$1 fares make RTS Route 2 the ultra‑cheap east‑side option
RTS Bus Route 2 works best if you’re already downtown or comfortable adding a transfer at the RTS Transit Center on St. Paul Street. The fare is $1 per ride as of 2024, so even with two legs (airport bus plus Route 2) you’re at $2 versus a $25–$35 Uber/Lyft. Figure 60–75 minutes door to door from ROC to spots like Winton Road or Merchants Road once you add the downtown pulse and a short walk.
There is no direct Route 2 stop at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. From the terminal, you first board an airport‑serving route such as RTS Route 6 Airport or Route 8 Chili, both stopping at ROC’s arrivals roadway. Those buses run to the RTS Transit Center, where Route 2 starts its east‑side trips toward Winton, Merchants, and other neighborhood stops.
Off‑peak, Route 2 typically runs about once every hour, tied to RTS’s pulse schedule at the Transit Center around the :00 or :30 mark. If your Route 6 or 8 from the airport is late and misses that window, you can be sitting downtown for close to 60 minutes until the next Route 2 departure. That’s why locals keep saying the airport‑to‑Route‑2 combo feels slow compared with a 20‑minute rideshare.
Once you’re actually on Route 2, in‑vehicle time from the Transit Center to Winton or Merchants can be closer to 15–25 minutes, depending on traffic along East Main Street and University Avenue. Real‑world reports still clock the whole airport trip at 60–75 minutes because of transfer padding and walking to final addresses a few blocks from the bus stop. Build the buffer if you’re heading to an appointment or shift.
Locals on r/Rochester regularly say Route 2 is “fine if you’re already downtown” and less friendly as a direct airport play. Regular riders often just bus or rideshare straight from ROC to downtown first, then worry about Route 2 or another neighborhood line once they’ve dropped bags. Many also check the RTS real‑time tracker app at the Transit Center so they don’t miss the last evening Route 2 bus and get stuck with an unexpected $30 Uber.
Quick step-by-step from ROC to Route 2:
- 1. Exit baggage claim at ROC and walk to the signed RTS bus stop along the arrivals roadway near the main terminal doors.
- 2. Board RTS Route 6 Airport or Route 8 Chili toward downtown; pay the $1 fare in cash or with whatever RTS payment is current.
- 3. Ride 15–25 minutes to the RTS Transit Center on St. Paul Street; get off at the main bays inside the building.
- 4. Check the posted schedule boards or the RTS app for the next Route 2 departure time and bay number.
- 5. Board Route 2, pay another $1, and ride toward your stop at Winton, Merchants, or along East Main/University.
- 6. Pull the cord a block before your stop and walk the final few minutes to your exact address.
Tip: If your flight lands late and it’s after 9–10 p.m., check Route 2’s last outbound in the RTS app before leaving the terminal; if the timing looks tight, skip the transfer puzzle and call a car.