From online trip planning capabilities, Twitter and RSS feeds that offer up-to-the-minute service alerts, and a new iPhone application and text messaging options that deliver important information directly to mobile phones and PDAs, the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) today launched a newly redesigned website that offers a host of interactive high-tech tools to further enhance service through improved communications with its 14 million annual riders.

(Albany, NY) – The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) and the Capital District Transportation Committee have collaborated to introduce a new program to the Capital Region offering free approved bike racks to both public and non-profit sectors. The program offers up to a $1,000 subsidy through Travel Demand Management grants. The private sector is also eligible for a 50% cost-share of approved bike racks.

The federal government is giving $3.5 million to CDTA to help it convert to diesel-electric hybrid buses made possible through the "Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction" grant program. The cash grant is part of $100 million in economic stimulus funds to help fund what the Transportation Department called "cutting-edge environmental technologies to help reduce global warming" and "lessen America`s dependence on oil." CDTA was one of 43 transit agencies nationwide who were chosen in the fierce nationwide competition to receive this extra funding.