Photo: Nataliia Kliuieva-Makarenko / iStock / Getty Images
The Capital District Transportation Authority is planning to reduce service on several bus lines starting in May as part of a broader effort to address a $2.7 million budget deficit. The proposed changes, which the CDTA Board of Directors is set to consider at its Wednesday evening meeting, include cutting the frequency on four major routes and eliminating early-morning and late-night trips on 16 additional lines. The changes are scheduled to take effect May 24.
According to the Times Union, the affected routes include the 182 bus between Troy and Albany via Cohoes and Latham, the 353 bus between Scotia and Rotterdam via Schenectady, the 450 bus running along state Route 50 between Schenectady and Wilton Mall, and the 905 Red Line between downtown Schenectady and downtown Albany. The reductions are expected to save the agency 23,000 hours of bus operations per year.
Sixteen other routes will see either their first or last trip of the day cut, primarily on weekends or weekdays where ridership is very low. CDTA estimates these cuts will save an additional 7,000 hours of operations. As CEO Frank Annicaro explained, “The span changes were picked just because of the low, low ridership. It’s the lesser of evils” (Yahoo News).
The budget shortfall follows the end of federal pandemic assistance, with CDTA facing an $8.2 million drop in federal aid and an anticipated $3.5 million reduction in overall revenue for the next fiscal year. Annicaro noted that the current changes represent the third of four phases in a service realignment plan, with a fourth phase expected in September.
The cuts come as ridership has rebounded, reaching 18 million annual riders—120% of pre-pandemic levels, according to Annicaro. However, the agency relies heavily on state and federal grants to maintain services. Local leaders, including state Sen. Patricia Fahy, have called for a 15% increase in state transit funding, arguing it could prevent further service losses. Governor Kathy Hochul has so far proposed a 5.75% increase, and a proposed upstate vehicle registration fee to boost funding has seen little momentum (New York State Senate).
Beyond service cuts, CDTA is investing in modernization, including plans for hybrid-electric buses and the use of ai-assisted technology to improve operations and maintenance. The agency recently merged with Greater Glens Falls Transit and continues to expand its FLEX On Demand microtransit and bike share programs (CDTA annual address).
A public meeting about service changes in Glens Falls is scheduled for April 6. CDTA leadership has stressed that these decisions are difficult but necessary without additional funding. The board’s vote and any further changes will shape the agency’s direction heading into the next fiscal year.