Capital Region Transit Authority

110 Watervliet Avenue

Albany, New York 12206

To Whom It May Concern:

Re: CDTA Bethlehem Transit Reorganization Plan

I am submitting these comments on the CDTA Transit Reorganization Plan. This comments are detailed
and lengthy, however I hope to provide you with several ideas on how you can improve your bus service
locally.

For the past seven years, I have ridden the bus nearly everyday from my apartment in Delmar to my job
at the Alfred E Smith, frequently visiting other locations in the city to shop, recreate, and attend
meetings. Overwhelmingly I find riding the bus to a pleasurable alternative to driving, one free of
concerns of automobile maintenance, weather, and the hassles of traffic. I avoid driving my pickup
truck over 3,500 miles a year by riding the bus – a trip longer then across the country – saving over
205 gallons of gasoline per year.

Point 1: CDTA buses must be roadworthy prior to providing service

Almost all of the CDTA bus drivers are very professional and service reliability and quality of the
buses has improved in recent years. However in the past, buses where not reliable and frequently broke
down. While bus swaps where done quickly and professionally, breakdowns are not acceptable.

I have experienced the Route 19 Voorheesville Express bus at least half a dozen times stalling out on
the highway, two times of which we had to wait for the garage to come and pick us up along Route 9W
or I-787. I have heard other times when this has happened, and once saw a Route 19 Voorheesville bus
broken down at a traffic light on NY 32/NY9W Interchange, stuck in traffic, causing a major traffic
jam. Moreover, one time I when was riding the Route 19 Voorheesville Bus, I could smell the brakes
burning on the Slingerlands Bypass. NABI buses are the most unreliable buses and if CDTA can not get
them to preform properly at Highway Speeds, they should be dedicated solely to local street uses.

Moreover, buses should be required to provide a reasonable amount of heat in the winter (interiors that
exceed 60 degrees) and in the summer, provide air conditioning at least down to 75 degrees, regardless
of the weather. Customer comfort is important, especially if you wish to get people who normally take
their cars to ride the bus. Patrons should not be expected to freeze in the winter and roast in the
summer. CDTA should ensure no buses leave the depot unless in the summer they are colder then 75
degrees, and in the winter warmer then 60 degrees.

Buses that have any signs of mechanical problems should immediately be taken out of service.
Running a bus with failing brakes or low oil pressure is COMPELETELY UNACCEPTABLE. Drivers
should be required to notify the dispatcher and CDTA should provide the driver as soon as possible a

Andy Arthur – CDTA Route Reorganization Comments Page 1 of 6

reliable bus. CDTA should ensure that their fleet is large enough to cover all routes and that they have
several extra buses on standby should a several buses break down or be in the garage being maintained.

Bus service must be reliable. While in recent years, maintenance has improved at CDTA, one failure of
a bus can lead to patrons stopping riding the bus. Multiple failures, even if they do not lead to patron
discomfort or delay, can reinforce the notion that public transit is unreliable. My experience with the
bus breaking down on I-787 did not make me feel warm and fuzzy about riding the bus. CDTA should
maintain buses to a high standard, and ensure that on every single route measured individually, that
there is fewer then one breakdown per 100,000 miles driven.

Point 2: Existing schedule for Route 18 could be improved with minor adjustments

The morning runs via Cherry Avenue on the half hour, should not start directly at the half hour. It does
not take six minutes to go from Grove Street to Cherry Avenue, even if the driver stops 2-3 times to
pick up patrons in this suburban area. Experienced bus drivers do not start their route until 2-4 minutes
after the start of the half hour, to be closer to on time. In the City, the bus is closer to schedule, but even
so, if the driver leaves right on the half hour, by reaching the State Capitol, the bus is running about 5-
10 minutes early on a typical good weather day. Either the time table should be revised with earlier
times, or the Grove Street layover should be lengthened. Revising the time table earlier is more
desirable, as it would get state workers to work, closer to the half hour.

The 7:02 PM, 8:02 PM, and 9:02 PM, Route 18 buses run perpetually run late both leaving Albany and
leaving Delmar. The schedule calls for the buses to leave at 2 minutes after the hour, and reach
Delaware and Kenwood in 25 minutes, at 27 after the hour. There is no layover at Delaware and
Kenwood, and drivers are expected to return to Greyhound terminal in 27 minutes, for a 4 minute
layover. I have never seen a Route 18 bus reach Delaware and Kenwood by 27 after the hour. Buses
rarely start out by 2 after the hour, usually running 5-10 minutes late. Inclement weather, assisting
disabled patrons and those with children board the bus, can lead to delays. While swapping out buses
for the 8 PM run of Route 18 helps, by 9 PM, the bus is running late once again.

Point 3: Consider a common layover location for Route 13, Route 18 and Route 19 (an Express)
buses on Grove Street

Currently the Route 13 New Scotland bus route ends at Slingerland Price Chopper and the Route 18 bus
in the day time ends at Grove Street in Slingerlands. In the morning, several of the Route 13 buses shift
over to Route 18 service and vise versa, but there is no formal connection between the services. It may
make sense to consider creating a common-layover location for both the Route 13 and Route 18
services, connecting these two spokes in the hub. This would allow many Slingerlands and Delmar
residents who work or recreate off New Scotland Avenue a direct route to their destination. Slingerlands
and Delmar residents would also have access to the Slingerlands Price Chopper.

The Price Chopper location for layovers does not make any sense except for grocery shoppers. Price
Chopper in Slingerlands is located in an “Automobile Ghetto”, it inaccessible except by private
automobile or by bus if you live within the city. Businesses in the Price Chopper plaza complain about

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buses idling out in front of their store, blocking the view of their businesses during the day time. People
who wish to use this area as a park and ride area, find their cars towed. Moreover, a private business is
not the appropriate place for a bus layover, and instead putting it in the more developed Grove Street
layover area would allow access to this bus by many more residents living both in Delmar and
Slingerlands.

Grove Street should not just be a bus layover, but a major transit hub for the Southern Suburbs. It should
be aggressively promoted by television and radio ads. CDTA should install nice bus shelters there, and
encourage businesses to locate near the bus shelter. A coffee shop that sells newspapers and trinkets
would be a nice addition to Slingerlands. It would provide security by having another set of eyes on the
streets. The deli next to the fire station is a short walk from there. A small parking area could be built
near the former D&H Railroad tracks, behind the Slingerlands Firehouse, that could be shared both by
Park and Ride Patrons and those wishing to use the bike trail to bike to work or for recreation.

Route 13 and Route 18 buses should swap routes throughout the day (ie. Outbound via Route 13,
Inbound via Route 18 and vise versa). This would add interest to the drivers and help them stay awake
and allow patrons who board on New Scotland Avenue to continue around to locations on Delaware
Avenue with ease. It also could provide later night service for patrons along Delaware Ave/Route 18.

Point 4: CDTA should put on electronic bus signs, frequency of service

It might seem like a no-brainier, but imagine if to a potential rider, CDTA flashed on it’s electronic
destination signs the frequency of bus service. It could flash on the sign: “Route 18: Delmar via Cherry
Avenue” and then the message: “Lets Ride! I Run Every 15 Minutes!”. To the regular rider, such
information is meaningless, but the causal person on the street, it could encourage them to try the bus
by reinforcing the message of frequent, convenient service.

Point 5: CDTA needs to aggressively promote their buses, create a “Bus Route of the Month”

Many people are unaware of the local bus service in the suburbs. People who own private automobiles
might never even consider riding the bus, how much money riding the bus saves, or the convenience of
riding the bus. Many may be unaware that bus passes right by their house. Broad-based ridership
campaigns do not work and, CDTA needs to individually highlight and promote its service to potential
riders near by it. Current riders and transit fans do not need to be sold on the benefits of CDTA, but
many others in the community need to be informed about the local service that could benefit them
personally.

CDTA should consider each month aggressively promoting an individual bus route each month, and
attempting to boost ridership along that route. Rather then focusing on promoting general use of the
service, one community, along one route should be focused at once. Communication experts suggest it
takes seven times with a message to reach the average person, who is too busy and uninterested to hear
upon the first contact. Spending a month, trying to build ridership on a specific bus, could pay off with
service utilization increases that would last for decades.

Andy Arthur – CDTA Route Reorganization Comments Page 3 of 6

CDTA needs to reach out to all potential customers within a 1/4 mile of the “Bus Route of the Month”.
Ways to promote the “Bus Route of the Month” would include direct mail and phone calls to all those
within that 1/4 mile of the bus route. CDTA could hire a phone vendor, to make pitch calls about the
benefits of the service, and directly try to convince people to ride. Phone vendors are relatively
inexpensive, you might be able to win over a rider who would be paying fares for many years, for less
then 40 cents per phone call. During the same month, CDTA should send all residents within a 1/4 mile
of the “Bus Route of the Month”, two free day-passes, a schedule, and a letter explaining all the
benefits of bus ridership.

Alternatively, consider eliminating the fare on the “Bus Route of the Month” for a month. The “Bus
Route of the Month” could be actively promoted by specially-colored buses (like bright lime green
with orange lettering), with prominent lettering on the bus that tell the casual observer about the
frequency the bus runs – “Ride the ROUTE of THE MONTH: Goes Past HERE Every 10 Minutes –
FREE THIS MONTH !!!” People who might never otherwise ride the bus, might get on, because it’s
free, and because it’s different looking bus that goes by there house every 10 minutes. While waving
fares and painting a number of buses a special color as a promotion might cost the Authority money,
any costs would be offset by increased ridership in the future months.

CDTA’s bland advertisements that are not targeted do not work. Buying television and radio ads for
general transit advertising is a waste of money. CDTA needs to connect specific customers to specific
routes, and make personalized appeals to potential riders. CDTA should spend more time reaching out
to residents of the southern suburbs, along with all other routes. Suburban routes offer potentially the
most potential for growth as most suburban residents own cars but may not enjoy driving to work.

Point 6: CDTA should consider later night service for Route 18, especially on weekends

Many residents of the suburbs enjoy attending social functions after work, and at parties are friends
houses in the cities. Those who want to travel home after 9 PM are forced either to drive or take an
expensive taxi. Those of modest means might make the wrong decision and decide to drive. CDTA
should consider a later night bus service, both to fill in this need, and to keep those who have been
drinking off the road.

Despite the significant fines on those convicted of driving under the influence, every single automobile
accident or arrest of a drunk driver, is extremely costly to county taxpayer. Even a bus service with
limited ridership that reduces incidents of drunk driving, and could both save lives and save the county
money. Drunk driving prosecutions and fatal car collisions cost the county a lot of money.

Moreover, the Delmar region is home to many employees of the legislature and other branches of state
government that have to work late. With very limited on-street parking alternatives, having a bus to
catch home later at night would be quite convenient. Other major trunk routes run until 10 or 11 PM, so
why couldn’t CDTA run a little later on the Route 18. Alternatively, consider making the Route 13
service Slingerlands and Delmar areas after 9 PM.

Andy Arthur – CDTA Route Reorganization Comments Page 4 of 6

Point 7: CDTA should consider a “Bus-Taxi” service at off-peak times for southern suburbs

Off-Peak, running a bus out to Slingerlands is not an cost-effective use of resources. Regardless of
number of passengers, CDTA buses still consume about a gallon of diesel for every 3.5 miles they
travel. CDTA buses rarely have any significant number of patrons on them beyond the Hannaford in
Elsmere. Yet, providing service to Slingerlands and Delmar remains important, as it provides mobility
to elderly folk and commuters alike, could it be done in a more cost-effective way? Likewise, while the
Voorheesville Service is important for commuters, could it be done in a more cost-effective fashion by
using a small commuter bus like STAR after it reaches Elm Avenue Park and Ride?

Some European Communities have chosen to create “Bus-Taxi” services, operated by Transit
Authorities, where if a person wants to get a ride, they call up the Authority, and the Authority routes
the bus so that it picks up and drops off the person at their destination, all while picking up and
dropping off other patroons. Some of the “Bus-Taxi” services are fixed route – but the route only runs
the necessary portion of the when at least one patron has booked it. This could better adjust the
schedule towards changing needs.

Point 8: CDTA should consider expanding Route 19 service, changing route through Delmar

Many patrons of the Voorheesville Bus would like to have access to a 6 PM service, in case they missed
the 5 PM bus, or need to stay later into the city. While there is hourly local service out to the Four
Corners until 9 PM via the Route 18, that is far from Voorheesville or for that matter Slingerlands and
the upper portion of Delmar.

Consider replacing the 7:00 AM run from Voorheesville with one that leaves Voorheesville at 7:15 AM,
to get patrons downtown a little before 8 AM. The 7:30 AM route should be scrapped in favor of a 8:15
AM run, for the many state office workers who need to get to work a little before 9 AM. The 7:30 AM
run from Voorheesville is non-sensible, as it gets patrons downtown around 8:10 AM, a totally random
time not compatible with most business schedules.

Also, should the Route 19 somehow dip a little further down into Delmar? Could it take Elm Avenue to
Delaware Avenue, cross over at Borthwhick Ave, then back up Elsmere Avenue to Delmar? That would
allow more patrons to board the bus, and access the express service downtown.

Route 19 should be considered “Bus Rapid Transit” for labeling purposes, however no further changes
are required.

Point 9: CDTA should provide bus GPS information on mobile phones, website, Google Maps,
other public feeds

In inclement weather especially, it helps patrons a lot to know where the bus is located and how long
they have to get out to the bus stop. If one could look at a Google Map, and see that the Route 18 via
Cherry bus is four blocks away, or however close it is, they could better plan their days. This is
especially important when the weather is cold out. Likewise, CDTA should consider putting outdoor

Andy Arthur – CDTA Route Reorganization Comments Page 5 of 6

signs at the bus stops that tell patrons “Next Bus to Slingerlands (Route 18 via Cherry) will be here in 4
minutes”. This would be really good at Lark Street on the evening, for waiting for a bus in the cold, and
be able to know that the bus will be here soon, or otherwise go back inside.

Point 10: CDTA should consider connections between Delmar and Western/Central Avenues

Many elderly patrons might enjoy a bus service to malls and other major shopping areas. More
important is with plans to redevelop the State Office Campus into a High-Tech Office Campus, that
service be added to make connections between Slingerlands and Delmar, and major destinations to the
western portion of the Albany area, including westerly connections to Routes 1, 10, 12, and 55.

While a “Westerly Connection” from Delmar to Guilderland may be a low priority today, in the future
with High-Tech employers coming to the region, and certain higher gas prices, it’s something CDTA
should take into serious consideration in coming years.

Point 11: CDTA should consider restoring electric trolley service

Electrically powered trolleys might provide a nice alternative to bus service, that would be clean and
modern. While modern hybrid buses are quite efficient and nice, with growing fuel prices, and the need
to further reduce carbon emissions, bringing back trolley service would be a nice addition. Many cities
like Seattle WA and Phoenix AZ have found restoring electric street car service to be an instant
economic boom to streets where the trolleys run.

Thank you for consideration of my comments. If you need further clarifications on my ideas for
improving the CDTA Transit service, feel free to contact me at andy@andyarthur.org or by phone at
518-281-9873.

Sincerely,

Andy Arthur
15A Elm Ave
Delmar, NY 12054

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