Blogging the Avenue Albany-The E Newsletter

Planning Bus Rapid Transit for the Capital District

Welcome to the fifth newsletter for the Capital District Transportation Authority NY5 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. CDTA is moving forward with BRT service on the NY5 corridor. This newsletter keeps you informed about CDTA’s plans for the new service, including opportunities to be involved and provide input. Federal Transit Administration Approves Stations Environmental Documentation CDTA received notification in June that the FTA has approved the environmental documentation for the station stops. Achievement of this milestone clears the way for final design and the beginning of construction!
Major Contract Awards -- July 2008

· Stations Advance to Final Design Creighton Manning Engineers, LLP will lead a team of design professionals in preparing final design documents. Stations will be built in groups, coordinated with road construction, and will integrate “green” solar powered trash compactors, efficient lighting and climate-sensitive design. There is a big technology focus, as well, with ticket vending machines, security cameras, and next bus arrival time signs. Keep your eyes open for the first signs “on the street”!
· Signal Upgrades and Queue Jump Lanes Working with NYSDOT and the municipalities on the corridor, three components of improving the NY5 roadway to accommodate better service are being advanced. Signal priority for buses, coupled with lanes that allow buses to jump traffic queues at major intersections will dramatically improve the reliability and speed of corridor bus service. The third road design element that will insure the success of the project in the long run is corridor access management for service roads, consolidated driveways, and site design with good pedestrian connections. Site Work for Stations Incorporated in Roadwork Projects A cooperative agreement with the City of Albany to construct foundational site work, such as sidewalk, crosswalk improvements and utility conduits, for station sites from the City line east to Quail has been reached. This work will be accomplished as part of the road construction now underway. NYSDOT has incorporated changes to bus turn outs from the Albany City line to New Karner Road and a center median at Colonie Center/Northway Mall into their road construction project.

More Progress
· Clean-fuel Hybrid Vehicles Delivered to CDTA! Six new vehicles for the corridor add to the six deployed last year. They are already rolling in service. Check them out!
· Improvements to the #55 Schedule coming Fall 2008. Schedule changes to improve reliability and balance loads are in the planning stages. The corridor topped 3 MILLION riders last year, and continues to grow.
· Looking for More Shared-Use Park and Ride lots CDTA is actively seeking additional shared-use park and ride lots in the corridor. If your business, church, or agency has surplus parking capacity – let us know!
· Solar Central The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded a joint funding application from CDTA and the Central Avenue Business Improvement District to make all the Central Avenue bus stops in the C-BID solar-powered!
Be Involved and Stay Informed

If you would like more information, contact Kristina Younger at CDTA (518-437-6582) or kristina@cdta.org.
Images above:

Colonie Center Station – looking west – artist rendering
Stueben South – west view, artist rendering