ALEXANDRIA, Va. — U.S. District Judge David Larimer ruled Wednesday that the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transit Authority (RGRTA) must discontinue its school bus operations as of Oct. 1, an extension from the original deadline of Sept. 6.

In January, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) ruled that RGRTA was providing illegal school bus service for the Rochester City School District (RCSD). It found that RCSD had replaced approximately 70 routes previously operated by Laidlaw Education Services with similar routes contracted to the transit agency.

The FTA reopened the case in April. In July, the administration reiterated its earlier decision and ordered RGRTA to cease and desist operating school routes. It also fined RGRTA an amount equal to what the transit authority had made on the school routes during the 2006-07 school year.

RGRTA then filed suit in District Court for an immediate stay and a permanent injunction against the FTA’s ruling. Judge Larimer denied RGRTA’s appeal, granting only a stay of the ruling until Oct. 1.

The judge allowed the scheduled transportation to stay in place for one month, allowing Laidlaw to ensure that all necessary routes are covered.