Rochester Subway Tunnel
Rochester, NY

Opened in 1927, the Rochester and Industrial Rapid Transit Railway (aka The Subway) shuttled Rochesterians to work downtown from outlying locales like Greece, Gates, Brighton, Pittsford, Canandaigua, and Geneva. The tunnel was built under West Main St. and crossed the Genesee River in a covered bridge. The last electric interurban trolley ran through the tunnel in 1956 and electric freight service to the Gannet (Democrat and Chronicle) Building ended in 1957. Today, the tunnel is a hangout for local kids to write graffiti, drink, and do what kids do. Although we heard reports of bad folks living in the tunnel, our group was 11 strong and we felt safe. Once we entered the tunnel near Dinosaur BBQ, we encountered a group of three grade-school children accompanied by their parents heading out of the tunnel. Needless to say it was a pretty safe trip.