Capital District Transportation Authority


The Capital District Transportation Authority is a New York State public-benefit corporation overseeing a number of multi-modal parts of public transportation in the Capital District of New York State. CDTA runs local and express buses, including an express bus service called BusPlus between Albany and Schenectady, and day-to-day management of three Amtrak stations in the Capital region–the Albany-Rensselaer, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs Amtrak stations.
Created as an act of the New York State Legislature in August 1970, CDTA was formed similarly to agencies in Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo. In 1970, CDTA purchased and took over management of the United Traction Company and Schenectady Transit.
CDTA bus operators, dispatchers, and supervisory staff are organized in Local 1321 of the Amalgamated Transit Union.

Governance

CDTA is overseen by a nine-member board of directors.
At the present time, the board representation includes:
There is also an executive director that handles day-to-day business, reporting to the board of directors. In 2017, the CDTA had operating expenses of $108.41 million and a level of staffing of 821 people.

Fixed route services

CDTA operates 56 routes, many of which connect neighborhoods to downtowns or downtowns to shopping areas; with six routes linking key towns together. Two routes, 11-UAlbany Shuttle and 286-RPI Shuttle, are shuttle services for area universities which are also open to the public. Service mostly runs from 5:30 a.m.-12:00 a.m. weeknights, 6:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. Saturdays, and 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Sundays with the college routes running until 2:00 a.m. in Albany and Troy.

Albany Division

Before CDTA, many of these routes belonged to the Albany-Nassau Bus Company and United Traction. Buses run from Capital Depot next to CDTA's headquarters on 110 Watervliet Avenue in Albany.
In early 2011, CDTA announced its plans to restructure the Albany County bus routes in two phases. Phase 1 involved reconstructing routes within the city of Albany, with a public input campaign held until August 2011. The results were five new neighborhood routes and three commuter routes. Its goal was to have a more uniformed bus system without any route deviation. Phase 1 of the reconstructing went into effect on November 13, 2011. In August 2012, CDTA revealed the draft plan for Phase 2 of the reconstructing. Phase 2 involved reconstructing routes within the western and northern portions of Albany County, with a public input campaign held until September 2012. Phase 2 of the reconstructing went into effect on November 11, 2012.
Former bus routes that were part of the Albany Division include:
Before CDTA, many of these routes were run by Schenectady Transit, which became insolvent and was taken over by Schenectady County in the late 1960s. Buses operate from the Electric Depot, located at 2401 Maxon Road Ext. in Schenectady.
On May 24, 2010 CDTA implemented five new cross-town routes for Schenectady as a part of their new service plan, removing routes 51, 52, 53, 54, 59, 61, 62, 66, and 77 and combining them into routes 351, 352, 353, 354, and 358. This is a part of their new three-digit route identification system. Routes 530, 531 & 532 are express services to Downtown Albany replacing the former 55x bus route and do not carry any local passengers.
Former bus routes that were part of the Schenectady Division include:
The City of Saratoga Springs service also operates from Schenectady Division. These routes run seven days a week. Before July 2007, the Saratoga Springs buses were operated from the Uncle Sam Depot at 40 Hoosick Street in Troy, with limited service. There was no direct connection to the Albany/Schenectady/Troy routes. Route #50 was operated from the Electric Depot at 2401 Maxon Road Ext. in Schenectady, and only provided one AM and one PM weekday trip between Schenectady and Ballston Spa. On July 2, 2007, the initial Saratoga Springs Route Expansion went into effect, with the implementation of a new three-digit route identification system. Route #50 was extended to provide hourly service, seven days a week; on NY 50 between Schenectady and Wilton Mall, with deviations along Rowland St and Geyser Rd in Milton as well as deviations along Excelsior Ave in Saratoga Springs. All of the Saratoga Springs buses began operating from the Schenectady Garage on Maxon Rd. Ext. On May 28, 2016, the Saratoga Springs restructure plan went into effect. Route #50 was renumbered Route #450 and rerouted to run along NY 50 from Schenectady to Wilton Mall with no deviations. New Routes #451 and #452 include former Route #50 deviations, as well as portions of old Routes #472 and #473. CDTA plans to eventually construct a Saratoga Springs bus garage at Grande Industrial Park, off of Geyser Rd.
Former Saratoga Springs bus routes that were operated by the Schenectady Division include:
Former Saratoga Springs bus routes that were operated by the Troy Division include:
Before CDTA, most of these routes were operated by the United Traction Co and the Troy-Fifth Avenue Bus Company. Buses run from the Uncle Sam Depot at 40 Hoosick Street in Troy, which also used to operate Saratoga Springs service prior to July 2007.
Former routes that were part of the Troy Division include:

Shuttles

CDTA formerly ran three suburban shuttles, all operated by Albany Division, that used smaller cutaway vans, with the purpose of serving offices and major points of interest not on main CDTA routes, nor needing full sized buses. In November 2012, all Shuttle services were discontinued and replaced with fixed-route service during Phase 2 of the Albany County reconstructing. Two new bus routes were created. Route #117 operates between British-American Blvd, Albany International Airport, Wolf Rd, Colonie Center, Crossgates Mall and Twenty Mall. Route #155 operates between Albany International Airport, ITT Tech, NY 155, Washington Ave Ext., Walmart, and Crossgates Mall.

BusPlus

The 2005 plan included the development of bus rapid transit on the Route 5 corridor, between Downtown Albany and Downtown Schenectady, supplementing Route #55. This plan also led to modifications on Routes #1 and #2. Queue jumping and signal priority were planned to make BRT more attractive to the region, after light rail was rejected. As of mid-2007, this part of the 2005 plan was placed on hold.
In early 2008, CDTA announced that it was going forward with the bus rapid transit line on NY 5, which included 19 upgraded stations. NY 5 BRT service began on Monday, April 4, 2011, with new silver and red-branded Gillig 40-foot hybrid buses, numbered Route #905 and referred to as BusPlus. When NY 5 BusPlus service began, Route #55 was renumbered Route #355 and shortened to provide Rt. 5 local service, between Downtown Schenectady and Colonie Center. Route #1 continues to provide Rt. 5 local service between Downtown Albany and Colonie Center. Route #55x was replaced with Routes #530, #531 and #532. Route #2 was replaced with Routes #125 and #138 during Phase 1 of the Albany County Route Restructuring in November 2011. BusPlus service runs the entire length of the Route 5 corridor, although it currently operates differently from the original plans. In the short term, transit signal priority and queue jump lanes are being constructed and will be rolled out as features of the bus rapid transit service. Articulated buses and ticket vending machines have not been purchased. Although it is called bus rapid transit, Route #905 is more of an enhanced limited-stop service than an actual BRT service, with only 19 stops between Downtown Schenectady and Downtown Albany. Improvements and expansions to BusPlus are still in planning, with proposed lines along the Washington Ave./Western Ave. corridor in Albany and along the NY 32/Broadway corridor between Downtown Albany, Menands and Troy/Cohoes.

Saratoga "Trolley"

In cooperation with the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, CDTA operates open-air trolleys during the summer months. In the past, the trolleys would run from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day to serve popular destinations such as the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Spa State Park, the Saratoga Casino and Raceway, the Saratoga Race Course and Broadway. Prior to 2011, the trolley ran between Skidmore College and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. From 2007 to 2010, Route #471 provided summer service to the Saratoga Race Course, before it was discontinued due to low ridership. From 2011 to 2015, the trolley route ran between Broadway, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Spa State Park, the Saratoga Casino and Raceway and the Saratoga Race Course, to include areas previously served by Route #471., trolley service to Skidmore College was discontinued, with year-round service to Skidmore College continued on former Route #473 and new Route #452., trolley service to Saratoga Spa State Park and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center has been discontinued and replaced by a new route that runs between the Courtyard Hotel, Broadway, the Saratoga Race Course and the Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The 2016 changes also included free fare for all riders and service reduction to instead only run from Independence Day weekend to Labor Day. While not marked as such on the vehicles, this service appears as Route #875 on the Saratoga Service map.

STAR Service

In 1982, CDTA began providing paratransit services to riders who are medically unable to take regular transit services. ADA wheelchair-accessible buses were added in 1988; since 2004, all CDTA routes have been wheelchair-accessible. The Star fleet has had a variety of minibuses. Though for most of its history it has been dominated by the Orion II low-floor minibus, STAR has begun replacing older models with Startrans "Senator" cutaway vehicles. Other minibuses in the fleet include Ford "ELF" minibuses and several transfers from suburban shuttle routes.

NX: Northway Xpress

The NX: Northway Xpress is a group of express routes that links Albany to towns in Saratoga County which is operated under contract by Upstate Transit. These routes run from Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa, Malta, Clifton Park, Round Lake, and South Glens Falls to Downtown Albany. In October 2012, Northway Express fares and schedules were redesigned to increase ridership and service efficiency. Fare structure was consolidated from 5 zones to 3 zones, with the addition of an unlimited ride prepayment card. Service was also eliminated from areas with low ridership, including Mechanicville, Stillwater, Albany International Airport, SUNY Albany, Wolf Road and the Harriman State Office Campus. In May 2014, Northway Express service was expanded to Corporate Woods.

Rural service

Until 2012, CDTA operated rural/lifeline services to several areas in rural Albany and Rensselaer counties, once per week, including routes #810, #812, #870, and #96 ; as part of CDTA's route restructuring, these routes are being phased out.

Fleet

Active fleet

All buses are wheelchair accessible.
YearBuilderModelLength
Width
SeatingNumbersOperators
1999Motor Coach Industries102DW3SS40102Coach312-315 'Upstate Transit
1999Nova BusLFS TL40-10240102Transit9901-9949 ''9913 is the single active unit. 9907, 9910 & 9917 are out back out of service.CDTA Albany
2002Motor Coach IndustriesD400040102Coach316-319Upstate Transit '
2004Coach & EquipmentCondor2596Transit401-402 CDTA Albany
2005SupremeSenator2596Paratransit200-219CDTA Albany, Schenectady, Troy
2006Motor Coach IndustriesD4500CL45102Coach320-324Upstate Transit
2007GilligLow Floor 40'40102Transit4000-4007CDTA Troy
2007GilligBRT HEV 40'41102Transit4008H-4013HCDTA Albany
2007GilligLow Floor 29'30102Transit3100-3107CDTA Albany, Schenectady
2007GilligLow Floor HEV 29'30102Transit3108H-3115HCDTA Albany, Schenectady
2007SupremeSenator2596Paratransit220-229CDTA Albany, Schenectady, Troy
2008ElDorado NationalAeroElite2596Transit409-415CDTA Albany
2008GilligBRT HEV 40'40102Transit4014H-4019HCDTA Albany, Schenectady
2008GilligLow Floor HEV 40'40102Coach325H-326H CDTA Albany
2008GilligLow Floor HEV 40'40102Transit4020H-4028HCDTA Schenectady
2009GilligLow Floor HEV 40'40102Transit4029H-4047HCDTA Troy
2010GilligLow Floor HEV 40'40102Transit4048H-4055HCDTA Troy
2010GilligLow Floor 40'40102Transit4056-4072CDTA Troy
2010GilligBRT HEV 40'40102Transit5500H-5514HCDTA Schenectady
2012GilligLow Floor 40'40102Transit4073-4092CDTA Albany, Schenectady, Troy
2013GilligLow Floor 40'40102Transit4093-4108CDTA Albany
2013GilligLow Floor HEV 40'40102Transit4109H-4112HCDTA Albany
2014GilligLow Floor 40'40102Transit4113-4127CDTA Albany
2015GilligLow Floor 40'40102Transit4128-4139CDTA Albany
2015New FlyerXD6060102Transit6000-6001CDTA Albany
2016GilligLow Floor 40'40102Transit4140-4149CDTA Albany
2016GilligBRT 40'40102Transit5515-5516CDTA Schenectady
2017GilligLow Floor 40'40102Transit4150-4170CDTA Albany
2017GilligBRT 40'40102Transit5517CDTA Schenectady
2018GilligLow Floor 40'40102Transit4170-4182CDTA Albany
2017New FlyerXD6060102Transit6002-6007CDTA Albany
2018New FlyerXD6060102Transit6008Albany
2018New FlyerXD6060102Transit5518 Schenectady
327-328 = 2012 MCI D45OOCT = Upstate Tours / Northway Express Livery
329-330 = 2015 MCI D4500CT = Upstate Tours / Northway Express Livery
331-333 = 2017 MCI D45OOCT = Upstate Tours / Northway Express Livery
334-335 = 2018 MCI D4500CT = Upstate Tours / Northway Express Livery

Future fleet

The Gillig buses are part of a five-year contract between CDTA and Gillig awarded in April 2006,2011 & 2016 that replaced most of the 1998 Orion VI fleet. In December 2014, CDTA also awarded a contract with New Flyer for 20 articulated buses to be delivered over a five-year period.

Transit development plan

In 2005, CDTA commissioned a transit development plan that would create a planned environment to react to needed changes in the CDTA organization.
Parts of this plan have included: