Recently, I sat down with the CEO of RTS Miguel Velazquez, Rochester’s transit service, along with Chris Mahood, the Director of Technology, and Christopher Dobson, Chief Operating Officer. It was a rare chance to hear straight from the top about the challenges they face in keeping the city moving.
We also talked about RTS’s zero-emission goal by 2040, set by the governor. They’ve started with hydrogen and electric buses—two hydrogen ones and 20 battery electric ones—but the costs are a real barrier. Hydrogen is pricier than diesel, and the infrastructure to fuel and maintain these buses is expensive. Plus, there’s the challenge of training diesel technicians for new tech, and the electric buses take hours to charge, unlike hydrogen ones that fuel up in 10 minutes. Winter will be a big test for the hydrogen buses, they said, since cold weather really cuts the range of electric ones. I found it fascinating they're assigning them to longer routes for efficiency.
Another topic that caught my attention was their use of data from third-party apps like Transit. I’ve used Transit myself, answering questions about whether the bus is on time or clean, and I was curious how RTS uses that feedback. They get some of the data—like rider satisfaction—but not all, due to subscription limits. It made me think about how valuable that data could be if they had full access, maybe to better understand rider needs. They also mentioned exploring predictive maintenance with sensors on buses to catch issues early, and even looking at safety data—like speeding or hard turns—to reduce accidents.
Reflecting on our discussion, I gained a deeper appreciation for the complexities of managing a transit system, where balancing costs, regulations, and rider expectations presents significant challenges. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to learn from esteemed leaders like Miguel Velazquez, Chris Mahood, and Christopher Dobson, whose insights into transit operations have truly broadened my perspective.
