Latest media attention and news releases:

• Rochester Democrat and Chronicle features "City should head to rebirth on a new generation of trolley cars," a Speaking Out article written by Rochester Trolley Founder and CEO, Christopher Burns, August 15th, 2006.
• Article "Time for light rail may be coming," by Lara Becker Liu in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle page 1A, Wednesday August 9th, 2006.
• Article "Going Public," by Tim Karan in the Rochester Insider, October 15, 2004.
• Article "Buses aren't so great," by Tim Karan in the Rochester Insider, October 15, 2004.
• On-Air RNEWS news story, "Plan To Save Hojack Hits Snag," by Rocco Vertucci, featuring Christopher Burns of Rochester Trolley, Monday May 24th, 2004.
• Rochester Trolley Press Release: US Coast Guard Says Time's Up for Hojack Swing Bridge; Rochester Trolley Calls on Community for Support, May 24th, 2004.
• Article "Group hails centenary of Hojack span," by Rick Armon in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle page 3B, Monday May 17th, 2004.
• Article "Trolley proponents push ahead despite obstacles," by Tom Adams in the Rochester Business Journal, pages 7 and 8, Friday April 16th, 2004.
• Article "Charlotte Edgy over impending lake traffic," by Rick Armon in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle page 1B, Thursday April 1st, 2004.
• Article "Trolley clangs into Charlotte," by Lara Becker Liu in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, page 4B, Thursday April 1st, 2004.
• On-Air RNEWS news story, "Group Efforts Bridge Preservation" by Katie DeTar, featuring Richard Margolis of The Bridge Project, Christopher Burns of Rochester Trolley, and boater Brian Moore, Saturday January 24th, 2004.
• Rochester Trolley Founder Christopher Burns quoted in the Democrat & Chronicle story by Corydon Ireland and Rick Armon, "Brooks pledges spirit of inclusion", January 2nd, 2004
• Public Comments submitted by Christopher Burns to the Genesee Transportation Council regarding the Long Range Transportation Plan and opportunities for imporved local transportation through a rail-based heritage trolley system, December 29th, 2003
• Rochester Trolley Founder Christopher Burns named to new Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks' Economic Development Task Force: Democrat and Chronicle article by Dave Tyler and Todd Grady: "Brooks taps strategy team" , December 19th, 2003
• Presentation to the Federation of Monroe County Environmentalists, Monday November 24th, 2003
• On-air WROC Channel 8 interview of Christopher Burns by Katrina Irwin, "Some Say It's A Landmark, Others Say It's An Eyesore," Sunday October 19th, 2003
• Article "Alumnus tries for trolley," by Josh Rosen in the University of Rochester's Campus Times, Thursday October 9th, 2003
• Article "Some See a Landmark, Others a Bridge Too Rusty," by Michelle York in the New York Times, Sunday October 5th, 2003
• Article "Group Backs Swing Bridge"by Rick Armon in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, page 3B, September 21st, 2003
• Article in the 9/18/03 edition of the Greece Post, page 1A, by Melissa Lang: "Ferry First, Rail Transit Second"
• Speaking Out Essay in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, September 16th, 2003, page 9A: "All aboard trolley proposal to give city economic lift", by Christopher Burns
• Presentation to Monroe County Council of Governments: September 16th, 2003
• Press Release: September 9, 2003: "MONROE COUNTY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS INVITES ROCHESTER TROLLEY TO PRESENT" (click here for COG Agenda)
• On-air RNEWS news story "Connecting Rail to Ferry," interview of Christopher Burns, September 7th, 2003
• On-air radio interview by Andy Vaughan on WXXI, September 5th, 2003
• Press Release: September 5, 2003: "PRELIMINARY MARKET RESEARCH REVEALS SUPPORT FOR RECREATIONAL TROLLEY IN ROCHESTER"
• Results of Preliminary Market Research are in: Click Here for Report
• WOKR Channel 13 11 o'clock news Interview of Andy Vaughan, August 31st, 2003
• Article "Mayor seeks study of light rail"by Rick Armon in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, page 1B, August 26th, 2003
• Presentation to the City of Rochester Sector 1 NBN Meeting (in Charlotte): Andy Vaughan, Chris Bourne and Christopher Burns, August 12th, 2003
• Presentation to the Greater Rochester Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration: Brown Bag Lunch talk, given by Christopher Burns, August 12th, 2003
• On-air radio interview by Carlos Mercado and Christopher Burns on WXXI 1370 AM on the Bob Smith show, June 26th, 2003
• Front-page news: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, June 11th, 2003, article by Rick Armon
• On-air radio interview by Andy Vaughan on WHAM 1180, June 11th, 2003

Since we've begun, we've made a number of accomplishments: Last Updated 8/15/06

• Rochester Trolley & Rail Corporation formally incorporated as a NYS Railroad company
• Rochester Historic Railway Society formally incorporated as a NYS not-for-profit company
• We have basic maps showing intended starting routes: map 1 / map 2
• We have our regional system map drawn out: Region Map

The basic financials are evaluated:

• Trolley cars, $1.25 to $1.5m each for new vehicle, or 2/3rds that for refurbished PCC vehicles
• Ridership pricing and scheduling benchmarks
• Infrastructure costs

Financials we have yet to refine:

• Laying stone, ties, and rail (labor costs)
• Electrification equipment
• Right-of-way acquisition or lease
• Property tax impacts
• Grant funding options and amounts
• Advertising revenues and sources
  

photo from Vintage Views of Rochester

We’ve formally met with:

• Mark Aesch and Ryan Galliver, of the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority
• Terry Rice and Scott Leathersich, of the Monroe County Department of Transportation
• Jerry Helfer, aide to County Executive Maggie Brooks
• Rochester City Councilman Wade Norwood
• Leslie Bamann, Victor Local Development Corp.
• NYS Senator George Maziarz
• Steve Gleason and Rich Perrin, Genesee Transportation Council
• Town of Sweden Town Board
• Nancy Gillette, Erdman Anthony
• Evan Lowenstein, Common Good Planning Center
• Scott Winner, Village of Brockport Planning and Economic Development
• Mitch Rowe, City of Rochester and Monroe County Legislator
• Joan Dupont, NYSDOT
• Chris Sokol, CGI Communications (Pole Banner Advertising)
• Gay Mills and Tom Frey of the Genesee Land Trust
• City of Rochester Sectors 1, 5 and 6
• Village of Pittsford Mayor Bob Corby
• Brookville Equipment, Brookville, PA
• Rochester City Council President Lois Geiss
• NYS Senator Joe Robach
• NYS Assemblyman Joe Morelle
• Kristin Anderson in NYS Rep. Joe Morelle's office
• GRE President Mike Finney
• Jim Senall with GRE
• Joe Hamm from U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer's Office
• NYS Senator Joe Errigo
• RGRTA President Don Riley
• CSX Transportation: Regional VP John Casellini and Properties Manager John Wedemeyer
• Irondequoit Town Supervisor David Schantz
• Monroe County Environmental Services Gordon Tolman
• Rochester City Commissioner of Environmental Services Ed Doherty
• CATS Fast Ferry: Don Naetzker, Dom DeLucia
• Paul Cole from U.S. Congressional Rep Tom Reynolds' Office
• University of Rochester facilities: Richard Pifer
• Monroe Community College President Tom Flynn
• Brighton Town Supervisor Sandra Frankel
• Charlotte Sector 1 NBN group
• Finger Lakes Visitors'Connection president Valerie Knoblauch
• WXXI's Bob Smith show (on-air)
• Presentation to American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Brown Bag Lunch
• Joan Roby-Davison, Group 14621 Executive Director
• Chris Zeltmann, aide to U.S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter
• Rochester NBN Sector 7 president Moire Lemperle
• Ed Hall, president of the Greater Rochester Visitors' Association
• Rochester City Mayor Bill Johnson and Deputy Mayor Jeff Carlson
• City of Rochester Councilman Bob Stevenson

We’ve spoken with:

• Frank Dolan, Mark Johns, Bergmann Associates
• Chuck Huffine, Sear-Brown
• Arnie Rothchild, Normall Communications (transit advertising)
• Bill Carpenter, Pittsford Town Supervisor
• Sweden Town Supervisor Nat "Buddy" Lester
• Spencerport Village Mayor Ted Walker
• Brockport Village Mayor "Jo" Matela
• Marty Brewster, Town of Pittsford
• Mike Manikowski and Roberta Hutchinson, Ontario County Development
• David Collins, Rochester & Southern RR
• Bill Burt, Livonia Avon Lakeville RR
• Monroe County Department of Planning
• Gomaco Trolley Company, John Kallin and Travis Ellis
• Colorado Railcar Company, Tom Janaky
• David Monteverde and John Herbrand of Genesee Valley Transportation
• Kristen Bennett, Jim Stack, Rich Perrin and Steve Gleason of the GTC
• Tom Frey, working on the trails on the rights-of-way
• Robert Bloom and Scot Stiffler, US Coast Guard: open to rail-based re-use of bridge and helpful in design / upgrade requirements
• US Army Corps of Engineers: helpful; altered Genesee River Channel does not require removal of the swing bridge
• Kent Gardner, Center For Governmental Research

Conversations and meetings to be held soon:

• Development community

Key next steps:

• Put together funding for feasibility and market studies – looking for wide participation with small individual contributions ($1000 each)
• Based on above, begin to secure federal and private dollars to begin construction
• Continue presentations to immediate stakeholders and present to community– open forum discussions
• Continue building allies and partners
• Continue bringing towns on board
• Complete Hojack swing bridge repair estimates; assess and begin preservation
• Complete Assessments of scope of rights-of-way, trackage, routes
• Apply for and secure federal funding—FRA "New Starts", TEA-21/3, H.R. 1315, etc.

Please click here to send us an e-mail if you'd like to be kept abreast of our progress, or if you have insights and information you'd be willing to share-- thanks!