Bus Service Launch Marks the Official Return of Public Transit to the Montgomery County Community
AMSTERDAM, NY (August 28, 2022)The Capital District Transportation Authority’s (CDTA) service has officially expanded to Montgomery County with the recent launch of bus service. On August 28, riders began to take advantage of new routes that transported them efficiently throughout the community. The service consists of four routes, with two of the routes running seven days a week and the “Thruway Xpress” running on weekdays for those commuting to Albany. The launch of bus service addressed the limited access to a comprehensive public transportation system for residents following the City of Amsterdam discontinuing its municipally operated bus service in April 2018.
“The long-awaited return of transportation service to Montgomery is finally here and CDTA could not be more excited to grow our Capital Region family,” said CDTA CEO Carm Basile. “Starting today, residents of Montgomery County will have access to new routes that will make it easier to go to work, go to the grocery store and even go to school. The quality of life in Montgomery County will undoubtedly improve, and I cannot be more thrilled that we are able to make this happen. This expansion would not have been possible without the support of New York State, so we owe a big thank you to all who had a hand in securing the necessary funding, especially New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara.”
The expansion was supported by New York State following funding included in the FY22-23 budget, allowing CDTA to expand further west. The CTDA service plan for Montgomery County includes intersected routes for easy transfers and frequency of service designed to minimize wait times. CDTA will also operate an express service to the City of Albany, connecting the community to the region’s major employment center.
“After a long, dedicated push to extend CDTA services to Montgomery County, I am thrilled to celebrate what will be a huge win for workers, students, seniors, and small businesses,” Congressman Paul Tonko said.“This expansion of affordable, public transportation for residents will boost accessibility, strengthen our economy, and build connections throughout our community. I’m proud to have played a role in this expansion of critical services, and I’ll continue working to deliver these investments that support families and strengthen our Capital Region.”
Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “Today, we are bringing all that comes with having reliable public transportation to Montgomery County families — direct connections to work, school, and small businesses across the Capital Region, and an overall better quality of life that will pay enormous dividends to our economy and communities. It was an honor to deliver the funding that helped build these new CDTA bus routes, and I thank my partners in government, CDTA, and Amsterdam Mayor Michael Cinquanti for their commitment to bringing this life-changing service into Montgomery County.”
“Having reliable, affordable transportation services allows residents to commute to work, school or recreational activities at a low cost,” said Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara. “The return of public transportation to Montgomery County is exciting news for all our residents. The first few weeks of CDTA’s new service will also let residents try it out for free, so there’s no better time to hail a ride.”
“By aiming high, working together, and believing we can, we have brought the region's very best transportation services to our City and our County,” said Amsterdam Mayor Michael Cinquanti. “The objective now is to help CDTA figure out as quickly as possible the very best way the resources they have available can be utilized to serve the public transportation needs of our residents and business community. So get on board Amsterdam, here we go!”
CDTA’s Montgomery County routes include:
Route #600 (Neighborhood Belt Line) will serve Amsterdam neighborhoods via Church Street, Clizbe Avenue, Guy Park Avenue, Division Street and Route 30. This route will run Monday – Friday 6:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday 8:45 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Route #601 (South Side and Route 30) will serve South Amsterdam and Route 30 via Bridge Street, Market Street and Wallins Corner Road. This route will run Monday – Friday 6:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Route #602 (Amsterdam to Schenectady) will connect Amsterdam to Schenectady via Guy Park Avenue, Division Street, East Main Street and the Mohawk Turnpike (Route 5). This route will run Monday - Friday 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday – Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Route #560 (Thruway Xpress) will connect Montgomery County to Albany via I-90. This route will run Monday – Friday. Morning trips will be 6:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Afternoon trips will be 12:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Evening trips will be 3:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
For more details about Montgomery County Bus Service, please visit https://www.cdta.org/montgomery-county-service
