Claiming poverty, CDTA is making more schedule changes, but some aren't going to be popular

 In two weeks, CDTA (Capital District Transportation Authority) will implement schedule changes for several routes across the 518. 

Chief among these is the decision to stop taking the #10 line into Stuyvesant Plaza. CDTA did the same thing with Latham Circle Mall a number of years ago before the mall's renovation & reopening, but, as Chris Churchill points out in today's Albany Times-Union, the decision to remove Stuyvesant Plaza from the #10 route puts passengers at risk.

Citing a multi-million dollar deficit, CDTA is making these changes without consulting the most important people affected-----the passengers.

But, oh, that ain't all.

Plans call for reduced frequency for the #87 line, which serves RPI, Walmart, & Troy High, among other stops. RPI has its own shuttle service, so it won't bother them all that much, but CDTA has already scaled back the #289 line, which goes into the St. Mary's Hospital campus. The line now will no longer run after a certain point at night, so, if you're an ordinary passenger attending a RPI hockey game or a Troy sporting event (i.e. football, basketball), you're screwed after 9 pm, and forced to wait for the #87.

Across the river in Albany, the #910 BusPlus line, largely designed for UAlbany, is also seeing changes with its frequency. The likely culprit is lack of ridership, which is what caused the pull-back on the #289.

And, then, there is the specter of loss of federal funding if a certain loose screw in Washington has his way. Thus, what CDTA is doing is panicking. They already made customary schedule changes back in late June. The timing of the changes affecting the #87, #910, & #912 lines is suspect, since classes will resume next month at RPI & UAlbany. The #'s 10 & 12 lines also go into UAlbany, and could also be adversely affected even more.

CDTA is also dealing with a number of cases of ill-timed driver shortages, which have adversely affected the #22 line periodically. That needs to be addressed instead of making changes that will hurt rather than help, but they won't do it right away. Cutting the deficit is the priority, and the public will suffer. Not a good idea.