America’s Sorriest Bus Stop: Boston vs. Henrietta

Henrietta is home to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), approximately 3.5 miles west of this stop and served by the same bus route. With approximately 30,000 students, RIT is the region's largest institution of higher learning. This Wegmans store is often patronized by RIT students, many of whom are international.

The Town of Henrietta was extraordinarily derelict in it's duty to review and approve the site plan of this retail development without any apparent consideration for pedestrian access. The developer of the retail development, as well as Wegmans, which makes healthy living a special part of its marketing through the 'Eat Well, Live Well' campaign. Despite the campaign specifically noting that "some physical activity is better than none. Get the OK from your doctor, then strap on a pedometer and find out how much activity you regularly do. Gradually add activity over several weeks and build to a goal of 10,000 steps a day" this does not, evidently, mean supporting active transportation. Monroe County Department of Transportation is derelict in not constructing sidewalks along Hylan Drive.

We already have a plan in place to install a bus shelter at this location sometime this fall. We have been actively involved in discussions with Wegmans, the business behind the stop regarding the shelter and the possibility of installing a sidewalk that connects the stop to the parking lot.

Why is so terrible? It is impossible to safely walk to this bus stop. It is located on a median island surrounded by on- and off-ramps to the Mass Pike (I-90). On the other side is the 5-lane Cambridge Street, which also has no crosswalks and no curb cuts. There is no shelter from the elements & in the winter the snow from the street gets plowed onto the sidewalk & the sidewalk is never shoveled. The MBTA is responsible for the bus stop and MassDOT is responsible for the surrounding roads.