The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) is a New York State public-benefit corporation providing transit services across the Capital District of New York State (Albany, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington counties). CDTA runs local and express buses, including four lines of an express bus service called BusPlus (905, 910, 922, 923), and manages three Amtrak stations in the Capital region–the Albany-Rensselaer, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs Amtrak stations. In 2025, the system had a ridership of 18,238,800, or about 54,900 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2026.
Created as an act of the New York State Legislature in August 1970, CDTA was formed similarly to agencies in Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo. In 1970, CDTA purchased and took over management of the United Traction Company and Schenectady Transit.
CDTA bus operators, dispatchers, and supervisory staff are organized in Local 1321 of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU).
Contents
Governance
CDTA is overseen by a nine-member board of directors.
Currently, the board is represented of:
Three members representing Albany County
Two members representing Rensselaer County
One member representing Schenectady County
Two members representing Saratoga County
One member (non-voting) representing the labor unions
There is also an executive director that handles day-to-day business, reporting to the board of directors. In 2017, the CDTA had operating expenses of $108.41 million and a level of staffing of 821 people.
Fixed route services
CDTA operates ~60 routes, connecting neighborhoods, shopping centers, colleges, and major regional hubs. Services generally run: Weekdays: 4:00am – 1:00am, Saturdays: 4:00am – 12:30 AM, Sundays: 6:00am – 12:30 AM
College routes often run later, up to 2:00 AM in Albany and Troy.
Albany Division
The Albany Division, based at CDTA's Watervliet Avenue headquarters, includes routes originally operated by United Traction and Albany-Nassau Bus.
In early 2011, CDTA announced its plans to restructure the Albany County bus routes in two phases. Its goal was to have a more uniformed bus system without any route deviation. Phase 1 involved reconstructing routes within the city of Albany. The results were five new neighborhood routes and three commuter routes. Phase 1 of the reconstructing went into effect on November 13, 2011. In August 2012, CDTA revealed the draft plan for Phase 2 of the reconstructing. Phase 2 involved reconstructing routes within the western and northern portions of Albany County, with a public input campaign held until September 2012. Phase 2 of the reconstructing went into effect on November 11, 2012.
Former bus routes that were part of the Albany Division include:
#2 - West Albany (discontinued in November 2011 during Phase 1 of the Albany County Route Restructuring)
#3 - Quail Street (discontinued in November 2011 during Phase 1 of the Albany County Route Restructuring)
#4 - Pine Hills (discontinued in November 2011 during Phase 1 of the Albany County Route Restructuring)
#5 - Northern Boulevard (discontinued in May 2009 due to low ridership; merged with Route #6)
Old #6 - Second Avenue (split into two routes, new #6 and #116, in November 2011 during Phase 1 of the Albany County Route Restructuring)
New #6 - Second/Whitehall (merged with Route #138 in November 2020 to form #106)
#7 - Glenmont (Restructured into Route #107 in November 2020)
Schenectady Division
In 2010, CDTA restructured Schenectady service, replacing several older routes (51, 52, 53, 54, etc.) with new cross-town routes 351, 352, 353, 354, and 358, though Route 358 was later cut due to low ridership. This was part of a shift to a new three-digit route numbering system.
CDTA also introduced express routes 530, 531, and 532 from Schenectady to Downtown Albany, which replaced the former 55x route. These buses did not accept local passengers. Routes 531 and 532 were eventually consolidated and discontinued, while Route 530 became part of Route 560, the Thruway Express to Montgomery County, launched in 2022.
Former bus routes that were part of the Schenectady Division include:
Old #50 - Route 50 (merged with Route #71 in July 2007 as part of the Saratoga Springs Route Expansion)
#51 - Broadway (discontinued in May 2010 as part of the Schenectady Route Restructuring)
Old #52 - Scotia/Crane St. (split up into two routes, new Route #52 Crane St. and new Route #54 Scotia/Walmart in January 2004)
New #52 - Crane St. (discontinued in May 2010 as part of the Schenectady Route Restructuring)
#53 - Altamont Ave (discontinued in May 2010 as part of the Schenectady Route Restructuring)
Old #54 - Kings Rd. (discontinued during the 1990s)
New #54 - Scotia/Walmart (discontinued in May 2010 as part of the Schenectady Route Restructuring)
#55 - Schenectady/Albany (renumbered Route #355 and shortened to run between Schenectady and Colonie Center in April 2011, during implementation of Rt. 5 Bus Plus service)
Saratoga Division
Saratoga Springs routes operate from CDTA's Schenectady Division and run seven days a week. Before 2007, service was limited and operated out of the Uncle Sam Depot in Troy, with no direct connection to the rest of the CDTA network. Route 50 service was operated out of Schenectady with only one weekday AM and one weekday PM trip as far north as Ballston Spa.
On July 2, 2007, Route 50 was expanded and began running hourly between Schenectady and Wilton Mall, with several local deviations including Rowland St and Geyser Rd in Milton. Service was centralized out of the Electric Depot in Schenectady.
In 2016, CDTA restructured the system: Route 50 became Route 450, now running along NY 50 without deviations. New Routes 451 and 452 absorbed former deviations and replaced portions of Routes 472 and 473.
In 2025, Routes 451 and 452 were discontinued, "except for late night Skidmore trips on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights" and replaced with Flex service.
Former Saratoga Springs bus routes that were operated by the Schenectady Division include:
New #50 - Route 50 (replaced by Route #450 in May 2016 as part of the Saratoga Springs restructure plan)
#409 - federally founded pilot service on Rt. 9 between Saratoga Springs and Clifton Park (launched on May 24, 2010, with a minimum ridership of 15 passengers per hour needed. Discontinued on September 2, 2011, because it did not maintain the above ridership quota.)
#451 - Ballston Ave./West Saratoga (discontinued in November 2025 due to low ridership)
#471 - Union Ave. (discontinued in September 2010 due to low ridership)
#472 - Lake Ave. (discontinued in May 2016 as part of the Saratoga Springs restructure plan)
Troy Division
Before CDTA, most of these routes were operated by the United Traction Co and the Troy-Fifth Avenue Bus Company. Buses run from the Uncle Sam Depot at 40 Hoosick Street in Troy, which also used to operate Saratoga Springs service prior to July 2007.
Former routes that were part of the Troy Division include:
#24 - Albany/Troy via Rensselaer (renumbered Route #224 in September 2009)
#29 - Albany/Cohoes via Route 9 (renumbered Route #129 in November 2012 during phase 2 of the Albany County Route Restructuring)
#35x - I-787 express (discontinued in November 2012 during Phase 2 of the Albany County Route Restructuring)
#80 - Troy/5th Ave (eliminated and replaced with Route #85 in November 2020)
#81 - Baker Street (discontinued in September 2001)
#82 - Troy/Cohoes/Green Island (discontinued in November 2012 during Phase 2 of the Albany County Route Restructuring)
#84 - Watervliet Belt (merged with Route #89 to form Route #289 in September 2009)
Old #86 - Sycaway (combined with Route #87 Beman Park circa 1990)
New #86 - RPI Shuttle (renumbered Route #286 RPI Shuttle in September 2009)
#88 - Troy/Mechanicville/Stillwater (discontinued during the mid-1990s due to low ridership)
#89 - Griswold Heights (merged with Route #84 to form Route #289 in September 2009)
Amsterdam Division
CDTA began Montgomery County Service on August 28, 2022, after the City of Amsterdam discontinued its municipal bus service in 2018. The new service included new Route 602 to run along Route 5 to Schenectady, connecting Amsterdam to its fixed route system. The takeover also included the introduction of the TX: Thruway Express, which provides commuter express service from Amsterdam to Albany; similar to its Northway Express service in Saratoga County. In November 2025, CDTA merged Route 602 with Route 354 out of Schenectady to create Route 605 which operates from St. James Plaza in Niskayuna via Nott St. to Downtown Schenectady and Via Port Rotterdam before continuing west to Amsterdam. There is no longer direct service along Route 5 from Scotia to Amsterdam.
Former routes that were part of the Amsterdam Division include:
#602 - Schenectady/Amsterdam (merged with Route #354 to create Route #605 in November 2025)
Glens Falls Division
CDTA officially took over the former Greater Glens Falls Transit bus company on January 1, 2024. Upon the takeover, CDTA left all of the former Greater Glens Falls Transit routes the same, only changing the route numbers to match its new three-digit route identification. The routes service Warren, Washington and northern Saratoga Counties. On April 1, 2025, CDTA upgraded the fare structure in its Glens Falls Division to align with the rest of its fixed route system.
On August 24, 2025, Route #713 was created, to Glens Falls with Saratoga Springs; connecting Warren and Washington Counties to its fixed route system. CDTA restructured its Glens Falls routes in August 2026. Route #402 was extended to replace parts of Route #407, Route #405 was discontinued, several routes received frequency upgrades and Route #411 gained Sunday service.
Former routes that were part of the Glens Falls Division include:
#405 - Moreau/South Glens Falls (discontinued in August 2026)
Other services
Shuttles
CDTA formerly operated three suburban shuttles using smaller vans out of Albany Division. These served office parks and destinations not requiring full-size buses. In November 2012, all shuttle service was discontinued and replaced with fixed routes 117 and 155, which now connect Albany International Airport, Wolf Road, Colonie Center, Crossgates Mall, and Washington Ave Ext. This is similar to FLEX Service. [citation needed]
Flex service
In 2020, CDTA began a service called Flex which is an on-demand service where a person is transported by van to their desired location or CDTA bus route. Riders use an app similar to Uber and Lyft to request a ride. Currently the service operates in Guilderland, starting in September 2021, the southern part of Saratoga County, New York, to service Clifton Park, Halfmoon and Mechanicville, and starting in November 2025, Saratoga Springs, replacing Routes 451 and 452. The program may be expanded in the future to Amsterdam, Glens Falls, and Bethlehem as stated in the 2025 Transit Development Plan. At first the service was free, but in October 2020, CDTA started requiring riders to pay for a Flex ride.
BusPlus
CDTA's BusPlus service is a limited-stop system with distinct line colors, shown to the right. The 4 lines collectively feature frequent arrivals of every 10 to 15 mins. (frequency was decreased on the Red and Blue lines to every 12 to 20 mins in 2025 and 2026 due to a funding deficit, and the Purple Line's frequency is decreased seasonally.) articulated buses, queue jumps and signal priority, although isn't classified as "Full" BRT, since most corridors lack dedicated bus lanes, off-board fare collection, or level boarding.
NY 5 BRT service, known as the Red Line or 905 BusPlus, began on Monday, April 4, 2011, with new silver and red-branded Gillig 40-foot hybrid buses. Route 55 was then renumbered to 355 and cut back to Colonie Station. In 2018 and 2022, the BusPlus fleet was expanded to include New Flyer XD60 articulated buses. In 2024 and 2025, the original Hybrid buses were replaced with Diesel buses.
In November 2020, the BusPlus Service was expanded from one to three routes. The two new routes that operate along the NY 32/Broadway corridor between Downtown Albany, Menands, and Troy/Cohoes are the 922 & 923 (The 922 runs to Cohoes and Delaware Ave Station, the 923 to Waterford and Albany County Rail Trail), also known as the "Blue Line", with 32 stops between Downtown Albany, Cohoes, and Waterford. A fleet of Gillig 40' Diesel buses branded silver and Blue are used on the line/s, with 1 articulated bus joining the fleet in 2023. [citation needed]
On November 5, 2023, Route 910, the "Purple Line" began service operating along Western Ave/US 20 between Downtown Albany and Crossgates Mall, via UAlbany. A fleet of all New Flyer XD60 buses are used. Notably, the Purple Line features a mile long busway through the UAlbany Uptown Campus. On November 30, 2025, 2 previously cut stations were re-added at Western & Colonial and Harriman East.
Saratoga Trolley
In cooperation with the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, CDTA operates open-air trolleys during the summer months. In the past, the trolleys would run from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day to serve popular destinations such as the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Spa State Park, the Saratoga Casino and Raceway, the Saratoga Race Course and Broadway.
Prior to 2011, the trolley ran between Skidmore College and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. From 2007 to 2010, Route #471 provided summer service to the Saratoga Race Course, before it was discontinued due to low ridership. From 2011 to 2015, the trolley route ran between Broadway, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Spa State Park, the Saratoga Casino and Raceway and the Saratoga Race Course, to include areas previously served by Route #471. As of 2011, trolley service to Skidmore College was discontinued, with year-round service to Skidmore College continued on former Route #473 and new Route #452. As of 2016, trolley service to Saratoga Spa State Park and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center has been discontinued and replaced by a new route that runs between the Courtyard Hotel, Broadway, the Saratoga Race Course and the Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The 2016 changes also included free fare for all riders and service reduction to instead only run from Independence Day weekend to Labor Day. While not marked as such on the vehicles, this service appears as Route #875 on the Saratoga Service map. [citation needed]
Lake George Trolleys
Upon taking over Greater Glens Falls Transit in January 2024, CDTA acquired its summer trolley service. Similar to its Saratoga Trolley, the service consists of open-air trolleys that operate during the summer months. The trolleys run from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day, with two fixed routes. Route 876 runs along Route 9 between the Ridge St terminal Glens Falls and Beach Rd in Lake George. Additional trips run to Lake George RV Park. During the summer months, Route 419 is temporarily suspended. After Columbus Day, when service along Route 876 is discontinued, Route 419 is continued again. Route 877 runs along Route 9N between Beach Rd in Lake George to the Sagamore in Bolton Landing.
STAR Service
In 1982, CDTA began providing paratransit services to riders who are medically unable to take regular transit services. ADA wheelchair-accessible buses were added in 1988; since 2004, all CDTA routes have been wheelchair-accessible. The Star fleet has had a variety of minibuses. Though for most of its history it has been dominated by the Orion II low-floor minibus, STAR has begun replacing older models with Startrans "Senator" cutaway vehicles. Other minibuses in the fleet include Ford "ELF" minibuses and several transfers from suburban shuttle routes (see below). [citation needed]
NX: Northway Xpress
The NX: Northway Xpress is a group of express routes that links Albany to towns in Saratoga County which is operated under contract by Upstate Transit (which had been contracted to run the service since 2006). These routes run from Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa, Malta, Clifton Park, Round Lake, and South Glens Falls to Downtown Albany.
In October 2012, Northway Express fares and schedules were redesigned to increase ridership and service efficiency. Fare structure was consolidated from 5 zones to 3 zones, with the addition of an unlimited ride prepayment card. Service was also eliminated from areas with low ridership, including Mechanicville, Stillwater, Albany International Airport, SUNY Albany, Wolf Road and the Harriman State Office Campus. In May 2014, Northway Express service was expanded to Corporate Woods, but this was later retracted. With the takeover of Greater Glens Falls Transit in January 2024, CDTA is looking to potentially expand its Northway Express service further north into Warren County in the future. [citation needed]
TX: Thruway Xpress
When CDTA expanded to Montgomery County in August 2022, it began its TX: Thruway Express or #560 service, which operates similar to its Northway Express. The new Thruway Express provides commuter express service between Albany and Amsterdam, also stopping at the Thruway Exit 26 Park & Ride in Glenville along the way. While this service was provided by Brown Coach for many years, and may use some of their coaches, CDTA brought more advertising to the route.
Rural service
Until 2012, CDTA operated rural/lifeline services to several areas in rural Albany and Rensselaer counties, once per week, including routes #810 (Berne/Knox), #812 (Rensselaerville), #870 (Saratoga County Shuttle), and #96 (Rensselaer Rural, with summer Grafton State Park service); as part of CDTA's route restructuring, these routes were phased out, except Route #96, which now only provides summer Grafton State Park service.
Electric scooters
The CDTA has been promoting its own electric scooters. Initially planned for use by the public in the summer of 2021, implementation was delayed to 2025.
In 2025, CDTA SCOOT launched, for 1 month from September to October
Fleet
Active CDTA fleet
All buses are wheelchair accessible.
* All MCIs can run on 560 due to occasional staffing shortages or maintenance changes.
Future fleet
CDTA has purchased 14 40' Gillig Diesel Buses (4268–4281), with delivery in 2026.
CDTA has also purchased 10 New Flyer XDE40s, with delivery in 2027 as per the preference outlined in the 2025 Transit Development Plan for Hybrid Electric Buses, as a "proven bridge technology."
CDTA was awarded $31.787 million in 2025 under the Federal Transit Administration's Low or No Emissions grant program and a separate $17.5 million grant, partially to purchase 2 Hydrogen/Fuel Cell Electric Buses.
Transit development plans
In 2005, CDTA commissioned a transit development plan that would create a planned environment to react to needed changes in the CDTA organization.
Parts of this plan included:
Replacing similar numbers of transit vehicles each year over an expected twelve-year life span, creating a more uniform expectation of vehicles needing replacement, also replacing few and larger orders. This began in 2007, reduced the costs of maintaining an aging fleet.
Replacing Orion VI buses by 2012 and the NABI and NovaBus LFS buses by 2016.
Installing LED destination signs on all vehicles, replacing expensive curtain style signage.
Expansion of service in Saratoga Springs, which took place in July 2007 and modified in May 2016. In addition a further expansion was planned, including erecting and opening of a bus garage in Saratoga Springs for Saratoga County vehicles.
Redrawing bus routes in hopes to better serve riders, starting with Schenectady-based routes in the second half of 2007.
Implementation of a three-digit route system, in which the first digit will serve as an indication of the route's primary base. As part of the new three-digit system, 100 routes represent Albany Division, 200 routes represent Troy Division, 300 routes represent Schenectady Division, 400 routes represent Saratoga and Glens Falls service, 500 routes represent express route service, 600 routes represent Amsterdam service, 700 routes represent commuter service, 800 routes represent School routes and shopping shuttles and 900 routes represent Bus Rapid Transit service.
Expansion of service into Montgomery County to service the City of Amsterdam, which took place on August 28, 2022.