N.Y. BRT ridership continues growth

Albany, N.Y.-based Capital District Transportation Authority’s (CDTA) BusPlus bus rapid transit (BRT) system ridership grew to more than 1.5 million boardings in just its second year of operation.

Transit ridership on Route 5, the Capital Region’s most travelled corridor, now produces nearly four million trips annually. BusPlus ridership represents 10% of the more than 15.5 million trips taken on CDTA during the 2013 fiscal year, and the total boardings represent CDTA’s highest ridership in more than 20 years.

BusPlus, Upstate New York’s first BRT service, was introduced on the Route 5 corridor in April 2011 connecting the municipalities of Albany, Colonie, Niskayuna and Schenectady. Customer enhancements followed the initial rollout, providing real time passenger information, transit signal priority at busy intersections, improved customer stations and the addition of complimentary Wi-Fi on every trip.

Based on BusPlus’ initial success, CDTA is advancing plans for additional BRT routes to serve the region’s busiest corridors.

RELATED ARTICLE: Check out, "Albany, N.Y. honored for BRT system."