December 28, 2011
CDTA’S 2011: A LOOK BACK AT CONNECTING THE CAPITAL REGION
Bus Rapid Transit, Service Changes & Ridership Increases Highlight Calendar Year
(Albany NY) - 2011 was a critical year for the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) with the introduction of BusPlus, a sustained ridership increase and continued push as the regional mobility provider offering transportation services to more than 14 million Capital Region residents. CDTA has made it a priority to offer well-designed, thoughtful services and here are some highlights from the past twelve months:
10. OPERATOR KEITH STRAIT WINS TOP TITLE IN NYS ROADEO - The 2011 New York State Roadeo competition was held on September 24 at Crossgates Mall and won by CDTA Operator Keith Strait. The competition was co-sponsored by the New York Public Transit Association and New York State Department of Transportation while CDTA served as event host. The 24th annual event featured contestants from 10 New York transit agencies including CDTA, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Rochester Genesee Regional Transit Authority.
9. TRANSIT ADVERTISING = BOTTOM LINE SUCCESS - Austin’s School of Spa Technology and CDTA unveiled an ad campaign in August that appeared on the outside and inside of CDTA buses and in shelters throughout the Capital Region. The growing partnership has been a boon for both CDTA and for Empire Education Corporation at the Austin’s and Mildred Elley campuses. Many of their students are CDTA riders and since 2008 when the campus relocated from Latham to Central Avenue, enrollment has increased 52 percent.
8. COMMUNITY INITITATIVES AID RESIDENTS - CDTA’s community work included services for residents following Tropical Storm Irene, transporting students of the Empire State Youth Orchestra’s City Strings Program and working with the American Cancer Society’s Main Streets Go Blue initiative. Special events included the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday celebration, the NYSPHSAA Wresting championships and First Night festivities. More than a dozen retired CDTA trolleys, shuttles or buses have been donated to local non-profit agencies recently as well.
7.“DUMP THE PUMP” – CDTA’s annual awareness campaign offered passes to transit supporters, encouraged non-riders to give transit a try, and to save their money. Ms. Alison Gatterson of Guilderland Center won a free 31-day rolling pass as she was selected randomly from among the nearly 500 pledges to “Dump The Pump” on June 16, 2011. As the winner, Alison decided to give out ten-trip passes to people she sees paying cash on the bus and don't have a pass.
6.CDTA RECEIVES 2011 NYBC CHAMPION AWARD – CDTA was recognized by the coalition for the promotion of environment-safe modes of transportation, through the installation of bike racks on buses. CDTA administered a grant that increased bicycle parking across the city with 176 new racks in 2010 and 91 new racks in 2011. All of CDTA’s regular route fleet are now equipped with double bicycle racks to promote intermodal travel. Nearly 60,000 “Bikes on Bus” rides are taken annually on CDTA with the number continuing to grow.
5. TECHNOLOGY TAKES HOLD AT CDTA - CDTA introduced a host of technological advancements in 2011, aimed towards improving the customer experience. Riders now benefit from real time signs for BusPlus to expedite travel time, simplify trip planning and ease congestion. Other improvements include text options where customers can receive regularly scheduled bus times, along with complimentary wi-fi on BusPlus and the NX Commuter service. CDTA also has two smart phone applications available that provide trip planning and offer travel information. Finally, cdta.org has already set a record of page views before the end of the calendar year.
4. COMMUNITY RALLY TO OPPOSE PROPOSED FEDERAL TRANSIT CUTS - Transit supporters designated September 21st as “Don’t X Out Public Transportation Day” to address a proposal from the House of Representatives to drastically cut highway and public transportation funding. To encourage more transit support, CDTA held a press conference with dignitaries and invited the public to take an online transit support pledge. All pledge participants received a free day pass, customers took part in a “wear red” rider day while bus operators and employees wore arm bands and T-shirts while distributing stickers to customers in support of the campaign.
3. STUDENT UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO MASS TRANSIT BLOSSOMS - The Sage Colleges and Schenectady County Community College joined CDTA’s universal access program to offer students access to the entire CDTA route network. The program, using college IDs as bus passes, makes riding even more accessible, increases transit options, and offers safe, reliable and unlimited travel. CDTA has universal access transportation partnerships with six educational institutions in the Capital Region and these arrangements account for more than 20% of CDTA’s ridership with more than 2 million rides derived from universal access programs in 2011.
2. ALBANY COUNTY ROUTE RESTRUCTURING – CDTA introduced a comprehensive restructuring of Albany County routes with more than a dozen changes to better connect customers with jobs, health services and major destinations. The plan, rolled out in November 2011, improved trunk routes, created new neighborhood and commuter routes and has propelled service to more than 50,000 customers each weekday. The effort has received widespread acceptance and support from riders and local businesses alike.
1. CDTA LAUNCHES UPSTATE NY’S FIRST BUS RAPID TRANSIT SERVICE - BusPlus was launched in April 2011 featuring limited stop service and premium stations. BusPlus offers traffic signal priority, real time information and dedicated lane segments to reduce travel time and improve the CDTA experience. Recent additions to funding will allow CDTA to finish the project as early as spring 2012. BusPlus operates on the 17-mile corridor from downtown Schenectady to downtown Albany through Colonie and Niskayuna where 15% of Capital Region people live and 30% of jobs are located within ½ mile of NY Route 5. BusPlus is part of a 100 mile Bus Rapid Transit plan, with the NY 5 corridor serving as a model for other transit corridors.