Reconnect Rochester

What Reconnect Rochester does

Reconnect Rochester is a nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2010 and headquartered at 400 Andrews St. in Rochester, NY. With a staff of 1–10 employees, it works to promote multimodal transportation choices—bus, rail, bike, and pedestrian—in the Rochester, NY region, targeting car-centric urban planning that has historically disadvantaged non-drivers. The organization serves Rochester-area residents who advocate for transportation alternatives, voters in Monroe County elections, and car-lite or car-free individuals seeking community inspiration. It maintains direct working relationships with the City of Rochester, Monroe County, NYSDOT, RTS, Amtrak, and the Genesee Transportation Council MPO, and participates in state and national coalitions including NY Safe Streets Coalition, New Yorkers for Transportation Equity Coalition, and America Walks.

The organization's "product" portfolio is a set of community programs and advocacy resources rather than a unified software platform. Core offerings include the Bike Education Program (on-bike smart cycling classes), Bus Stop Cubes (physical seating at bus stops), Complete Streets Makeover, Downtown SmART Streets, the Monroe County Crash Map (interactive crash tracking), ROC Easy Bike Map, and the Bike Spine Tracker (a tool tracking progress on Rochester's planned bike network). Community engagement is delivered through events such as Weekly Rides, Local History Bike Tours, Community Conversations, the ROC 'n Roll annual ride, Rochester Street Films, Week Without Driving, and World Day of Remembrance. Advocacy is driven through the Mobility Action Alerts email program (650+ subscribers) and an Advocacy Tool Kit, with measurable outcomes including 535 letters generated on Monroe Avenue and 154 on West Henrietta Road.

The revenue model is a hybrid of donations, grants, and a merchandise online shop. Merchandise (T-shirts at $20–$34.50, baby onesies and toddler tees at $17.50, stickers at $4, magnets at $4.50, mugs at $15, posters at $20–$30) is sold via reconnectrochester.org/shop with all proceeds supporting the advocacy mission. The organization does not offer subscription services or paid plans. Notable recent facilitation outcomes include $23.7 million in federal Safe Streets and Roads for All funding for Rochester (2024), $100 million federal funding for the Inner Loop North Transformation Project, $18 million state funding for the Rochester Intermodal Station bus terminal expansion, and $850,000 for RGRTA hydrogen-powered buses.

Name

Reconnect Rochester

Legal name

Reconnect Rochester

Website

https://reconnectrochester.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Reconnect Rochester is a nonprofit advocacy organization promoting multimodal transportation choices—bus, rail, bike, and pedestrian—in the Rochester, NY region through community organizing, voter education, mapping tools, and coalition partnerships with city, county, and state transportation agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Reconnect Rochester is a nonprofit advocacy organization that promotes transportation choices (bus, rail, bike, and pedestrian) in the Rochester, NY region. It runs community programs, advocacy campaigns, voter education initiatives, and educational resources focused on multimodal transportation equity. The organization also sells themed merchandise to support its mission.

Product overview

Reconnect Rochester is a nonprofit advocacy organization rather than a technology company. It does not offer a unified software product or platform. Instead, it provides community programs and resources focused on promoting sustainable transportation choices (bus, rail, bike, and pedestrian) in the Rochester, NY region. Its portfolio includes educational programs like the Bike Education Program and On-Bike Smart Cycling Classes, community engagement events such as Weekly Rides, Local History Bike Tours, and Community Conversations, advocacy tools including Mobility Action Alerts and an Advocacy Tool Kit, and resource guides like the ROC Easy Bike Map and Monroe County Crash Map. The organization also operates a merchandise shop selling themed T-shirts, stickers, posters, and accessories to support its mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Facilitated securing $23.7 million in Safe Streets funding for Rochester
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• NY Safe Streets CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on advocating for NYSDOT reforms and Complete Streets legislation. Reconnect Rochester has led the push for Complete Streets maintenance requirements to include bike lanes and sidewalks in routine projects.
• New Yorkers for Transportation Equity CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition advocating for equitable transportation funding and policy changes across New York State. Reconnect Rochester participates to push for additional funding for upstate transit systems.
• RTS (Regional Transit Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional transit authority operating bus service in Monroe County. Reconnect Rochester advocates for improved bus frequency, routes, and amenities through engagement with RTS leadership.
• AmtrakkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntercity passenger rail service. Collaboration focused on advancing the Rochester Intermodal Station bus terminal expansion project and improving Empire Corridor rail service.
• NYSDOT (New York State Department of Transportation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState transportation agency with authority over major roads and infrastructure. Reconnect Rochester advocates for Complete Streets implementation, Active Transportation Strategic Plan completion, and safety improvements on state roads.
• City of RochestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner on ROC Vision Zero initiative, bike spine network implementation, bus stop improvements, and Inner Loop North transformation. Active collaboration on multiple transportation infrastructure projects.
• Monroe CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government undertaking a Vision Zero planning process. Reconnect Rochester is engaging in this process to shape policies benefiting bus riders, pedestrians, and cyclists.
• Rochester Bicycling ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal cycling organization that offers bicycle repair workshops. Referenced for helping community members learn flat repair and other cycling maintenance skills.
• Genesee Transportation CouncilkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan planning organization for the Rochester region. Conducts transportation studies and planning. Referenced for bike maps and safety studies.
• America WalksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational pedestrian advocacy organization. Reconnect Rochester participates with national coalition partners for better transportation reauthorization bills and safe streets funding.
• New York Bicycling CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState cycling advocacy organization. Partnered on developing position paper for common sense e-mobility regulations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Vision Zero Network: National nonprofit helping communities implement Vision Zero traffic safety policies to eliminate traffic deaths. Directly relevant to Reconnect Rochester's Vision Zero advocacy in Monroe County.
• America Walks: National nonprofit coalition advancing walkable communities through advocacy, policy, and a Walking College for advocates. Reconnect Rochester is already a coalition partner; comparable pedestrian-advocacy framing but national scope.

Direct peers

• Transportation Alternatives: New York City-based nonprofit advocating for safer streets, better bike infrastructure, and expanded public transit. Most direct functional peer to Reconnect Rochester in mission and advocacy model, just at much larger NYC scale.
• Bike Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit advocating for bike and pedestrian infrastructure and Complete Streets policies in their region. Closely comparable mission (multimodal advocacy), geography (mid-sized post-industrial Rust Belt city), and program mix (advocacy + bike education + community rides).
• MassBike: Massachusetts statewide bicycle advocacy organization working on Complete Streets, bike infrastructure funding, and rider education. Similar nonprofit advocacy + bike education operating model.
• Walk Bike Nashville: Nashville-based nonprofit that advocates for walkable, bikeable streets and Complete Streets policies in the Nashville region. Same mid-sized-city, multimodal advocacy profile as Reconnect Rochester.
• Cascade Bicycle Club: Seattle/Puget Sound region nonprofit focused on bicycling advocacy, education, and community rides. Comparable multimodal advocacy + bike education + organized rides portfolio, though at larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• PeopleForBikes: National bicycling industry and advocacy coalition that supports local bike advocacy organizations across the U.S. Overlapping mission on bike infrastructure advocacy at national scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/reconnectROC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ReconnectRochester
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReconnectRochester
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reconnect-rochester

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Reconnect Rochester