The phased approach also gives the city and Olmsted County additional time to plan the redevelopment of the former Seneca Foods site into East Transit Village.

On August 28, 2020, the City of Rochester submitted a Small Starts grant application to the Federal Transit Administration to fund 49% of Phase 1's cost.

The mockup, situated at the future Civic Center Station site on 2nd Street at 3rd Avenue SE, demonstrates bus rapid transit features such as the shelter layout, off-board fare collection, real-time signage, and an 80 ft (24 m) long level platform.

[12][13] In early February 2022, Rochester City Council announced they would review potential changes to the line after receiving public feedback.

[15] Link will use new 60 ft articulated battery electric buses with three-doors and will be operated by Rochester Public Transit.