ANNOUNCEMENT! As of June 1, 2023, we are now the Capital Region Transportation Council.    Learn more

Transit & Human Services

Public Transit

The Transportation Council coordinates with CDTA (Capital District Transportation Authority) to plan for public transit in the Capital Region. Transit planning initiatives have included concept planning and alternatives analysis of three BusPlus lines, the Route 5 (Red line) which has been in operation since 2011, the River (Blue line) which has been in operation since November 2020, and the Washington/Western (Purple line) Corridor which is likely to open in 2023. The Transportation Council supports the implementation of CDTA's capital projects through a Bus Rapid Transit and Travel Demand Management set-aside along with regular coordination on federal funding programs through the Federal Transit Administration. CDTA is a key Policy Board member for The Transportation Council and also serves as the Transportation Council's host agency.

Bus Lane Feasibility Study Final Report (2023) - Bus and Bike Priority Toolbox

Transit White Paper (2020) - New Visions 2050 Regional Transportation Plan

The Transportation Council Transit Priority Network (2019)

CDTA Transit Development Plan (2014)

CDTA Regional Park and Ride/Express Bus Study (2012)

Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan

Federal transportation legislation requires a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan. The plan identifies potential projects for Section 5310: Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program funds available through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as administered by NYSDOT.

The current Coordinated Plan adopted in 2023 includes:

  • An inventory and assessment of available services that identifies current transportation providers from the public, private, and non-profit sectors;
  • An assessment of transportation needs for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and persons with limited means;
  • Strategies to address identified gaps in service and achieve efficiencies in service delivery and eliminate or reduce duplication in services for more efficient utilization of resources;
  • Priorities and/or projects based on resources, time, and feasibility for implementing the specific strategies/activities identified.

The Coordinated Plan was developed with the assistance of the Regional Transportation Coordination Committee (RTCC). The RTCC is maintained by the Transportation Council and composed of representatives of public, private and non-profit human services transportation providers and others. The RTCC guides the implementation of the Coordinated Plan and works toward better integration and coordination of public transit-human service agency transportation services.

The Human Services Transportation Advisory Committee (formerly the Regional Transportation Coordination Committee) is hosted by the Transportation Council and includes representatives of public, private, and non-profit agencies and human services transportation providers. The group generally meets every three months, and meetings are open to the public. Contact Carrie at cward@capitalmpo.org to be added to the distribution list.

The Advisory Committee works toward better integration and coordination of public transit-human service agency transportation services and guides the implementation of the Coordinated Plan. The current plan was adopted on December 7 2023.  There have been no modifications or updates to the plan. The Coordinated Plan is a federally required document that identifies transportation providers, transportation needs for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and people with low incomes, and the gaps between available services and existing need. The plan then identifies strategies and priorities to address those gaps. The Advisory Committee meets several times a year to:

  • work toward coordination of services in the Capital Region
  • guide the Coordinated Plan update process
  • provide input on future solicitations for federally funded projects under the Enhanced 5310 program
  • help staff organize events to help learn about and foster information sharing, collaboration and coordination, such as Tools of the Trade Workshops

Members of the Advisory Committee worked with the Albany Guardian Society to compile a directory of Senior Transportation Options for the four-county Capital Region, last updated July 2021.

Recent federal transportation legislation (The FAST Act) continued the two primary grant programs for public transportation-human services providers which are administered through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the NYSDOT Public Transportation Bureau:

Section 5310: Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities

Section 5307: Urbanized Area Formula Grant program (which expands the range of eligible projects to include those related to jobs access) Note: The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) is the region’s Designated Recipient for 5307 funds.