SRF is a key member of the consultant team completing the Rochester Transit-Oriented Development Plans. Downtown Rochester is growing rapidly with more people, jobs, and development in the core. Managing this growth sustainably means doing things differently than in the past, and fully embracing a cultural change that will increase the number of people using transit to, from, and within downtown. Implementation of BRT is key to accomplishing this goal, as is increasing the number of people living and working near transit. The TOD Plan addresses siting of stations, real estate market and development prospects in downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, land use and zoning changes, and access to the stations by walking and bicycling. SRF contributed to all aspects of the plan and advised especially on BRT operations, optimal station locations, integration of transit and walking, bicycling, and vehicular travel, public realm design, street function, and station accessibility and universal design. SRF also led public engagement for the plan which incorporated open houses, pop-up events, neighborhood and focus group meetings, social media, online surveys, and traditional media. In spring 2020 the engagement team pivoted to an all-virtual engagement effort because of COVID-19. The team hosted Zoom webinars and small-group meetings with stakeholders, significantly increased website content, conducted an online survey, added a phone line and project email address, and placed lawn signs in the corridor directing people to the website as a way of keeping residents involved in the planning process.
