Agreement with Mayo will make Rochester's rapid transit line fare-free

The City of Rochester and Mayo Clinic have come to terms on a 20-year operating agreement for the planned LINK Rapid Transit line.

Under the plan, which won unanimous support from the Rochester City Council on Monday, Mayo will cover the annual local match to operate the BRT system — allowing riders to use the system fare-free.

Mayo’s commitment will start at $3.5 million in the first year; then every three years will be renegotiated between Mayo and the city based on ridership counts, operating costs, and other measurables. About 80 percent of the cost to operate LINK will be subsidized by state and federal grants.

As proposed, the 2.8-mile LINK Rapid Transit route will run along Second Street SW, connecting downtown Rochester with St. Marys Hospital and a planned West Transit Village that will include parking and housing.

The system will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays with service every five minutes during rush hours and every 10 minutes other times. On weekends, LINK will operate every 15 minutes from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

The goal is to begin taking passengers by spring 2026. City and Destination Medical Center leaders had originally planned for 2025, but pushed back the timeline after deciding to extend the route to 6th Street SE, where the city is proposing a redevelopment of the waterfront.

Implementation of the $143 million LINK system is contingent on an $84 million grant application filed with the federal government.

Cover graphic: Proposed map of the BRT line / City of Rochester