CDTA Bus Schedule: Routes, Times & Stops
CDTA bus schedule searches usually come from riders in the Capital Region who need the correct route, stop, fare, live bus location, or service alert quickly.
This guide explains how to use CDTA routes and schedules for Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Montgomery, Warren, and Washington county service areas, including BusPlus, regular routes, express routes, commuter service, seasonal routes, fares, maps, and live tools.
How to Find the Correct CDTA Bus Schedule
Go to CDTA’s official Routes and Schedules page, search your route number, stop, landmark, or destination, then select the travel day and direction. CDTA schedules can vary by weekday, Saturday, Sunday, holiday, route direction, and service change period.
Use route number, stop name, landmark, city, mall, hospital, station, or campus.
Weekday, Saturday, Sunday, holiday, and special-service schedules can differ.
Match the bus headsign, terminal, and opposite-direction stop carefully.
Regular route, BusPlus, NX, half fare, and STAR prices are different.
Use CDTA live tools before walking to the stop.
CDTA Bus Schedule Guide Contents
Where CDTA Buses Operate
CDTA serves the Capital Region and nearby upstate New York communities. The official service-area map organizes service by county and shows options such as Park & Ride, Navigator sales, bus locations, and landmarks.
Main CDTA Route Groups Riders Should Know
CDTA publishes route-level schedules for regular routes, BusPlus BRT, neighborhood service, express routes, commuter routes, Northway Express, shopping routes, and seasonal routes. Use the official route page for the current timetable and map.
BusPlus BRT Routes
BusPlus routes are limited-stop, higher-frequency corridor services. CDTA lists BusPlus Red Line Route 905 between Downtown Schenectady and Downtown Albany, BusPlus Purple Line Route 910 between Crossgates Mall and Downtown Albany, and BusPlus Blue Line Routes 922/923 along Hudson River communities.
Trunk and Major Local Routes
Important all-week routes include Route 1 Central Avenue, Route 10 Western Avenue, Route 12 Washington Avenue, Route 13 New Scotland Avenue, Route 18 Delaware Avenue, Route 22 Albany-Troy via Watervliet, Route 85 Fifth Avenue, and Route 87 Hoosick Street-RPI.
Neighborhood and Crosstown Routes
CDTA neighborhood routes connect local corridors, shopping centers, schools, medical centers, and transfer points. Examples include Route 100 Mid City Belt, Route 106 Uptown Belt, Route 107 Albany-Glenmont, Route 114 Madison/Western, Route 117 Colonie Crosstown, Route 182 Troy-Albany via Cohoes/Latham, and Route 370 Troy/Schenectady.
Express and Northway Xpress
Express and commuter routes are usually weekday-focused. CDTA lists routes such as 519 Delmar Bypass Express, 524 Broadway Menands Express, 560 Thruway Express, and Northway Express Route 540 serving I-87/Northway park-and-ride patterns.
Commuter and Regional Links
Commuter-style routes include service such as Route 712 Harriman Campus-Patroon Creek, Route 713 Saratoga Springs-Glens Falls, Route 737 Corporate Woods-Airport, and Route 763 Schenectady/Guilderland via Route 20. These can have fewer trips than core city routes.
Shopping and Seasonal Routes
Some routes run only on certain days or seasons. Examples include shopping shuttles, Albany County Nature Bus, Saratoga Summer Trolley, Glens Falls Summer Trolley, Lake George trolley service, and Grafton State Park service.
How CDTA Bus Times Work
CDTA schedules are route-specific and direction-specific. A first bus from one terminal is not the same as the first bus from your stop. Some routes operate 7 days a week; others are weekday-only, weekends-only, Saturdays-only, summer-only, school-day-only, or special shopping service.
| Schedule item | What it means | Rider action |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday schedule | Usually the most complete service pattern, but some routes still have peak-only, school-only, or commute-focused trips. | Choose the exact weekday date and direction on the CDTA route page. |
| Saturday schedule | Saturday service may be different from both weekday and Sunday service. | Do not assume “weekend” means one timetable. |
| Sunday / holiday schedule | Some holidays operate on a Sunday-style schedule, while some express services may not operate. | Check the CDTA holiday service page before traveling on major holidays. |
| Route additions/exceptions | Some CDTA route pages show trip additions, exceptions, or downloadable schedules with a service-change date. | Read route notes before relying on a selected time. |
| Live bus location | A same-day prediction based on real-time bus location data where available. | Use live tools shortly before walking to the stop. |
CDTA Bus Fare and Payment Options
CDTA fares depend on service type. Regular fixed-route buses, BusPlus, Northway Xpress, and STAR paratransit do not all use the same fare level. Always check CDTA’s official fare page before travel.
CDTA accepts U.S. coins and $1 bills for base cash fare. Vehicles do not provide change, so exact fare is important.
Half fare eligibility requires the proper CDTA half-fare card or approved documentation. Check current rules before boarding.
BusPlus includes Red, Purple, and Blue Line corridor service. BusPlus half fare is listed separately from regular half fare.
Use the official fare page for current BusPlus eligibility, payment rules, and Navigator options.
STAR is separate from regular fixed-route buses and has its own eligibility, booking, and service-area rules.
Navigator smart card and mobile ticket options can be used for CDTA services. Check balance, pass, and mobile-ticket rules before boarding.
CDTA Stops: Direction, Stop Side, and Transfer Points
CDTA bus stop signs display route numbers, but route number alone is not enough. You still need the correct direction, destination sign, stop side, and transfer point.
Example Major Transfer Map: Albany-Rensselaer Rail Station
CDTA serves rail stations, downtown cores, colleges, hospitals, malls, and park-and-ride points across the region. This map is included as a practical example of a major transfer location; always use CDTA’s official route map for the final bus stop and direction.
- Use the official CDTA route map for your bus.
- Check whether your stop is inbound or outbound.
- Use the trip planner for exact walking distance.
- Recheck live arrival before leaving the station or terminal.
Scheduled Time vs Live CDTA Bus Arrival
Scheduled time is the planned timetable. Live arrival is a same-day prediction based on real-time bus location where available. Traffic, detours, weather, event congestion, missed trips, and service changes can affect live arrival.
Use CDTA Trip Planner, Navigator app, route page, or official live bus locations.
Enter route number, stop, address, landmark, or destination.
Match the bus headsign and terminal before trusting the time.
Use the exact stop, bay, transfer point, or map pin.
Live predictions can change, especially during detours or bad weather.
CDTA Service Changes, Alerts, and Holiday Schedules
CDTA implemented system service changes on August 23, 2026, including schedule and frequency changes on several routes. Riders should review the official route page and trip time before traveling, especially if they ride affected routes such as 13, 114, 117, 125, 370, 910, 922, 923, 402, 404, 411, 412, 605, or 713.
CDTA Accessibility, Half Fare, and STAR Paratransit
CDTA fixed-route buses are designed to serve riders with accessibility needs, and CDTA also operates STAR paratransit for riders who, because of a disability or impairment, cannot use the regular fixed-route bus system for some or all trips.
Practical CDTA Bus Schedule Tips
- Open CDTA’s official route page before relying on a time.
- Choose the correct route number and route name.
- Select weekday, Saturday, Sunday, or holiday schedule.
- Confirm direction and destination sign.
- Check if the route is weekday-only, seasonal, or shopping-day service.
- Prepare exact cash fare or Navigator before the bus arrives.
- Use live bus locations shortly before walking to the stop.
- Check alerts if traveling during events, snow, construction, or holiday service.
- Allow extra time for transfers at downtown, mall, rail, airport, or campus locations.
- For accessibility needs, check both vehicle access and stop access.
Official CDTA Sources to Use
Use these official pages for the final schedule, fare, route map, live tools, alerts, accessibility, and customer-service confirmation.
Use this page to search routes, stops, landmarks, printable route maps, and schedules.
Open routes and schedulesUse this map for route groups, counties served, bus locations, Park & Ride, Navigator sales, and landmarks.
Open service mapUse CDTA Trip Planner, Google, 511NY, or Moovit links for origin-to-destination planning.
Open trip plannerUse this for base fare, BusPlus fare, half fare, STAR fare, Navigator, and exact-change rules.
Open fare pageUse this for smart card, pay-as-you-go, period passes, balance, and mobile-ticket details.
Open NavigatorUse this before traveling on major holidays because service may operate on a holiday or Sunday pattern.
Open holiday scheduleUse this for eligibility, paratransit service, and accessibility-related travel options.
Open STAR eligibilityUse this if you need schedule, route, fare, or customer-service help by phone.
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CDTA Bus Schedule FAQs
Where can I find the CDTA bus schedule?
Use CDTA’s official Routes and Schedules page. Search by route number, stop, landmark, or destination, then choose the correct travel day and direction.
How do I know which CDTA route to take?
Use CDTA Trip Planner if you know your starting point and destination. It is usually easier than guessing a route number from the full route list.
Do CDTA buses run on weekends?
Many CDTA routes run on weekends, but not all routes do. Some routes are weekday-only, Saturday-only, weekends-only, seasonal, or special shopping service, so check the route page.
How much is the CDTA bus fare?
CDTA’s base cash fare is $1.50 for regular fixed-route buses, BusPlus cash fare is $2.00, senior/disabled half fare is listed separately, and STAR paratransit fare is $2.50.
Can I pay cash on a CDTA bus?
Yes, CDTA accepts U.S. coins and $1 bills for cash fares, but vehicles do not provide change. Bring exact fare or use Navigator where available.
What is CDTA Navigator?
Navigator is CDTA’s fare system for smart card and mobile ticket payment. Riders can use it for eligible CDTA services instead of paying cash each time.
How early should I arrive for a CDTA bus?
CDTA route pages commonly advise arriving 2–3 minutes early. For unfamiliar stops, transfers, bad weather, infrequent routes, or time-sensitive trips, arrive 5–10 minutes early.
Where can I see live CDTA bus arrivals?
Use CDTA’s route page, live bus locations, CDTA Trip Planner, Navigator app, or official trip-planning tools such as Google, 511NY, and Moovit where CDTA links them.
Does CDTA have service alerts?
Yes. CDTA may publish service changes, holiday schedules, route exceptions, detours, and trip updates. Check the official route page and CDTA updates before traveling.
Are CDTA buses accessible?
CDTA fixed-route buses are designed for accessibility, and CDTA also offers STAR paratransit for eligible riders who cannot use regular fixed-route buses for some or all trips.