history

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) was created in 1970 by the New York State Legislature, as a public benefit corporation, to provide regional transportation services by rail, bus, water and air. Today’s CDTA is the premier mobility provider in the Capital Region, providing regular route bus service, shuttle systems and paratransit services. CDTA subsidiaries own and operate the Rensselaer Rail and Saratoga Springs Train Stations. CDTA also operates the Northway Xpress Commuter Service between Saratoga County and downtown Albany.

Today, 650 people work at CDTA to deliver a transit system that serves more than 800,000 people who live and work in the region, transporting more than 45,000 customers each weekday.

CAPITAL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY HISTORY & HIGHLIGHTS
08/01/1970	New York State Legislature creates the Capital District Transportation Authority
08/16/1971	Assume responsibility for routes operated by Albany-Nassau Bus Company
10/03/1971	Acquire the assets of Schenectady Transit System from Schenectady County
08/14/1972	Acquire the assets of United Traction Company.
09/05/1972	Assume local services of the Troy-Fifth Avenue Bus Company
09/20/1973	Dedicate Schenectady Bus Facility
01/18/1974	Consolidate Quail Street & Watervliet Avenue Operations
04/12/1976	Begin regular route service in Saratoga

04/01/1980	Base fare increases from 40 cents to 50 cents
08/01/1980	CDTA celebrates 10th Anniversary
02/28/1981	Dedicate Troy Bus Facility
07/05/1982	STAR service begins in Albany
10/02/1982	STAR service begins in Troy & Schenectady
12/13/1982	30’ Orion buses debut in Saratoga
03/04/1984	Full-size Orion buses put into service
03/05/1984	Initiate half-fare program for people who are unemployed
04/16/1984	Crown-Ikarus articulated buses put into service
04/01/1985	Base fare increases from 50 cents to 60 cents
01/27/1986	Jointly subsided service to Corporate Woods begins (Picotte Companies)
12/22/1987	Downtown Albany staging area opens
01/25/1988	Jointly subsided service to Wolf Road begins (Wolf Road Business Association)
06/27/1988	Lift-equipped buses debut in service
02/16/1989	Illustrated Transit Guide is unveiled
07/05/1989	Defreestville Park & Ride lot opens

06/04/1990	Base fare increases from 60 cents to 75 cents
08/01/1990	CDTA celebrates 20th Anniversary
11/04/1990	Refurbished Albany facility opens
11/15/1990	Elm Avenue Park & Ride lot opens
02/05/1992	Clean Air buses debut
08/10/1992	Electronic fare-boxes installed on all buses
01/01/1993	STAR fares reduced from $2.00 to $1.50
02/27/1993	Tobacco advertisements banned on CDTA buses
09/07/1993	Latham Farms Transit Center opens
09/28/1993	SAFEWATCH program begins
04/06/1994	SWIPER pass introduced
11/21/1994	Crossgates Mall Transit Center opens
12/05/1994	Accessible buses debut in Saratoga
04/03/1995	Base fare increases from 75 cents to $1.00
08/26/1995	College service arrangements begin with Rensselaer and UAlbany
01/26/1996	Low floor buses introduced
05/05/1996	Zone and half-fare policies modified and simplified
05/10/1996	ShuttleBug service begins along Washington Avenue Extension
11/13/1997	Web Site opens at www.cdta.org
12/22/1997	Northway Exit 8 Park & Ride opens
03/31/1998	Lark/ & Washington transit center opens
05/15/1998	ShuttleBee service begins along Route 4
07/14/1998	ShuttleFly service begins along Wolf Road
09/01/1998	Access Transit, Inc. opens
06/02/1999	Ground is broken for new Rensselaer Rail Station
10/15/1999	Catch a Better Bus service improvements implemented
06/18/1999	NABI buses go into service
07/21/1999	NOVA buses go into service

08/01/2000	CDTA celebrates 30th Anniversary
09/14/2000	Bike Racks installed on buses
10/22/2001	Parking Garage opens at Rensselaer Rail Station
09/22/2002	Rensselaer Rail Station Opens for Business
06/16/2003	CDTA introduces the first queue jumper in upstate New York
11/25/2003	U.S. Post Office opens in Rensselaer Rail Station
03/15/2004	Saratoga Springs Train Station Opens
05/23/2004	Regular route bus service to Glenmont begins (Route 7)
08/07/2006	Installation of bike racks completed on all regular route buses
09/07/2006	Project Empire launched in partnership with Amalgamated Transit Union
01/01/2007	iRide Branding Campaign Introduced
03/28/2007	New System Map and Transit Guide
04/26/2007	New Gillig buses
06/18/2007	First hybrid-electric bus introduced for service (made by Gillig)
07/02/2007	Redesigned and expanded Saratoga service begins
10/01/2007	10-trip debit card introduced
11/01/2007	Sale of tokens is discontinued
12/18/2007	Entire bus fleet is converted to biodiesel fuel blend to improve emissions
02/01/2008	On- line Trip Planner introduced at www.cdta.org
10/04/2008	Google Transit trip planner introduced at www.cdta.org
04/01/2009	Base fare increases from $1.00 to $1.50