Tag: morelle

Transit system gets $36 million in federal funding

Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority is slated to receive $36.3 million in federal funding allocated by the Federal Transit Administration as part of the CARES Act.

“As upstate communities like the Rochester Finger Lakes region battle the coronavirus pandemic, it’s imperative that they get all the federal tools they need to respond and recover,” said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer in a statement this week. “This federal funding will offset the devastating financial impacts of COVID-19 on transit operations throughout the region and allow the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority to recover — and help stave off pressure for fare hikes.”

In mid-March, just ahead of the state’s PAUSE, RGRTA waived all bus fares and enacted a new procedure for entering and exiting buses. The waiving of fares was meant to make critical travel to work or grocery stores easier, while also limiting the time spent at the closest point of contact between bus operators and customers, officials said at the time.

“Every day the dedicated men and women of our transportation industry do critically important work to ensure our community continues to run during this crisis, and we are eternally grateful for all that they do,” said U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle. “It’s vital that our transit systems have the tools and resources they need to operate fully and continue getting frontline workers to their jobs every day.”

RGRTA, which marked its 50th anniversary last year, was scheduled to implement this summer Reimagine RTS, its new routing system that was several years in the making. That implementation has been put on hold until the pandemic has eased.

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Teen cancer group marks 20th anniversary with pancakes

13thirty Cancer Connect Inc. on Monday began its 20th anniversary year with an annual tradition that began in its founder’s kitchen: a pancake breakfast.

The annual pancake breakfast was among the first programs offered by the organization, then called Melissa’s Living Legacy Teen Cancer Foundation. As part of the annual tradition, members of 13thirty gathered at the organization’s Elmwood Avenue location to enjoy breakfast with local dignitaries including U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle, Sen. Joseph Robach, R-Greece and Sen. Rich Funke, R-Fairport. (Photo: 13thirty Cancer Connect)
The annual pancake breakfast was among the first programs offered by the organization, then called Melissa’s Living Legacy Teen Cancer Foundation. As part of the annual tradition, members of 13thirty gathered at the organization’s Elmwood Avenue location to enjoy breakfast with local dignitaries including U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle, Sen. Joseph Robach, R-Greece and Sen. Rich Funke, R-Fairport. (Photo: 13thirty Cancer Connect)

“Twenty years ago I made a promise to my daughter, Melissa, to make a difference, make things better for other teens and young adults facing a cancer diagnosis,” 13thirty Founder and Executive Director Lauren Spiker said in a statement. “Back then, people weren’t paying attention to the unique needs of the teen and young adult cancer population. While the rest of the world has started to catch up, the mission of 13thirty Cancer Connect has always been and will always be to help teens and young adults with cancer live their very best lives today.”

The annual pancake breakfast was among the first programs offered by the organization, then called Melissa’s Living Legacy Teen Cancer Foundation. As part of the annual tradition, members of 13thirty gathered at the organization’s Elmwood Avenue location to enjoy breakfast with local dignitaries including U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle, Sen. Joseph Robach, R-Greece and Sen. Rich Funke, R-Fairport.

“I am so thankful for organizations like 13thirty Cancer Connect that provide indispensable services to young people and their families as they battle cancer,” Morelle said. “Unfortunately, I know all too well the devastating impact that cancer can have on a family, but the support and hope provided by organizations like 13thirty help families like mine get through impossibly difficult times.”

Since its founding, 13thirty has become an internationally known leader in the field of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer. It was founded as a grassroots effort to offer peer support programs for teens, young adults and their parents. The organization opened a facility in Syracuse last year.

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Airport receives $5.8 million federal grant

The Greater Rochester International Airport will receive nearly $6 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The funding is earmarked for critical safety renovations such as new airfield guidance signs, enhanced runway lighting and runway rehabilitation, U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle announced Monday.

“I’m so pleased that this significant grant will help strengthen the infrastructure of the Greater Rochester International Airport and enhance the safety and security of travelers,” Morelle said. “This grant supports the ongoing revitalization of our airport and complements the substantial New York State investment that is truly transforming our community’s transportation hub.”

Rochester’s airport is still raking in the accolades for its two-year, $79 million renovation that included a new entrance canopy, a wide-scale redesign of the airport’s terminal building to feature new shopping and dining options for travelers and new designs that incorporate accessibility features, with a particular focus on the deaf and hearing-impaired community.

Since the renovation’s completion last fall, the airport has received a handful of additional grants including $90,000 to conduct an environmental study and $1.5 million  to remove hazardous obstructions  from the Federal Aviation Administration and $499,000 from the state Department of Transportation to enable the airport to construct a parking guidance system inside the airport ramp garage.

“I am grateful to the U.S. DOT for their investment and look forward to continuing our efforts to improve (the) passenger experience and further strengthen our region’s ability to remain competitive in the global economy,” Morelle said of Monday’s announcement.

[email protected] / 585-653-4021
Follow Velvet Spicer on Twitter: @Velvet_Spicer