November 10, 2011
Community based improvement plan offers more than a new dozen routes with better cross-town service and job connections
(Albany, NY) – The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA), Mayor Jennings, Albany County Executive Michael Breslin and several community leaders announced the launch of CDTA’s new and improved Albany County service effective Sunday, November 13, 2011. The plan, distinguished as the largest service improvement change in CDTA’s 40+year history, offers better connections for customers to job opportunities, health services and major destinations.
“We’ve designed a new route system, shaped largely by public input from beginning to end, that focuses on current lifestyles and travel needs that will better prepare us to meet future Capital Region transit demands,” said CDTA Chairwoman Denise Figueroa. “The route changes offer greater accessibility and more reliable service as we continue to improve mobility for our customers.”
Albany county service is the largest part of CDTA’s route network representing well over 50% of its ridership in the four-county Capital Region. More than a dozen Albany County routes have been restructured featuring improved trunk service, along with a new neighborhood and commuter route network.
“I applaud CDTA for their inclusive nature in redesigning various bus routes to afford better cross-town service, which, in turn, will enable employees to make more reliable job connections,” said Mayor Gerald Jennings. “These changes fully reflect the input of many transit users and, hopefully, will result in a more efficient and timely delivery of services. I am confident that these new routes will be well received and, more importantly, more greatly utilized.”
Albany County Executive Mike Breslin said, “We are very excited about CDTA’s new and improved routes. The plan meets the needs of our community, allowing for greater accessibility and more efficient and faster service. The improvements will greatly enhance the experience of current CDTA customers as well as attract new riders.”
Each year, tens of thousands of employees and patients work or visit Albany area hospitals. Most of these facilities have experienced tremendous growth, requiring the need for more transit service and better connections from surrounding neighborhoods. Each area hospital will be served by three or more routes with this service change. St. Peter’s hospital worked alongside CDTA throughout their recent hospital expansion and installed a new bus stop with curb cut on South Manning Boulevard to accommodate additional riders. Routes 6, 100, and 138 will serve St. Peter’s hospital.
“Like schools, airports or highways, hospitals are a vital part of the community’s infrastructure,” said Steven P. Boyle, CEO St. Peter’s Health Partners, “a key ingredient for a region’s quality of life. Public transportation and CDTA play a similarly important role in that community infrastructure. That’s why when we started planning our modernization project, one of the first things we did was meet with the folks at CDTA to discuss ways to improve how people come to our hospital using public transportation. From the earliest plans for our renovated campus, we envisioned a new public transportation entrance on South Manning Boulevard that would allow regular access for passenger utilizing CDTA buses. This new entrance brings people to the very heart of the institution with easy access to all the programs and services we offer.”
The new route network will serve expanding areas of highly concentrated business developments, like Patroon Creek Boulevard, and British American Boulevard, which have evolved over the last few years. The new commuter Route 712 will serve CDPHP, SEFCU and many other businesses.
“We applaud the CDTA for their commitment to the community and these new route enhancements, which will allow for even more riders to access mass transit in the region, including our more than 900 employees who will now have increased access to ride to and from work each day as well as other frequented destinations in the area,” said John D. Bennett, MD, president and CEO, CDPHP.
“SEFCU is pleased to be included in one of CDTA’s new bus routes,” said Michael J. Castellana, SEFCU president and CEO. “Not only does this change make getting to and from work more convenient for employees working in our buildings on Patroon Creek Boulevard, but it also makes our branch more accessible to members.”
The improvement plan is based heavily on input from riders, residents and stakeholders, which was gathered through community meetings, surveys and interviews. Public review of the proposals resulted in route and service adjustments incorporated into the final plan.
"As community based organization in the South-End of Albany, AVillage is very happy to partner with CDTA on the new route restructuring process,” said A Village President Willie White. “We are pleased with our new #100 route which will provide consistent and reliable access to the hospitals to get to work and to appointments. We hope that this relationship will last long into the future.” Route 100 will connect Morton Avenue and South Albany neighborhoods to hospitals.
More than 10% of CDTA ridership comes from universal access partnerships with educational institutions, which offer transportation services to students, faculty and staff. The benefits for area universities include solutions to congestion, and parking demand concerns directly supporting environmental sustainability goals, and provide additional enrollment incentives.
“Of the many projects in which The College of Saint Rose is asked to participate, few have had the impact of our partnership with the CDTA. Ridership averages 3,043 per week. Of that number, more than 2,500 are students and 350 are Saint Rose employees. The positive impact that this has in terms of reducing our carbon footprint and easing pressure on our parking is immeasurable,” said Marcus Buckley, vice president for finance and administration at The College of Saint Rose in Albany. Routes 10, 11, 12, and 114 serve the College of Saint Rose andthe State University of Albany.
The service improvements will ease peak period overcrowding on buses along CDTA’s main corridors and routes serving popular destinations. Starting November 13th, four trunk routes will run more often, provide later evening and 7-day a week service to make more convenient connections. Routes 12, 114 and 712 serve Washington Avenue Extension and Crossgates Mall and Crossgates Commons.
“Crossgates Mall is a supporter of public transportation,” said James L. Soos, Director of Asset Management, Pyramid Management Group, LLC. “The newly designed routes will be even more convenient, which is important to many mall employees and customers, as they rely on it as their regular source of transportation. We commend the CDTA for reaching out and seeking the public’s input for their route restructuring.”
“This new transit route is a huge win for Albany’s downtown communities and the South End in particular,” said Albany Housing Authority Deputy Director Peter Ragsdale. “Connecting residents to centers of employment, education and retail opens up opportunities for stakeholders at every stop along the line. The Albany Housing Authority is proud to be a part of this effort.”
The Albany County restructuring is the final piece in CDTA’s regional Transit Development Plan (TDP) created in 2005 as a strategic guide to deliver maximum value to the community. Previous changes made under the TDP have resulted in double to triple digit ridership increases in just a few short months of operation. These include the launch of redesigned Saratoga County service in 2007, and Schenectady service in 2010. BusPlus limited stop service was introduced in April 2011 and has resulted in a 12% increase in ridership along NY Route 5. Similar results are anticipated with the Albany County improvements.
A comprehensive public education and awareness campaign entitled, “What’s Your Number? Learn, Ride and Connect,” is in motion to help riders understand the service changes and discover where new connections are made. CDTA supervisors and travel trainers will be monitoring the streets and on buses for a couple of weeks to provide customer assistance.
Phase two of the Albany Route Restructuring is scheduled to occur in 2012 with changes made to routes operating in outlying areas of Albany.
For more on the Albany County Service Improvement Plan visit www.cdta.org or contact CDTA’s Customer Information Center at 482-8822. Information operators are on duty 6am-7pm weekdays and 8am-6pm weekends and holidays. To stay connected with CDTA’s latest, visit facebook.com/CDTAiride or twitter.com/CDTA.
