December 22, 2011
(Albany, NY) - The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) has posted significant ridership gains in 2011, attributed to the launch of strategic improvement plans, the introduction of BusPlus service on Route 5, and expansion of community partnerships. CDTA ridership is up 6% for the first 8 months of the fiscal year.
"Increased ridership and greater demand is wonderful news and affirms our value to the community,” said CDTA Chairwoman Denise Figueroa. “It’s ironic that the need for more services comes as we’re facing serious fiscal challenges that could prevent us from supporting the innovations we have introduced.”
The most significant increases are on the Route 5 corridor where CDTA’s new BusPlus service was launched in April 2011. Ridership is up almost 15% on Route 5, with nearly 60% of the customers using BusPlus’ limited stop service. October and November 2011 each showed ridership well above 300,000 per month.
CDTA has implemented major changes over the last few years to align service with demand; targeting areas where people live and work. All service improvements are formulated using CDTA’s Transit Development Plan as a strategic guideline to ensure that network expansion is systematic, thoughtful and accomplished with community input. More than 70% of CDTA riders use CDTA services to go to work.
“Putting more service where people want and need to go encourages ridership and attracts new customers,” said CDTA’s CEO Carm Basile. “As demographics change, and budgets become tighter, transit agencies need to adjust and provide services that appeal to the marketplace.”
Another strong segment of ridership growth lies with local colleges. CDTA has universal access arrangements with Capital Region colleges that offer unlimited rides to students and staff. These arrangements account for more than 15% of CDTA’s overall ridership with over 2 million rides to be derived from universal access programs this year.
CDTA recently introduced a comprehensive restructuring of Albany bus routes that is rooted in community input and customer suggestions. This massive effort has been in operation for about a month and has received widespread customer and business support. CDTA has focused its planning efforts on consumer based initiatives that result in services being more convenient, reliable and direct. Ridership gains and business partnerships are subset goals, which are well on their way to being achieved.
About CDTA
CDTA serves Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Saratoga counties with more than 50 routes and an annual ridership count of over 14 million. CDTA partners with the community to “green” its system by adopting environmentally-friendly, renewable and clean energy programs and products to support an energy independent future. Programs include its hybrid-diesel electric fleet, bus bike rack programs, vanpool, carpool and park and ride programs and the installation of solar-powered transit amenities. CDTA has 50 hybrid-diesel electric buses, comprising 20% of its fleet. CDTA owns and operates the Rensselaer Rail Station and the Saratoga Springs Train Station, both of which are regional transportation gateways to the region.
To stay connected with CDTA’s latest sustainable initiatives visit facebook.com/CDTAiride or twitter.com.
