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 (NX) Xpress Commuter Service between Saratoga County and downtown Albany.
Today, 640 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 55,000 customers each weekday.
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CAPITAL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY KEY DATES IN COMPANY HISTORY |
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| August 1, 1970 | CDTA is created by the New York State Legislature |
| April 12, 1976 | Saratoga service begins |
| April 1, 1980 | Base fare increased from 40 to 50 cents |
| July 5, 1982 | STAR service begins in Albany |
| August 2, 1982 | STAR service begins in Troy and Schenectady |
| April 1, 1985 | Base fare increased from 50 to 60 cents |
| June 4, 1990 | Base fare increased from 60 to 75 cents |
| August 10, 1992 | Electronic fare boxes installed on all CDTA buses |
| April 6, 1994 | Swiper Pass program unveiled |
| April 3, 1995 | Base fare increased from 75 cents to $1.00 |
| November 13, 1997 | CDTA goes on-line at www.cdta.org |
| March 31, 1998 | Lark and Washington Transit Center opens |
| September 1, 1998 | Access Transit, Inc. begins operation |
| September 14, 2000 | Bike Racks debut on 10 CDTA bus routes |
| September 23, 2002 | Rensselaer Rail Station Opens |
| April 1, 2003 | CDTA assumes responsibility for Northway Express service |
| March 15, 2004 | Saratoga Springs Train Station opens |
| April 4, 2005 | Simple fare structure introduced |
| July 7, 2007 | Expanded service introduced in Saratoga |
| July 1, 2008 | Last token accepted on CDTA buses (replaced by debit card) |
| August 10, 2008 | Entire fleet equipped with bike racks |
| April 1, 2009 | Base fare increased from $1.00 to $1.50 |
| May 23, 2010 | New Schenectady neighborhood service begins operation |
| April 3, 2011 | CDTA launches the BRT Red Line |
| November 13, 2011 | New Albany Route Network begins operation (Phase 1) |
| November 11, 2012 | New Albany Route Network begins operation (Phase 2) |
| March 31, 2014 | Record annual ridership count of 16.5 million |
| October 29, 2014 | Real time passenger information rolls out |
| February 2, 2015 | Navigator is introduced |
| March 31, 2015 | Record annual ridership count of 17 million |
| March 31, 2016 | Record annual ridership count of 17.1 million |
| May 28, 2016 | Redesigned Saratoga County service begins |
| August 12, 2016 | CDTA approved as regional clearinghouse for taxi services |
| January 12, 2017 | CDTA rolls out Navigator smartcard pre-payment system |
| July 27, 2017 | CDPHP Cycle! bike-share program begins |
| August 15, 2017 | CDTA named APTA's 2017 Mid-Size System of the Year |
| November 14, 2017 | CDTA announces Half Fare program for Veterans |
| May 1, 2018 | CDPHP Cycle! expands to 80 stations and 350 bicycles |
| September 27, 2018 | David Stackrow elected Chairman of APTA Board of Directors |
| January 3, 2020 | FLEX On Demand service begins |
| January 10, 2020 | CDTA rolls out its first 100% electric battery-powered bus |
| April 6, 2020 | CDTA moves to rear-door boarding/suspends fare collection to combat spread of COVID-19 |
| August 1, 2020 | CDTA celebrates its 50th Anniversary |
| August 19, 2020 | CDTA resumes front door boarding and fare collection |
| October 13, 2020 | CDTA's Health Center opens |
| November 8, 2020 | CDTA launches the BRT Blue Line |
| May 24, 2021 | CDPHP Cycle! expands into Warren County/Lake George area |
| June 10, 2021 | Albany Nature Bus debuts |
| September 16, 2021 | FLEX On Demand expands to southern Saratoga County |
| August 28, 2022 | CDTA begins service in Montgomery County |
| September 29, 2022 | CDTA celebrates 20th anniversary of Rensselaer Rail Station |
| January 6, 2023 | DRIVE carshare program debuts with six cars |
| May 1, 2023 | CDPHP Cycle! introduces electric bicycles into its fleet |
| June 16, 2023 | Nature Bus service expands into Schenectady County |
| October 3, 2023 | Rensselaer Rail Station renamed Joseph L. Bruno Rail Station |
| November 8, 2023 | CDTA launches the BRT Purple Line, completes 40 miles of BRT |
| December 12, 2023 | Gateway Mobility Hub opens in Schenectady |
| January 3, 2024 | CDTA begins service in Warren County |
| January 24, 2024 | FLEX+ service begins at the Joseph L. Bruno Rail Station |
| March 15, 2024 | CDTA receives Changemaker Award (Capital Region Chamber of Commerce) |
| May 21, 2024 | Lake George Trolley marks 30th anniversary |
| October 28, 2024 | Liberty Square Mobility Hub opens in Troy |
| November 26, 2024 | CDPHP Cycle! reaches record breaking ridership |
| December 19, 2024 | Manning Boulevard Mobility Hub opens in Albany |
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Updated: January 15, 2025 |
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Last Updated: 01/15/2025