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 , the system had a ridership of , or about per weekday as of .

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).

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. RouteTerminalsMajor streetsNotes 1 Albany Bus Terminal Madison & GreenColonie Station Wolf Rd. & Colonie CenterCentral Ave., NY 5Rt. 5 local service between Downtown Albany and Colonie Center, interlined with 355, split with Schenectady Division. 10 Broadway & Steuben St. Broadway & Orange St.Crossgates MallWestern Ave., Rt. 20Rt. 20 local service between Downtown Albany and Crossgates Mall 12 Broadway & Steuben St. Broadway & OrangeCrossgates MallWashington Ave. 13 Albany Bus Terminal Madison & GreenPrice Chopper/ Shoprite (Slingerlands)New Scotland Ave., Lark St., NY 85 18 Albany Bus Terminal Madison & GreenPrice Chopper/ Shoprite (Slingerlands)Delaware Ave., Lark St., Cherry Ave., NY 443 22 River St. & Front St.Madison Ave. & Empire State Plaza, AlbanyBroadway, NY 32Rt. 32 local service between Downtown Albany and Downtown Troy. Split with Troy Division. 87 River St. & Front St.Walmart – Brunswick PlazaHoosick St. & 15th St.Split with Troy Division. 100Clinton Square Station S. Pearl St & Dunn Memorial BridgeS. Pearl St & Beaver St.Pearl St., Morton Ave, Quail St., Livingston Ave, and Lark Dr.Mid City Belt 106Clinton Square Station S. Pearl St & Dunn Memorial BridgeS. Pearl St & Beaver StPearl St, 2nd Ave, Whitehall Rd. Allen St. Livingston Ave, Lark DrUptown Belt 107Clinton Square StationGlenmont Price ChopperSouth Pearl St., Mt. Hope Dr., Route 9W 114UAlbany Health Science Campus Rensselaer Rail StationCrossgates MallThird St., Western Ave., Madison Ave.Limited service beyond Rensselaer Rail Station 117Crossgates MallRt 7 & Ronald DrWestern Ave., Fuller Rd., Wolf Rd.,Colonie crosstown. Airport service 125Albany Bus TerminalColonie StationSand Creek Rd., Everett Rd., Clinton Ave.No Sunday service155Crossgates MallShaker Placevia Albany Airport, Rt 155Runs twice a day on weekends only 214Empire State Plaza Concourse Broadway & Hudson Ave.East Greenbush Tech ParkWashington Ave., 3rd St.Stops at ESP weekdays only 224River St. & Front St.Empire State Plaza ConcourseI-787, I-90, Rt. 4No weekend service Does not serve downtown Troy after 7:30 pm, ends at HVCC. Split with Troy Division. 233Empire State Plaza Concourse Broadway & Hudson Ave.Schodack Park & RideRt. 9, Rt. 20Stops at ESP Weekdays only 355 Gateway PlazaCentral Ave. & Colonie CenterState St., Central Ave., NY 5Rt. 5 local service between Downtown Schenectady and Colonie Center, interlined with 1, split with Schenectady Division. 370River St. & Front St., TroyRivers Casino, Erie Blvd SchenectadyNY 2, Union St., NY 7Split with Schenectady and Troy Divisions. 519Empire State Plaza ConcourseElm Avenue Park & RideRt. 20, NY 146, NY 156, NY 85, I-787Weekday express service only 524Empire State Concourse/South Swan St. & Washington Ave.80 Broadway LotI-787Weekday express service only 712Quail/WAMC StationSUNY Collins CircleWashington Ave., Colvin Ave., Central Ave.Limited weekday service only – provides service to the Harriman State Office Campus 737Albany Bus Terminal Madison Ave & Green StAtrium Dr & Palisade Dr Albany International Airport 19 British American BlvdAlbany Shaker Rd., Everett Rd., Henry Johnson Blvd.Downtown to airport, limited weekday service only 801(many routes)Myers Middle SchoolOnly available for students and when school is in session805(many routes)Albany High SchoolOnly available for students and when school is in session 813Church St. & 5th St.Wolf Rd. & Colonie CenterI87, I90, Rt 85, Wolf Rd.Runs only on Tuesday. Ravena Shopping Bus.872Six Mile Waterworks Park Watervilet & EssexFive Rivers Education Center Thatcher State ParkLivingston Ave, Pearl St, 2nd Ave, Delaware AveFree Seasonal Nature Bus, runs Staurdays only, alternates destination 910Albany Bus TerminalCrossgates MallWashington Ave, State St., Western AveRt. 20 BusPlus service between Downtown Albany and Crossgates Mall, with only 16 stops per trip.

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) #8 - Arbor Hill (discontinued in November 2011 during Phase 1 of the Albany County Route Restructuring) #9 - Whitehall Road (discontinued in November 2011 during Phase 1 of the Albany County Route Restructuring) #14 - Rensselaer Third Street - Amtrak (merged with Route #15 to form Route #214 in May 2009) #15 - Rensselaer East Street (merged with Route #14 to form Route #214 in May 2009) #16 - Downtown Albany Circulator (discontinued in January 2009 due to low ridership) #17 - Four Mall Circuit (merged with Route #90 Troy/Latham in the 1990s) #19 - Voorheesvile Express (discontinued in November 2012 during Phase 2 of the Albany County Route Restructuring) #20 - Downtown Albany Circulator East Parking Garage (discontinued on May 23, 2004, due to low ridership) #21 - Altamont Express (discontinued in November 2012 during Phase 2 of the Albany County Route Restructuring) #23 - Albany-Troy via Menands Bridge (discontinued in 2002 due to low ridership) #24 - Albany/Troy via Rensselaer (renumbered Route #224 in September 2009) #25 - West Sand Lake/Averill Park (discontinued during the 1990s) #26 - Albany-Cohoes via Broadway (merged into Route 82 during the 1990s) #27 - Corporate Woods (Merged into Route 4 in January 2010; resplit in April 2011 discontinued in November 2011 during Phase 1 of the Albany County Route Restructuring) #30 - Hackett Blvd (discontinued in November 2011 during Phase 1 of the Albany County Route Restructuring) #31 - Albany Shaker Road (discontinued in November 2011 during Phase 1 of the Albany County Route Restructuring) #32 - Hampton Manor (renumbered Route #232 in May 2009) #33 - Albany/Nassau (renumbered Route #233 in May 2009) #33x - Albany/Nassau express (renumbered Route #520 in May 2009) #34 - Albany/Castleton (discontinued in May 2009 due to low ridership) #116 - Mt Hope / Albany South End (renumbered Route #716) #138 - Allen St. / Livingston Ave. (merged with new #6 in November 2020 to form #106) #232 - Hampton Manor (discontinued in May 2012 due to low ridership) #610 - Shuttle Fly (Colonie Center, Wolf Rd to Rt. 7 - discontinued in November 2012 during Phase 2 of the Albany County Route Restructuring) #611 - Shuttle Bug (Crossgates Mall to Twenty Mall - discontinued in November 2012 during Phase 2 of the Albany County Route Restructuring) #612 - Shuttle Bug (Crossgates Mall to Central Ave - discontinued in November 2012 during Phase 2 of the Albany County Route Restructuring) #716 - Mt. Hope/Albany South End (eliminated in November 2020 due to implementation of River Corridor BRT routes #922 and #923) #810 - Berne/Knox rural shuttle (discontinued in August 2012 due to low ridership) #811 - Westerlo rural shuttle (discontinued in September 2009 due to low ridership) #812 - Rensselaerville rural shuttle (discontinued in August 2012 due to low ridership)

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.

RouteTerminalsMajor streetsNotes 1 Albany Bus Terminal Madison & GreenColonie Station Wolf Rd. & Colonie CenterCentral Ave., NY 5Rt. 5 local service between Downtown Albany and Colonie Center, interlined with 355, split with Albany Division. 351 Golub Corp.Gerling St. & Sheridan Ave.Broadway, Van Vranken Ave. 353 Walmart – GlenvillePrice Chopper – Altamont Ave.Mohawk Ave. 355 Gateway PlazaCentral Ave. & Colonie CenterState St., Central Ave., NY 5Rt. 5 local service between Downtown Schenectady and Colonie Center, interlined with 1, split with Albany Division. 370River St. & Front St., TroyRivers Casino, Erie Blvd SchenectadyNY 2, Union St., NY 7Split with Albany and Troy Divisions. 560 (TX)Main St. & Market St.Kiernan PlazaI-787, I-90Weekday express service only 763 Liberty ParkCrossgates Mall StationWestern Ave., Rt. 20, Curry Rd., BroadwayLimited weekday service only810(many routes)Schenectady High SchoolOnly available for students and when school is in session 905 Gateway PlazaAlbany Bus TerminalState St., Central Ave., NY 5Rt. 5 Bus Plus service between Downtown Schenectady and Downtown Albany, with only 19 stops per trip