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Rochester Subway

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Rochester Subway
Posted by renfarley on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 4:45 PM

The opening of light rail service in Cincinnati has provoked discussion of the extensive subway system that the city constructed in the 1920s and did not finish.  And then, in 2002, Hamilton County residents voted against completing the subway system.

Some optimists think there is something of an economic revival of Rochester.  Is there any discussion of rebuilding the light rail Rochester subway that was closed relatively recently?

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Posted by daveklepper on Thursday, September 8, 2016 2:23 PM

For passenger service, it was not that recent, and I think part, not in a tunnel, is now in use as a highway.  Part was retained for freight service and that part was closed more recently.  (I am unsure whether the freight had a separete track, but I think it did.) I think passenger service quit over 50 years ago.  I have heard no reports of moves to restore any service.

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Posted by rcdrye on Thursday, September 8, 2016 6:27 PM

The Rochester subway operated from 1927 to 1956.  Freight service continued over part of the right-of-way until 1996.  For a short while after 1927 interurbans entering Rochester were routed via the Subway.  The line of the Subway is more or less today's I-480.

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Friday, September 9, 2016 10:25 AM

Most of the Rocchester Subway was filled in 4 years ago because there was fear that the street might collapse into the subway below as this was a cut and cover operation. Downtown Rochester has taken a dive and looks about as dead as Toledo Ohio. No Retail and No life to speak of. Last use of the subway was for Freight 12 Years ago to the Newspaper

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Thursday, September 15, 2016 11:52 AM

If there is any light rail it would be above ground.

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