CDTC “New Visions 2030” Regional Transportation Plan

Capital District Transportation Committee approved “New Visions 2030” Regional Transportation Plan.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The Capital District Transportation Committee, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for NY’s Capital Region approved the 2030 plan and will be presented by Rocky Ferraro, Executive Director for the Capital District Regional Planning Commission and Chris O’Neill, Senior Transportation Planner for CDTC.

This is an exciting opportunity to bring together experienced Capital District planning experts and participants see what our future holds for us in our region.

“According to federal law, a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP or “plan”) is a comprehensive long-range (20-30 year) plan for the transportation system of a metropolitan area, updated at least every four years by the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The RTP includes goals, objectives and policies. The RTP also recommends specific transportation improvements within a balanced budget.” CDPC

Where: Saratoga Springs Public Library on Henry Street , Community Room

When: January 31, 2008 at 7PM – 9PM

Get2There New Features

One issue for CDTA bus patrons has been figuring out how to make connections at the major route crossing and transfer locations in Saratoga Springs. Now you can print out handy "Print and Carry" guides to take with you when making connections. These guides show schedule and route information for a location (rather than by route). So you have everything you need to switch buses on one sheet of paper.

We now have recreational bicycle routes. Select the recreational bike routes option from the menu to see the bike routes. Cue sheets, one-page guides to the route are available for each ride.

Greyhound and Trailways at the Train Station

Starting on Nov. 27th the Greyhound and Trailways ticket office and bus stop have moved to the Saratoga Train Station from the previous location on South Broadway.

This move will bring benefits to both the bus companies and Train Station.

The Train Station is a CDTA bus hub with three lines stopping there. This will provide improved connectivity for bus long distance patrons and it will increase ridership on the CDTA buses as well.

Citizen's Transportation Committee Annual Meeting on 11/26

November 16, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

The Citizens Transportation Committee of Saratoga County will be hosting our annual presentation on a yearlong collection of research, on the subject of public transportation that is presently available to our communities in Saratoga County . As well, we will share with you our new interactive web site that will promote many forms of transportation to include trails.

This event will be held on November 26, 2007 at the Saratoga Springs Public Library in the Community Room at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

As we continue to watch the price of gas escalate, the baby boomer generation grow, and the changes in our environment, CTC of Saratoga County, recognizes the importance of the increasing need for public transportation and that transportation businesses need the support of their local communities and true leadership to be of assistance.

Last week, I overheard a concerned woman say she had to pay $46.00 to fill her car with gas, and I heard another man say he had to quit his job because he could no longer afford to commute. These circumstances will have a direct impact on our economy. The need for solutions to be prepared for situations such as these is eminent.

As leaders in business, government, and communities around the State, please recognize this problem and invest in our economic and environmental future by becoming part of the solution, our futures depend on it. I will look forward to seeing you on November 26^th, thank you.

Sincerely,

Cheryl L. Keyrouze, City Supervisor

Changes to Union Ave. Route (471)

Starting in Sept (07) the Union Ave Route was changed so that it no longer goes to BOCES. Instead it makes a short loop using Ludlow, Mitchell, and East Aves to return to Union Ave for the next circuit.

Initially the bus schedule was kept the same with waiting periods inserted at both ends to allow for this. However, the schedule has now been officially revised so that the bus now makes the round trip every 40 minutes instead of once per hour.

This small change is a tremendous improvement. It meas that a Union Ave. bus now leaves the Train Station every 40 minutes on a cycle that repeats like this:
7:30 am
8:10
8:50

Combined with the Lake Ave leaving the Train Station on the hour and the new Shuttle adding additional departures, most people looking to ride from the train station to downtown (or to make connections) will get no more than a 30 minute wait, and in most cases, less.

How the CDTA bus fares work

The CDTA buses are a great bargain. The base fare is $1 (one dollar) per ride. A day pass for unlimited use for a day is $3.

The $1 base fare does not include transfers, so if your trip has more than three legs, buy a day pass. You can pay for single rides, and day passes, on the bus. You must have change or dollar bills. The drivers cannot make change.

You can also purchase a ten-ride swiper card for $9.50.

Seniors can obtain a card from the county that cuts these fares in half.

But these fares are for occasional riders. There are a number of options available for regular riders to reduce costs.

Swiper cards are available to provide for unlimited riding for $36 per month for five-days per week and for seven days a week for $44.

You can also buy half fare swipers for $18 and $22. Then you pay half the fare when you get on the bus.

Two New CDTA Routes

Starting on Nov. 12th CDTA is adding two new routes to the Saratoga County bus system.

The first route is called the Saratoga Shuttle (Route 474) and it runs mostly in the City of Saratoga Springs. The route starts at the Train Station, travels west on Washington St. to Kirby Rd. where it stops at Kirby Village. It then travels down Church St. stopping at Care Lane and the Hospital before taking Myrtle, Morgan, and Seward to Clement. It stops at the Embury Apts. and then uses Greenfield Ave. and Glen Mitchell Rd. to connect to Broadway. The route proceeds down Broadway to Congress St. where it turns to make stops at the Stonequist Apartments and the Raymond Watkins Apartments. The but proceeds to Price Chopper and from there on the YMCA, where the return route begins.
See the schedule on the CDTA website here.

There are seven runs in each direction daily starting at 9 am with the last departure from the train station at 5 pm and the last return run leaving the Y at 5:40.

The second new route is called the Saratoga Country Shuttle (Route 870) and it visits Round Lake, Malta, Wilton, Victory Mills, Galway, and Rock City. This route basically make two runs a day. For details see the schedule on the CDTA web site at:

http://www.cdta.org