Spring 2026 Transit Service Changes Virtual Open House - Feb. 9, 2026, Noon

The City of Rochester, MN held a virtual open house on February 9, 2026, to discuss proposed spring service changes to the Rochester Public Transit (RPT) system. The transit planner presented plans to improve ridership and increase the farebox recovery rate by adjusting bus routes, frequencies, and hours of operation. Key proposals include combining certain routes to increase frequency to every 20 minutes, discontinuing low-ridership routes, realigning routes for more direct and bi-directional service, and reducing weekend service hours to save costs. The changes aim to enhance transit access for residents and jobs, with 11% more residents expected to be within a 5-minute walk of frequent service and job access increasing from 29% to 50%. Public comments were invited through February 13, 2026, to refine the proposals before final decisions.