The bus is a community friendly,“green,” and relatively low-cost way to get around — while you chat, read, answer emails, or just relax. With Guaranteed Ride Home, there’s no need to worry about getting ‘stuck’. Haven’t been on a bus in years? Or ever? Give it a try!
Capital District Transportation Authority Busses
Capital District Transportation Authority's (CDTA) website has schedules and maps, as well as a trip planner, and CDTA provides route and schedule information to Google, so you can search for directions by transit. Google also shows real-time arrival information. Since making its data public, a number of smart phone applications have also been developed. Download an app or get relevant schedules today so you’ll be more likely to use the bus in the future. Service alerts on CDTA’s homepage let you know when your bus may be late or re-routed due to construction or inclement weather. All CDTA buses can hold 2 bikes on the front.
Each time you get on the bus, you need to provide some form of payment. In cash, the fare is $1.50 – BusPlus limited stop service along Route 5 is $2. Day passes are $4, so you’ll want a day pass if you need to transfer to another bus. Day passes are purchased on the bus – tell the driver you want to buy a day pass before you insert the money (if you don’t, you’ll get a “change card” back for the amount you inserted minus $1.50 – the driver can fix this, but it’s easier to tell him/her ahead of time). New in 2017 is CDTA’s reloadable Navigator Card, which can hold monthly passes or any dollar amount. On-vehicle day and change cards will be phased out by the end of 2017.
Bus Fares (Other than Navigator Card)
| Type | Amount | Description | Available |
| One Trip | $1.50 ($2 Bus plus) | Each time you board | On Bus |
| Day Card | $4 | 1 day Unlimited Rides | On Bus |
| 3-Day Pass | $10 | 3 days Unlimited Rides | On Bus |
| 10-Trip Pass | $13 | Allows boarding 10 times | Online, phone, mail, Saratoga Train Station, 85 Watervliet Ave. Albany, Price Chopper, Hannaford, ShopRite, Key Bank at State St., Pearl St., Empire State Plaza in Albany, and Rensselaer Plaza in Rennselaer, Saratoga Springs City Hall clerks office, Proctors Theater box office |
| Weekday Rolling Swiper | $55 | Unlimited Use M-F only, expires 31 days after first used | Online, phone, mail, Saratoga Train Station, 85 Watervliet Ave. Albany, Price Chopper, ShopRite, Proctors Theater box office |
| 31 Day Rolling Swipe | $65 | Unlimited Use, expires 31 days after first used | Online, phone mail, Saratoga Train Station, 85 Watervliet Ave. Albany, Price Chopper, ShopRite, Proctors Theater Box Office |
Bus Plus
BusPlus is a limited-stop service between Albany and Schenectady, and accepts all of CDTA’s pre-paid bus passes. BusPlus only stops at the 18 red stations along Route 5 (Central Ave. and State St.). The buses have wireless internet! At some intersections, the BusPlus has its own lane and traffic signal priority when behind schedule. Some stations have real-time information signs and most have bike racks.
Commuter Bus Service
Numerous longer-distance buses travel into Albany in the morning and back out in the afternoon.
CDTA’s Northway Express service provides weekday commuter service from Saratoga County to downtown Albany, stopping at most park-and-ride lots along the Northway (Clifton Park, Malta, Wilton) and at several locations in downtown Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa.
Adirondack Trailways provides weekday commuter service to the City of Albany from many locations surrounding the Capital District, such as Glens Falls, Kingston, Oneonta, Gloversville and Saratoga Springs. Call the Trailways Call Center at 800-776-7548 for detailed schedule and fare information.
Brown Coach provides an “early” and “late” trip each weekday morning and afternoon from Fonda, Amsterdam, and Exit 26 on the Thruway to downtown Albany and Menands. Brown also runs buses from Amsterdam, Gloversville, and Johnstown to each shift at General Electric.
City of Amsterdam Transit provides commuter service from Amsterdam to the Department of Transportation (DOT) on Wolf Road and the State Office Campus in Albany.
Columbia County Transit provides two morning and two afternoon trips weekdays from Hudson, Greenport, Columbiaville, Kinderhook, and Valatie to downtown Albany.
Schoharie County Public Transportation provides weekday service from Richmondville, Cobleskill, Route 7 by Thruway Exit 22, Central Bridge, and Duanesburg to downtown Albany, Wolf Rd., and the State Office Campus.
Yankee Trails provides weekday service from Bennington, Vermont, Hoosick Falls, Pittstown, and Brunswick to the City of Albany, stopping at numerous other points in between.
The Wanderu website shows tickets of a number of private providers, with links to purchase tickets.
