July 31, 2015
ALBANY, NY (July 31, 2015) The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) is celebrating an Anniversary this weekend.
On August 1, 1970 CDTA was created by the New York State Legislature, as a public benefit corporation, to provide regional transportation services by rail, bus, water and air.
CDTA is the premier mobility provider in the Capital Region, providing fixed route, shuttle, and paratransit services. CDTA subsidiaries own and operate the Rensselaer Rail Station and the Saratoga Springs Train Station. CDTA also operates the Northway Xpress (NX) Commuter Service between Saratoga County and downtown Albany.
Nearly 650 people work at CDTA to deliver a transit system that services 2,300 square miles over a four county region, transporting 60,000 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
05/23/2010
New Schenectady neighborhood service begins operation
04/03/2011
BRT service (BusPlus) begins operation on Route 5
11/13/2011
New Albany Route Network begins operation (Phase 1)
10/01/2012
NX Service and Fares modified and reintroduced
11/11/2012
New Albany Route Network begins operation (Phase 2)
10/01/2013
Plans for 40 miles of Bus Rapid Transit Announced
03/31/2014
Record Annual ridership count of 16.5 million
03/31/2015
Record Annual ridership count of 17.2 million