Judge extends transit agency's school service

On Sept. 20, U.S. District Judge David Larimer ruled that the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transit Authority (RGRTA) must discontinue its school bus operations as of Nov. 2, an extension from the previous deadline of Oct. 1.  

In January, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) ruled that RGRTA was providing illegal school bus service for the Rochester City School District (RCSD). It found that RCSD had replaced approximately 70 routes previously operated by Laidlaw Education Services with similar routes contracted to the transit agency. The FTA reopened the case in April. 

In July, the administration reiterated its earlier decision and ordered RGRTA to cease and desist operating school routes. It also fined RGRTA an amount equal to what the transit authority had made on the school routes during the 2006-07 school year. RGRTA then filed suit in District Court for an immediate stay and a permanent injunction against the FTA's ruling. Larimer denied RGRTA's appeal, granting only a stay of the ruling until Oct. 1.  

Larimer's most recent ruling allows the scheduled transportation to stay in place for an additional month, which gives the local transportation authority, RGRTA and RCSD more time to meet the federally mandated changes.