![Did an asteroid land in the parking lot at Ontario Beach? Not quite. This 100 ton hunk of slag is a remnant from an old steel mill. [PHOTO: Fred Amato]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/slag-button-charlotte-beach-rochester-01.jpg)
David DiPonzio, a firefighter with the Lake Shore Fire District in Greece, sent me these photos (taken by friend Fred Amato) of a strange-looking crater in the middle of the parking lot 
at Ontario Beach Park. An asteroid? Uh, not quite. This may be the most interesting archeological find since RGRTA dug up the RKO Palace. That big rock you see in the center of the crater is actually a giant hunk of slag – left over from the iron or steel mill that once operated here…
Archive: ‘Transit + Infrastructure’...
A 100 Ton Discovery at the Port of Rochester
Monday, June 17th, 2013Tags: Bethlehem Steel, blast furnace, Charlotte Beach, City of Rochester, construction, David DiPonzio, iron button, iron mill, Jim McIntosh, Lake Shore Fire District, Ontario Beach Park, Port of Rochester/Charlotte, Quinnesee Iron Mining Co., Rochester, Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E), Rochester NY, slag, steel mill
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 12 Comments »
1 Week and 300 Fare Cards Left To Give Away
Wednesday, June 12th, 2013
The following is a repost from ReconnectRochester.org.
ROC Transit Day is just a week away. About 85 local businesses and organizations have signed up to participate on June 20 – either encouraging their employees & members to leave their cars home, or by offering exclusive deals to transit riders .
Rex the Rhino is planning his bus ride as we speak. Music buskers are tuning up for their performances during the evening rush hour on Main Street. Murphy’s Law on East Avenue is priming the kegs for our happy hour celebration (RSVP here ). And our volunteers are wrapping up HUNDREDS of prizes to deliver to random transit riders.
Get Your Fare Card!
Best of all, we still have 300 limited edition ROC Transit Day fare cards left to give away before the 20th. And we’re making them available to you now – first come first serve. Send us your mailing address and let us know how many fare cards you’d like (no more than 5 per person please). Email your request to info@reconnectrochester.org.
We can’t guarantee on time delivery for requests made after Sunday, June 16. So email us now!
Tags: bus, mass transit, mass transportation, public transit, Reconnect Rochester, Regional Transit Service (RTS), ROC Transit Day, Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA)
Posted in Events, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure | No Comments »
30 Months at Midtown
Friday, June 7th, 2013![Midtown Plaza site, Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Earthcam.com Archives]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-midtown-plaza-01.jpg)
The photo above was taken in January, 2011. Late last year we looked at the plans for the new public spaces at Midtown Plaza. Work on the site is now progressing quickly – and those plan drawings are becoming reality. The old Midtown buildings are gone. The new Windstream building is mostly complete. And this week, the first street curbs have been installed giving shape to the new Cortland Street. Here’s a birds-eye view of the past 30 months progress…
Tags: construction, Cortland Street, demolition, downtown Rochester, Midtown Plaza, Midtown Tower, Rochester, rochester images, Rochester NY, rochester photos, time-lapse, Windstream
Posted in Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 3 Comments »
Rochester Is Getting On Board ROC Transit Day
Tuesday, June 4th, 2013
A few short weeks ago I told you about ROC Transit Day 2013. The idea is simple… pedestrians make for a vibrant city. The more people Rochester has walking the streets instead of driving, the stronger our community will be; and the stronger our local economy will be. ROC Transit Day is a holiday from our cars. It’s a day to celebrate local businesses. And it’s a day to cast a symbolic vote for a stronger transit system…
Tags: bus, mass transit, mass transportation, public transit, Reconnect Rochester, Regional Transit Service (RTS), ROC Transit Day, Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA)
Posted in Events, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure | No Comments »
Give Me CityGate
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013![Plan view of proposed CityGate project. [IMAGE: AJ Costello & Son]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/city-gate-site-plan-01.jpg)
No, seriously – give CityGate to ME, because I want to redesign it. The current plan is not worthy of the name. I may be the only person in western NY who didn’t crap themselves when they learned Costco was coming to town. I mean, Costco? Really? We need another one of these discount warehouses? Ok fine, I’ll let you have your Costco. No complaints from me. On one condition: Re-do this idiotic site plan! Look at this…
Tags: AJ Costello & Son, Brighton, City Gate, CityGate, Costco, development, development plans, East Henrietta Road, Erie Canal, Henrietta, Iola Campus, land use, parking, Rochester, smart growth, transit-oriented development, urban development, Westfall Road
Posted in Opinion, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 47 Comments »
ROC Transit Day: Lose your car keys on June 20
Monday, May 13th, 2013
A year and half ago I managed to convince RGRTA to try something new. I said, “let me give away free bus rides for one day.” I imagined most people would say “no thanks, the bus isn’t for me.” But I also knew my mom was right when she said, “try it, you might like it.” That year I think maybe 200 people participated and left their cars at home for the day.
What began as a fun little experiment, has turned into ROC Transit Day – a full blown Rochester holiday from our cars. This year ROC Transit Day will be on Thursday, June 20.
In this, its second year, the volunteers at Reconnect Rochester are giving away 1,000 special edition RTS fare cards – designed by yours truly. And we’re asking Rochester’s business community to get involved too…
Tags: A Step Apart, Chartreuse Studios, Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, Reconnect Rochester, Regional Transit Service (RTS), ROC Transit Day, Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA), Small World Food
Posted in Events, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure | 19 Comments »
Bike Boulevards & More, Coming To Rochester
Wednesday, May 1st, 2013![The City just released a Request for Proposal to create a Bike Boulevard Plan. [PHOTO: Payton Chung]](http://rochestersubway.com/images/photos/bike-boulevard-PaytonChung-01.jpg)
Sorry it’s been so quiet in the subway for the past week. It got crazy busy with many things happening on many different fronts, and I had to force myself into a self-imposed digital detox program. But here’s a quicky update…
I just got back from the Genesee-Finger Lakes Active Transportation Summit; a conference (held in downtown Rochester) where mobs of cycling and transit advocates gathered for a day of discussion about moving Rochester forward… literally. Believe me, Spiderman isn’t the only one sporting the spandex lately. There’s an undeniable groundswell of support for walkable, bike-friendly streets, and transit options in this town. Maybe you were following the tweets coming out of Reconnect Rochester throughout the day? But if you were at the conference, you understand what I mean. The excitement was palpable, and contagious.
Tags: bike boulevards, bike box, bike corral, bike lanes, bike plan, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Genesee-Finger Lakes Active Transportation Summit, mass transit, mass transportation, Portland, public transit, public transportation, Reconnect Rochester, Rochester bike master plan, Rochester Cycling Alliance (RCA), Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA), Spiderman
Posted in Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure | 35 Comments »
Spencerport Rail Bridge Removed
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013![This old railroad bridge over S. Union Street in Spencerport was removed last week. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-guerilla-art-bob-ross.jpg)
Remember this portrait of Bob Ross we spotted on a rail bridge in Spencerport a while ago? Built in 1924, that bridge once carried freight trains over South Union Street . The Democrat & Chronicle tells us tractor trailers have been hitting the bridge repeatedly for years. So it’s time to come down. Sorry Bob.
Daniel Azzolina has sent in a few photos of the bridge being dismantled. Enjoy…
Tags: demolition, Graffiti, rail bridge, railroad, South Union Street, Spencerport
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 2 Comments »
All Aboard The Ontario Car Ferry!
Wednesday, April 10th, 2013![Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station, Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Provide by Al from Wolcott, NY]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/baltimore-and-ohio-railroad-station-rochester.jpg)
I get a ridiculous amount of email here in the Rochester Subway. Most of it isn’t really worth sharing but occasionally I get a diamond in the rough. So here’s one from the mailbag…
Al from Wolcott, NY sent me this great photograph today along with a question. He writes, “Someplace on the internet I recently ran across a comment that the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad terminal was the place where people boarded a passenger train for Charlotte and then got on a boat for a trip to Cobourg, Ontario. Can you confirm this?” Yes. Yes I can. But first, let’s look closer at this photo…
Tags: Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Buffalo, Cobourg, ferry, Lake Ontario, Nick Tahou's, Ontario, Rochester, Rochester & Pittsburg Railroad, Rochester NY, The Ontario Car Ferry Company
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 11 Comments »
Filling in: Parks and Reparation
Thursday, April 4th, 2013![Columbs Circle, maybe early 1970's? [PHOTO: andrewcusack.com]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/filling-in-reparations-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Matthew Denker.
Submit your story today.
Dear readers, let’s take a short break from redeveloping Rochester. Instead, can we take a moment to consider that which we’ve lost? That which we can still repair?
This week, let’s talk about parks. Specifically, let’s talk about Lomb Memorial Park, and Schiller Park. But first, take a look at Columbus Circle in New York City (above). Oh man! Look at poor Christopher Columbus hanging out there all alone in the middle of traffic. At least he has a convenient parking spot for his car. Wait, what? You say that Columbus Circle doesn’t look anything like that? Well, I guess it doesn’t, now…
Tags: Andrews Street, Christopher Columbus, Columbus Circle, downtown Rochester, Franklin Square, Franklin Street, Freidrich von Schiller, Henry Lomb, Henry Lomb Memorial, Inner Loop, Lomb Memorial Park, Matthew Denker, New York City, Rochester, Rochester NY, Schiller Park, Upper Falls Blvd.
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 30 Comments »
LEGO Travel Adventure at Strong Museum
Wednesday, February 27th, 2013![LEGO Travel Adventure exhibit at The Strong, National Museum of Play. Now thru May 12, 2013. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/lego-travel-adventures-01.jpg)
I took a few hours to have some fun this week at The Strong, National Museum of Play. They’ve got a killer exhibit going on right now, through May 12. A history of transportation built entirely out of LEGO! I haven’t geeked out this bad since Norm Abrams came to Chase-Pitkin for a “This Old House” book signing. Check this out…
Tags: Henry Ford, LEGO, LEGO Travel Adventures, miniature, Model T, Orville Wright, space shuttle, Strong National Museum of Play, The Strong, Titanic, transcontinental railroad, transportation, Wilbur Wright, Wright Brothers
Posted in Art + Culture, Events, Rochester News, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | No Comments »
Happy Birthday, Grand Central Station
Friday, February 8th, 2013![A view of the interior of the grand concourse of New York's Grand Central Terminal with Kodak Colorama in the background. Some time after the morning rush hour. January 9, 1968. [IMAGE: AP Photo]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/grand-central-station-kodak-colorama.jpg)
Lots of stories about Grand Central Station have been flying around the internet these past few weeks. The station first opened its doors on Feb. 2, 1913. And no matter how grand it may be, 100 years is nothing to take lightly. Especially considering how many “grand” stations have fallen to the wrecking ball before. In 1968, the New York City’s Landmarks Commission denied a developer permission to demolish much of the upper level concourse and the Vanderbilt Room. A 55-story tower was planned to take its place. That Landmark Commission was formed in 1965 after the demolition of Penn Station – which was equally as beautiful. The photo above was taken just after the morning rush hour, on January 9, 1968…
Tags: Grand Central Station, New York Central Railroad, New York City, NYC, railroad station
Posted in New York City Subway, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 1 Comment »
Help Build the Sunken Garden at High Falls
Thursday, February 7th, 2013![Concept for a Sunken Garden at Browns Race, High Falls. Rochester, NY. [IMAGE: Bryant Design Studios]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-sunken-garden.jpg)
GardenAerial is a non-profit organization working to transform the High Falls gorge, including its industrial structures and trails, into a multi-use, public green space. Full disclosure…I serve on the board of the GardenAerial. I jumped at the opportunity to support this organization because I believe the High Falls and surrounding area could be great assets for this city, but they are woefully underutilized. We’re working to change that. And here’s a tremendous opportunity for you to help right now…
Tags: Browns Race, Center at High Falls, downtown Rochester, Friends of the GardenAerial, GardenAerial, High Falls, Rochester, Rochester NY, sunken garden
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 5 Comments »
RochesterSubway.com Talks at TEDxRochester
Monday, January 21st, 2013![Mike Governale at TEDxRochester. Mike is a designer, blogger, and founder of a local public transit advocacy group, Reconnect Rochester. [PHOTO: Jeffrey Hamson]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/TEDx-Rochester-2.jpg)
Last November I had the ridiculously huge privilege to give a talk at TEDxRochester. The gravity of the honor may have been too much for my little brain to comprehend. In fact, when they initially asked me to do it I said “no thanks” – twice. Long story short, I gave in. And I’m glad I did, because the experience was one of those “once in a lifetime” things.
Since much of my talk was influenced by you, RocSubway readers and participants, I thought you’d like to watch (and share) the official video which has just been released. A word of caution: I’m not the most riveting public speaker, but there is lots of good stuff buried within this 12-minute presentation, so watch thru to the end if you can…
Tags: Amanda Doherty, downtown Rochester, Gary Jacobs, history of Rochester, Jen Indovina, mass transit, mass transportation, Michael Governale, public transportation, Reconnect Rochester, Rick U., Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, suburban sprawl, TED Talks, TEDxRochester, Tony Karakashian, transit, transportation, transportation alternatives, urban revitalization
Posted in Opinion, Rochester History, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development, Video | 4 Comments »
Toilet Paper and Rochester’s Center City Master Plan
Thursday, January 17th, 2013
Last night the City of Rochester held the first of two informational/public input sessions for the new Center City Master Plan . This meeting was primarily intended for residents of downtown, although many people who work or live outside the inner loop also gave input.
I listened for about an hour as many great ideas were put on the table… “Plant trees down the middle of Main Street to make it nicer for pedestrians.” “Make people feel safer about walking downtown.” “Stop demolishing older and historic buildings.”
Then one resident announced, “Sometimes I go to the bathroom and I need toilet paper, but the only place to find toilet paper is Wegmans or Tops which are too far to walk to.” So, simply put, downtown could use more retailers and small grocers – for life’s little necessities (i.e. T.P.). Brilliant!
Tags: Center City, Center City Circulator Study, downtown Rochester, Rochester, Rochester Bicycle Master Plan Project, Rochester Center City Master Plan, Rochester NY, transit-oriented development
Posted in Opinion, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 23 Comments »
Saving Car 60: The Last Passenger Car From Rochester’s Subway
Tuesday, January 15th, 2013![The last remaining Rochester subway car... #60. [PHOTO: Christopher Hauf, Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-subway-car-60-RGVRRM-01.jpg)
Hopefully you caught yesterday’s story, “Rochester’s Adventure in Optimism” about the defunct Rochester subway. If you missed it give it a read. Originally published in the City Newspaper in 1983, the article mentioned the sole surviving subway car, car #60, and the effort to bring it back to Rochester and restore it to working order. Yesterday I received a more detailed explanation of those restoration efforts from Otto M. Vondrak, one of the trustees of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Henrietta, NY. Here’s the story of subway car #60 from Otto…
Tags: City Newspaper, history of Rochester, Jim Dierks, National Railway Historical Society (NRHS), New York Museum of Transportation, New York State Museum, NYMT, Otto M. Vondrak, Rail City, Rochester, Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, Rochester City Newspaper, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester subway car 60, Rochester Subway photos, Rochester Subway tunnel, Sam Grover
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 2 Comments »
Rochester’s Adventure in Optimism
Monday, January 14th, 2013![Cover of Rochester City Newspaper. June 2, 1983. [COURTESY: CITY Newspaper]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/city-newspaper-rochester-subway-story.jpg)
Sean Kirst began his career as a writer for City Newspaper (he’s now a columnist at Syracuse’s Post Standard ). He says he fell in love with the haunting feel of Rochester’s subway tunnels and was intrigued to learn the subway began taking off just after World War II. But at a critical moment, the system was basically dismantled by community leaders who were already thinking “interstates.” Sean dug into the story and wrote a fairly in-depth story entitled “Rochester’s Adventure in Optimism.” It was published in City Newspaper on June 2, 1983. Thirty years later, City Newspaper has graciously allowed RocSubway to share the story with you again, here…
Tags: City Newspaper, Harold McFarlin, history of Rochester, Jim Dierks, John Thomas, Mary Anna Towler, Mike Dow, National Railway Historical Society (NRHS), New York Museum of Transportation, NYMT, Richard Sale, Rochester, Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, Rochester City Newspaper, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester subway car 60, Rochester Subway photos, Rochester Subway tunnel, Sean Kirst
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 7 Comments »
The Rail Bridge over Letchworth Park: Should it stay or go… or both?
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013![The Portageville Bridge over Letchworth State Park looking south from the Middle/Upper Falls Picnic Area. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/letchworth-portageville-bridge-overlook.jpg)
The Portageville Bridge which carries the Norfolk Southern railroad over the Genesee River in Letchworth State Park was built in 1875 after a fire destroyed the former wooden bridge. The steel frame bridge, which towers over the river gorge and its waterfalls, has become a beloved feature of the park and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. But a 2008 inspection by Modjeski and Masters revealed structural deficiencies, and it was determined that the current bridge should either be rehabilitated or replaced. The question is what to do with the old bridge once a new one is built. State officials are now soliciting comments from the public on three different options…
Tags: demolition, Genesee River, Letchworth State Park, National Register of Historic Places, New York State Historic Preservation Office, NYSDOT, Portageville Rail Bridge, Walkway Over the Hudson
Posted in Rochester Images, Rochester News, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 15 Comments »
Rust Belt Cities: Rather Than Patronizing Young People, Give Them What They Ask For
Monday, December 17th, 2012![Cyclist on the sidewalk across the street from the Midtown development, Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Rick U, RocPX.com]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-midtown-cyclist.jpg)
I want to share with you an opinion piece from RustWire.com last week. The article was reposted on BuffaloRising.com and it’s now made its way down I-90 to RochesterSubway.com. Angie Schmitt begins by blasting attempts to market cities to young people. Angie cites an example from Columbus, Ohio where leaders spent a $30,000 grant to hire a so-called “Gen Y” expert to tell them how they could retain and attract the widely-coveted demographic. “Why didn’t they just ask the young people that live there what they want, and maybe put the $30,000 toward that?” she asks…
Tags: Angie Schmitt, Boston, BuffaloRising.com, Cleveland, Columbus OH, Global Cleveland Initiative, livibility, New York City, RustWire.com, San Francisco, suburbanization, urban design, urban revitalization
Posted in Opinion, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 17 Comments »
Today, December 11, in Rochester History: A Strange Sidewalk Accident
Tuesday, December 11th, 2012![These men are standing around a hole in the sidewalk where John Hornby and James Kenney fell through on December 11, 1901. In the background is the Clemson Hotel, with Charles R. Holliger, proprietor, at 52 South Avenue. [PHOTO: Rochester Municipal Archives]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-sidewalk-accident-01.jpg)
On December 11, 1901 this section of sidewalk on South Avenue played a cruel practical joke…
Tags: accident, China, James Kenny, John Hornby, old photos, old photos of Rochester, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Saint Paul Street, sidewalk accident, sidewalks, South Avenue, this date in Rochester history, Woonsocket RI
Posted in Rochester History, Transit + Infrastructure | 6 Comments »
Rochester Business News
