper falls, which had a brand new pedestrian viewing promenade.

Some stops were problematic. Twice in my trip, there was no bus stop where the Transit app said there would be. One was due to construction; the other seemed maybe due to some recent changes in road configuration, next to the Strong Museum of Play (if you’re in Rochester, go there, it’s amazing). So, be mindful, and be prepared to walk one step forward or backward when you’re catching the bus.

Rochester also recently tore out a stretch of highway and replaced it with mixed-use apartment buildings and a wide bike boulevard.

There is also a new pedestrian path on the east bank of the river, and improvements are under way on the west side.

When I left, there were no convenient buses back to the Amtrak station. It was going to be 20-30 minutes of waiting to save myself a 15 minute walk. So I walked.

As much as Rochester is beginning to blossom, the area between downtown and the Amtrak station is still kinda grim. Very few shops to speak of; only a couple convenience stores.

The Amtrak station itself only has a couple vending machines, no functioning WiFi, and there’s nowhere nearby to grab a snack or coffee.

If you’re departing via Amtrak, bring snacks, make sure you have a good hotspot plan if you’re aiming to get some work in, and don’t get there too early.