🚌 CDTA Bus Schedule Guide: Routes, Navigator, BusPlus, Fares, Map & Live Times
Here’s the deal: CDTA is easy only when you use the right tool. Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga, Glens Falls and Amsterdam riders can get burned by old PDFs, school shuttles, BusPlus fare differences, FLEX zones, Downtown Albany detours and wrong stop IDs. This guide gives you the street-smart way to find the right CDTA bus schedule fast.
CDTA
Navigator
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CDTA bus schedules cover New York’s Capital Region, including Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga, Glens Falls, Amsterdam and nearby communities. The official CDTA system includes local routes, BusPlus limited-stop service, NX commuter routes, trolleys, school-focused shuttles, FLEX On Demand, STAR paratransit, Navigator fare tools, trip planning and real-time arrivals.
This page is built for the rider who needs a working answer, not a corporate brochure. You may be going to UAlbany, Crossgates, Colonie Center, Albany Medical Center, Downtown Troy, Downtown Schenectady, Rensselaer Rail Station, Albany International Airport, Saratoga, Glens Falls or a park-and-ride lot. The winning move is simple: search the official CDTA route page, confirm the service day, then use Navigator or real-time arrivals before you leave.
✅ Source Verification — CDTA Schedule Update
Official CDTA sources checked for this refresh include Routes and Schedules, CDTA Fares, Trip Planner, Navigator, Service Advisories, BusPlus routes, FLEX On Demand, Park and Ride, accessibility resources and CDTA customer-service information. CDTA route times, detours, fares, stop moves, summer-only routes, school shuttles and service advisories can change, so always confirm your exact trip with CDTA before riding.
⚡ Quick Answer: Best Way to Find a CDTA Bus Schedule
The fastest way to find a CDTA bus schedule is to open CDTA’s official Routes and Schedules page, search by route number, stop, landmark or area, then open the route detail page for your direction and service day. If you are already at the stop, use the Navigator app or real-time arrival tools instead of trusting an old saved PDF.
⚠️ Biggest CDTA Rider Mistake
Do not search only a number like “18 bus” or “905 bus” without adding CDTA or the Capital Region. Many agencies reuse route numbers. Search “CDTA 18 Delaware Avenue,” “CDTA 905 Red Line,” or “CDTA 114 Madison Western” so you do not open a wrong-city schedule.
📱 CDTA Tool Hub: Routes, Navigator, Trip Planner, Alerts & Maps
Use the tool that matches the problem. If you need a printable schedule, use Routes and Schedules. If you are at the stop, use Navigator or real-time arrivals. If you are not sure which route works, use the Trip Planner. If the bus is missing, check advisories first.
🚏 Open the Right CDTA Tool
This dropdown is built like a rider dashboard. It uses official CDTA sources so you do not end up on stale third-party pages.
🔗 Open Selected CDTA ToolBest for route details, printable route maps, service days and route lists across Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga, Glens Falls and Amsterdam.
Open Routes ↗Best for planning trips, tracking vehicles in real time, paying fares and booking on-demand services from one CDTA-connected platform.
Navigator Info ↗Best before work, class, appointments and airport trips. CDTA advisories can include special-event detours, construction changes and temporary stop impacts.
Check Advisories ↗Best when you know the destination but not the route. CDTA’s trip planner page links to CDTA, Google, 511NY and Moovit planning options.
Plan Trip ↗Use Schedule + Navigator + Advisories
For a normal ride, schedule plus Navigator is enough. For a must-not-miss ride, add service advisories. Capital Region detours can pop up around Downtown Albany, Troy events, construction, UAlbany traffic, snow, parades, and special events.
🧭 Popular CDTA Routes & Corridors Riders Search First
CDTA route numbers have different meanings: regular local service, BusPlus limited-stop service, NX commuter service, shuttles, summer trolleys and school-focused routes. Match the route type before assuming the bus runs all day or every day.
CDTA lists Route 1 Central Avenue between Colonie Center and Downtown Albany, seven days a week. This is one of the most important Albany-area corridors.
Official Route 1 ↗Route 10 Western Avenue connects Crossgates Mall and Downtown Albany, seven days a week. Watch for construction advisories around Western and Albany corridors.
Official Route 10 ↗Route 12 serves Crossgates Mall, Crossgates Commons, UAlbany and Downtown Albany. It is a key student and shopping corridor.
Official Route 12 ↗Route 13 connects Downtown Albany via St. Peter’s Hospital and Albany Medical Center. Hospital and shift-change timing matters on this corridor.
Official Route 13 ↗Route 18 Delaware Avenue runs between Albany and Delmar, seven days a week. Check advisories because CDTA has posted event detours for Route 18 before.
Official Route 18 ↗Route 22 connects Empire State Plaza, Albany and Troy via Watervliet. It is one of the useful Albany-to-Troy local options.
Official Route 22 ↗Route 114 connects Crossgates Mall, UAlbany, Downtown Albany and Rensselaer Rail Station. It is a high-intent route for students, rail riders and Downtown trips.
Official Route 114 ↗Route 117 connects Crossgates Mall, Colonie Center and Albany International Airport. Airport riders should always check live arrivals and advisories before leaving.
Official Route 117 ↗Route 905 BusPlus Red Line runs between Downtown Schenectady and Downtown Albany, seven days a week. It is limited-stop BusPlus service, not a regular local route.
Official 905 ↗Route 910 BusPlus Purple Line connects Crossgates Mall and Downtown Albany, seven days a week, with BusPlus-style station features and corridor focus.
Official 910 ↗BusPlus Blue Line service includes routes 922 and 923 along Hudson River communities including Albany, Menands, Watervliet, Troy, Cohoes and Waterford.
Official 922 ↗ Official 923 ↗Route 450 connects Downtown Schenectady, Saratoga and Wilton via Route 50, seven days a week. Check day and direction before planning a long trip.
Official 450 ↗💵 CDTA Fare Rules: Cash, BusPlus, Half Fare, STAR & Navigator
CDTA fare rules are simple once you separate regular route fare from BusPlus fare. CDTA lists the base cash fare at $1.50, BusPlus cash fare at $2.00, senior/disabled half fare at $0.75 with a half-fare card, BusPlus half fare at $1.00, and STAR paratransit at $2.50.
💸 Exact Change Warning
CDTA vehicles do not provide change. Do not board with a larger bill expecting the operator to fix it. If you pay cash, bring the exact fare for regular service or BusPlus service.
Good for regular riders who want a cleaner way to pay and manage fares. Half-fare customers may need setup through CDTA customer service.
Navigator ↗Navigator is designed for trip planning, real-time tracking, fare payment and on-demand service access in one place.
App Questions ↗BusPlus is limited-stop service on major corridors. Do not assume regular cash fare or local-stop spacing.
BusPlus ↗Use official CDTA accessibility and STAR resources if you need paratransit, ADA help, travel training or reasonable modification support.
STAR ↗⏱️ CDTA Live Arrivals, Navigator Accuracy & Missing Bus Problems
CDTA’s Navigator and newer real-time system are meant to reduce “standing outside wondering” time. CDTA reported a newer real-time arrival system with strong arrival prediction accuracy and Navigator usage growth. Still, no live tracker is magic. Traffic, detours, winter weather, school dismissal, special events and stop closures can change your wait.
Search by the stop, route and direction. A stop across the street can show a completely different arrival.
Albany-bound, Schenectady-bound, Troy-bound, Crossgates-bound, airport-bound and rail-station-bound trips are not interchangeable.
CDTA advisories can include event detours, construction impacts and route-specific changes. Check before a serious trip.
Some routes run seven days a week. Some are weekdays only, Saturdays only, summer only, school-focused or shopping-shuttle style.
💡 If Two Apps Disagree, Use This Order
Trust CDTA service advisories first, then CDTA Navigator or official real-time tools, then the route schedule, then map apps, then third-party copied pages. If a stop is closed or moved, the normal timetable alone is not enough.
🗺️ CDTA Map, Stops, Park-and-Ride & Transfer Areas
CDTA trips often involve more than one route. Many riders start with a neighborhood route, connect at Downtown Albany, UAlbany, Crossgates, Colonie Center, Downtown Schenectady, Downtown Troy, Rensselaer Rail Station, Albany International Airport, Ridge Street Terminal or a park-and-ride lot.
📍 CDTA Bus Schedule Near Me Map
This map is for orientation only. Use CDTA’s official route page, Navigator, stop ID and advisories for final trip details.
🛒 Real Rider Rules: Students, Strollers, Bikes, Bags & Winter Weather
Capital Region riders do not travel like a perfect brochure photo. They carry groceries from Colonie Center, backpacks at UAlbany, work bags Downtown, strollers on local routes, bikes on buses, luggage near the airport, and winter gear when sidewalks are rough.
UAlbany, school shuttles and college corridors can fill fast at class-change times. Check return trips before staying late.
Keep strollers compact and out of the aisle. Crowded buses and priority seating areas require common sense.
CDTA has bikeable bus resources. Use official bike rules and load/unload quickly so the bus does not get delayed.
Snow, ice and plowed-in stops can slow boarding. Stand where the operator can see you and give yourself extra time.
⚠️ The School Shuttle Trap
CDTA route list includes school-focused shuttles and routes with limited service patterns. A route that exists on the list may not run during summer, weekends or normal all-day windows. Always check the route’s service note.
🧩 More Bus Schedule Help
These internal links are placed by rider intent, not random SEO stuffing. CDTA users often need a BusPlus page, a route-number page, a nearby New York transit hub or a broad bus schedule lookup when they are still comparing options.
Smart Next Clicks
Main Bus Schedule Hub City Bus Schedule Guide 905 Bus Schedule 18 Bus Schedule 12 Bus Schedule 22 Bus Schedule 117 Bus Schedule 355 Bus Schedule 450 Bus Schedule Centro Bus Schedule Rochester NY Bus Schedule MTA Bus Schedule
Route-number pages can include multiple agencies, so always confirm the operator is CDTA before using the schedule. The main value is helping riders continue from a broad query to a specific route or nearby New York transit system.
🔗 Official CDTA Bus Schedule Links
Use these official sources for final verification before travel. CDTA controls schedule dates, fares, advisories, service changes, Navigator updates, FLEX rules and accessibility information.
Official route list, printable route maps and schedules by route number, area and service type.
Open Schedules ↗Official page linking to CDTA Trip Planner, Google Trip Planner, 511NY and Moovit planning options.
Plan Trip ↗Official base cash fare, BusPlus fare, half fare, STAR fare and Navigator fare information.
Open Fares ↗Official Navigator app help for fare payment, QR code use, FLEX access and mobile account questions.
Navigator Help ↗Official CDTA BusPlus information for Red, Purple and Blue limited-stop corridors.
Open BusPlus ↗Official detours, construction notices, special-event advisories and route service changes.
Check Advisories ↗Official FLEX On Demand service information for qualifying zones and booking options.
Open FLEX ↗Official CDTA park-and-ride information for commuters using regional bus service.
Park & Ride ↗Official resources for STAR paratransit, ADA compliance, access transit and travel training.
STAR Info ↗Main Office: 110 Watervliet Ave., Albany, NY 12206. Main Office: 1 (518) 437-8300. Customer Info Center: 1 (518) 482-8822.
Contact CDTA ↗🤔 CDTA Bus Schedule FAQs
What is the official CDTA bus schedule website?
The official CDTA schedule source is cdta.org. Use the Routes and Schedules page for route details, the Trip Planner for point-to-point planning, Navigator for real-time tools, and Service Advisories for detours.
How do I find a CDTA route by number?
Open CDTA’s Routes and Schedules page and search the route number, stop, landmark or area. Then choose the route detail page, direction and service day before trusting the time.
What is the CDTA Navigator app?
Navigator is CDTA’s mobility platform for planning trips, tracking vehicles in real time, paying fares and accessing on-demand services. CDTA says the newer system helps improve real-time arrival accuracy.
How much is CDTA base cash fare?
CDTA lists the base cash fare at $1.50. U.S. coins and $1-dollar bills are accepted, and exact change is required because CDTA vehicles do not provide change.
How much is CDTA BusPlus cash fare?
CDTA lists BusPlus cash fare at $2.00. BusPlus includes limited-stop corridors such as Route 905 Red Line, Route 910 Purple Line and Routes 922/923 Blue Line.
Does CDTA provide change on buses?
No. CDTA says vehicles do not provide change. Bring exact fare if paying cash, especially because regular local service and BusPlus service have different cash fares.
Which CDTA route goes to Albany International Airport?
CDTA Route 117 Colonie Crosstown serves Crossgates Mall, Colonie Center and Albany International Airport. Airport riders should verify the exact stop, direction, live arrival and any advisory before leaving.
What is CDTA BusPlus?
BusPlus is CDTA’s frequent limited-stop service on major travel corridors. The Red Line is Route 905, Purple Line is Route 910, and Blue Line service includes Routes 922 and 923.
Does CDTA run on holidays?
CDTA publishes holiday service schedules separately. Do not assume a weekday schedule on a holiday. Check CDTA’s holiday service and service advisory pages before planning a ride.
Is BusSchedules.org the official CDTA operator?
No. BusSchedules.org is an independent rider-help guide. Always confirm exact times, stops, fares, detours, accessibility details and live arrivals directly with CDTA.
🧾 Editorial Note
This CDTA bus schedule guide is an independent informational resource and is not operated by the Capital District Transportation Authority. CDTA routes, fares, service advisories, Navigator features, FLEX zones, STAR eligibility, stop locations, school shuttle patterns, seasonal trolley service, BusPlus station details and live-arrival data can change. Always verify your exact trip through official CDTA sources before commuting, transferring, paying fare or planning a time-sensitive ride.
🏁 Final Summary: Ride CDTA Without Guessing
The smart CDTA workflow is simple: open Routes and Schedules for the official route, use Navigator for live arrivals, check Service Advisories when the trip matters, and confirm fares before boarding. For BusPlus, check the exact line because Route 905, 910, 922 and 923 do not behave like every local route.
If you remember only one thing, remember this: schedule first, Navigator second, advisories always.