With the critical access provided to jobs, education, food, health care, and more, it’s hard to find a part of our regional economy that isn’t touched by public transportation. The Regional Transit Service has consistently demonstrated the critical role that public transit systems play in our Greater Rochester community. Through and through, public transit connects people, places, and economies.

Businesses and development projects throughout our region can attest to the importance of transit systems like RTS. We have already seen what investment in public transit can do for our community’s economic development. Look no further than RTS extending service to the new T-Mobile facility in Henrietta, the new UR Medicine orthopaedic facility at Marketplace Mall, and the new Amazon distribution facility in Gates, where over 52 percent of their workforce commutes by bus. These are critical job destinations and public transit is a great way to connect people looking for jobs with employers looking to recruit and retain employees.

A greater investment in RTS from New York State would provide more connectivity and access to the new business developments that are opening up within and outside the city of Rochester. State funding helped RTS implement a redesigned transit system that is safe, reliable, convenient, and sustainable for the people it serves. And with fares at $1 per ride and capped at $3 per day, it is also very affordable.

Combine these efforts with RTS’ universal pass partnership with the city of Rochester and its partnership with Monroe County to allow public benefit recipients to use their EBT cards on RTS buses, and the road ahead offers a clear path to continued development, growth, and prosperity for our region.

With clear benefits for New Yorkers across the state, increasing operating aid and capital funding for transit systems just makes sense. In collaboration with RTS and other transit systems across Upstate New York, we are committed to working with our legislators to help make funding match the growing demand for safe, modern public transit services and infrastructure.

Now is the time to significantly invest in high-quality transportation networks like RTS here in Rochester and across Upstate New York. Transit systems need dedicated, sustainable revenues to provide the essential services their communities require and to support the state’s initiatives for climate change, affordable housing and economic growth.

For our communities, for our economy, and for our future, it’s time to invest in public transportation.

Bob Duffy, CEO of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, served as Rochester mayor from 2006 to 2010 and New York lieutenant governor from January 2011 to December 2014.

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