The City of Rochester is implementing a high-frequency, three-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) line, Link BRT, connecting downtown Rochester to the Mayo Clinic’s West Lot to improve public transit access in the area. The project has secured Federal Administration Small Starts funding, and the project team expects service to begin in 2026.
As a subcontractor to SRF Consulting Group, the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is a part of the Issue Resolution Team, a group of experts and technical advisors supporting the project. Through thorough analysis and on-site data gathering, CTE and SRF have worked together to create a more realistic operating scenario at the early stages of planning. CTE’s route and charge modeling have also helped the project team explore options, determine assumptions, and optimize electric bus operations.
CTE is guiding the analysis of energy consumption and charging options for electrifying the fleet, as well as providing financial analysis support for the electric bus and charging infrastructure. One of CTE’s key deliverables was a memorandum detailing the recommended number of chargers, the type of bus batteries required, and other considerations for charging and electric bus operation based on the planned BRT route. This included the effect of larger battery sizes and the use of an auxiliary diesel heater, as well as developing specifications for on-route charging equipment.
