October 08, 2014
ALBANY, N.Y. (October 8, 2014) The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) is partnering with the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District to offer complimentary shuttle service to the Downtown Albany FreshConnect Farmers Market beginning Thursday, October 9th from select locations.
CDTA Board Chairman David M. Stackrow said, “We are happy to partner with the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District to provide a new connection for city residents to visit the SUNY Plaza Farmer’s Market. It’s important that everyone has access to unique activities taking place in the Capital Region. CDTA is glad we can help out and provide this extra level of service to our customers.”
The shuttle will run each Thursday to connect people to the Farmers Market, located at SUNY Plaza. The service is made possible through a 2014 New York FreshConnect Program grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, with transportation provided by CDTA.
The shuttle will run on a recurring loop from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and will make stops at the following locations along with all regular CDTA bus stop routes on the route:
- Ida Yarbrough Homes | 270 N Pearl Street
- South Mall Towers | 101 S Pearl Street
- African American Cultural Center | 135 S Pearl Street
- Steamboat Square Homes | 20 Rensselaer Street
- Downtown Albany BID Office | 40 N Pearl Street
- SUNY Plaza Farmers Market | Broadway & State Street
Downtown Albany BID Executive Director Georgette Steffens said, “By providing this shuttle service we are connecting downtown Albany residents and employees directly to fresh food and locally-made products. As momentum and participation build, we will continually work to help ensure that individuals have every opportunity to make it to the downtown Albany farmers market each week.”
Started in 2011 by Governor Andrew Cuomo, the FreshConnect program works to create new farmers markets and support existing markets. The program, in which the downtown Albany farmers market participates, also includes the FreshConnect Checks initiative, a rebate incentive encouraging New Yorkers who receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as Food Stamps) benefits to use them at farmers markets. In return, FreshConnect Checks provide a $2 rebate for every $5 in SNAP benefits spent at participating markets.
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ABOUT CDTA: 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. CDTA provides local, express, commuter and bus rapid transit services throughout the Capital Region. CDTA owns and operates the Rensselaer Rail and Saratoga Springs Train Stations. 650 people work at CDTA to deliver a transit system that serves close to 60,000 customers each weekday.