Infrastructure
The Rochester MSA serves as a regional transportation hub serving southeastern Minnesota, northern Iowa, and western Wisconsin with vital road, rail, and air service links to national and foreign destinations.
Air Transportation
The Rochester International Airport is located 7 miles south of Rochester in the heart of the Rochester MSA. The U.S. Customs Service maintains an office at the airport for both foreign passengers and cargo.
Three major airline carriers serve the Rochester International Airport. United Airlines and American Airlines fly all jet aircraft to and from Chicago daily, and Delta Air Lines flies all jet aircraft to and from Minneapolis and Atlanta daily. Connection points for any other point of departure throughout the United States and the world can be made from these hubs. The passenger total for 2019 was 370,851.
Signature Flight Support, a full service Fixed Base Operator (FBO), provides services for corporate and general aviation aircraft.
The Rochester International Airport has a business center that includes a hotel, restaurant, event center, offices and additional space for future development.
- Daily Departures: 12
- Runways:2
- Runway 13/31 Length: 9,033 Feet
- Width #1 150 Feet
- Strength #1: 300,000 DT
- Surface #1: Concrete Grooved
- Runway 02/20 Length: 7,300 Feet
- Width #2: 150 Feet
- Strength #2: 300,000 DT
- Surface #2: Wire Combed
- Elevation: 1,317 MSL
- ARFF Rating: Index B
- Fuel Available: 100 LL Jet A
- FAA Control Tower: 5 am -11 pm
- Lighting: MALSR; 2ILS
- Instruments VOR;
- Radar ASR; 4 PAPI; REIL on two
Federal Express currently has daily operations at the Rochester International Airport.RST currently has over 330,000 sq. ft. of useable cargo ramp space. Future planned expansion areas include approximately 730,000 sq. ft. of both building and ramp space for cargo operations.
Roadway
Traversing the entire Rochester MSA is east/west bound Interstate 90. In addition, three major U.S. highways intercept in Rochester.
- U.S. Highway 52 heads north to the Twin Cities and south to eastern Iowa.
- U.S. Highway 63 leads north towards northern Wisconsin and south to central Iowa.
- U.S. Highway 14 crosses the state of Minnesota to the west and enters Wisconsin at LaCrosse.
In addition, there are many 10-ton secondary roads throughout the MSA.
Railroad
Rochester is located on the east-west route of the Dakota Minnesota and Eastern (DM&E) railroad. Daily rail freight service is available in Rochester by the DM&E (see map). The nearest Amtrak station is located in Winona, one hour (45 miles) east of Rochester. Several key development sites in Byron, Eyota, and Rochester are located on or near the main line or spurs.
The DM&E is willing to participate with economic development incentives for prospective businesses requiring rail service including spur development and car moving equipment.