Transportation

Link is a proposed 2.8 mile route along 2nd Street that will connect downtown Rochester, Mayo Civic Center, Mayo Clinic campuses, and the Downtown Waterfront Southeast area. Link will be operated by Rochester Public Transit and will be free for all users. Link buses are high amenity, 60-foot electric buses which will provide service to 7 stations across the city. Service intervals will be every 5 minutes on weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m., and every 10 to 15 minutes at other times. Link will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 8 a.m. to midnight on weekends.

Confirmed: City of Rochester, MN ; Community Development Department (Formerly Rochester-Olmsted Planning Department) ; DMC EDA ; SRF Consulting

Potential:

Why is Link necessary?

The 2nd Street SW corridor is one of the most heavily-used corridors in the City of Rochester, carrying more than 21,800 vehicles and 13,000 transit riders each day. The corridor is already near capacity, and congestion causes significant delays for transit users, drivers, and others traveling through the area. Link Rapid Transit will:

• Expand transportation options.
• Reduce the need for expensive parking.
• Alleviate future congestion.
• Prepare for downtown growth and support sustainable development.
• Improve quality of life for residents, employees, and visitors.

BRT was selected in 2019 as a result of the Alternatives Evaluation. The preferred route follows 2nd Street SW from the Mayo West Lot to downtown Rochester and will primarily operate in dedicated bus lanes. The current phase of work includes:

• Environmental review.
• Preliminary engineering.
• Communication and public engagement.

1. Efficient, convenient and accessible transportation systems that provides favorable cost structure commuters, employers and the public sector
2. More marketable downtown properties
3. More efficient and effective use of existing and future parking supplies
4. Better efficiencies in the use of land and reduced parking development costs (for both private and public sectors)
5. Greater transit ridership
6. Reduced traffic congestion
7. A strong partnership between the public sector, Mayo Clinic and the downtown business community
8. Measurable success based on consensus targets for access and growth

1. Organization that effectively supports and advocates the long-term economic vitality and livability of the downtown
2. Downtown parking to support economic development goals
3. Increased percentage of downtown employees commuting by transit from 10% (2008) to 23-30% by 2035
4. Increased number and percentage of commuter bike trips to downtown Rochester from an existing bike/walk mode split of 7% (2008) to 13% by 2035
5. Increased percentage of downtown employees commuting by carpool/vanpools to downtown Rochester from 12% (2008) to 14% (2035)
6. Increased employee awareness of the Rochester Access Management Authority and alternative mode transportation options
7. System-wide partnerships to support parking and TDM efforts/mission

DMC Transportation: Parking ; Destination Medical Center (DMC) ; Rochester, MN Transit Development Plan Update ; SE Mn Transportation Projects Information Portal ; The Rochester - Twin Cities Rail Corridor (Zip Rail) ; Transportation: ROCOG Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) ; West Transit Village

DMC Feb 2025 Board Meeting Memo 

City of Rochester Receives $84.92 Million Federal Grant for Transformative Link Bus Rapid Transit Project

LINK Progress Report to City Council 

Rochester eyes TIF to support Transit Village, Public Parking

March 2, 2025 Update per PB Reporting

October 23, 2023 City Council Study Session 

May 2022; February 2022 and November 2021 Rapid Transit Updates and Upcoming milestones presented to DMCC. 

To achieve maximum results, the project team took a unique “co-design” approach to gather the input needed for shaping the Rochester Rapid Transit Project to reflect the community’s values. 

DMC EDA Webinar October, 2020 and DMCC Board Voted in favor of staff recommendations 2019

October 2020 Series of DMC Webinars - 5 Year Updates

Co-designers will be Rochester residents with strong connections to their communities and local knowledge of their neighborhood and the Rapid Transit Project area. 

September, May and Feb 2019 Presentations to DMCC. 

Status reports and documentations presented to DMCC.

1st year status

A number of DMC Transportation RFP questions were brought up by Susan Park Rani, DMC board member.