Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
In A Culmination Of Historic Federal Funding Schumer Delivered To CDTA, Capital Region Will Establish New Transportation Hub, Increasing Accessibility, And Further Revitalizing Downtown Schenectady
Senator Secured Unprecedented $296 Million For CDTA In Emergency COVID Relief And New Investment; Fed Funds Will Directly Contribute To Expanding Transportation In Capital Region And Cover 80% Of The Project
Schumer: Schenectady Gateway Mobility Hub Will Revolutionize How People Move In Capital Region, Pave The Way For Increase Transit Options, & Keep Riders Rolling Into The Future
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) today announced the groundbreaking for region’s first Gateway Mobility Hub in downtown Schenectady. This first-of-its-kind transit center will transform the Capital Region’s transportation services by increasing access to ten transit routes including CDTA’s Bus Plus Red Line BRT, creating a one stop shop for DRIVE (car share), CDPHP Cycle! (bike share), and SCOOT (scooters) programs, and support the upcoming expansion of CDTA service into Montgomery County.
“A transportation revolution is coming to downtown Schenectady! CDTA keeps the wheels of our regional economy rolling, and now thanks to the over quarter of a billion in federal dollars I secured for CDTA from the American Rescue Plan to the bipartisan Infrastructure Law and more, the Capital Region will be more connected than ever before,” said Senator Schumer. “I am proud to have paved the way for the creation of Schenectady’s new Gateway Mobility Hub. This epicenter for transportation will expand service, increase transit accessibility, accelerate the Capital Region’s economic recovery, and put all our residents on the road to a brighter future.”
“As we work towards a comprehensive transit network, the Gateway Mobility Hub is a partnership with the county and city that will allow customers, pedestrians, and motorists to move seamlessly throughout the region, especially here in Schenectady, and soon Montgomery County. It illustrates the important connection between transit services, better mobility options, economic development, and economic opportunity. Thank you to Senator Schumer for helping to make this project a reality by providing historic, unprecedented federal infrastructure funding,” said Carm Basile, CEO of the Capital District Transportation Authority.
“This is a win-win for Schenectady,” said Mayor Gary McCarthy. “Not only are we redeveloping another key parcel here on State Street, but this mobility hub, the first of its kind in the region, will help people access and enjoy downtown Schenectady with first rate bus service and carshare service and through popular micro-mobility modes like bikeshare and scootershare as well. I thank CDTA for their partnership and vision, and of course, my friend Senator Schumer for always fighting…and delivering, for Schenectady and our region.”
“We thank Senator Schumer for securing the federal funding needed to create this new mobility hub in downtown Schenectady,” said Gary Hughes, Majority Leader of the Schenectady County Legislature. “This will create a multi-modal transit center in our resurgent downtown providing easy access to all CDTA services in a single location. This first in the Capital Region mobility hub will provide residents and visitors another way to Discover Schenectady County.”
Today’s ground breaking is made possible by the historic amounts of federal funding Senator Schumer has been able to secure for CDTA through recent legislation and his passionate advocacy for expanding Capital Region transportation. Since the start of the pandemic Schumer has fought hard to prioritize relief for Upstate New York transit systems so that they could not only make up for tremendous revenue losses during the height of COVID, but invest in their services to better service the community, like through indicatives like the new transit center. The senator secured over $42.7 million for CDTA through the CARES Act, $28 million for transit in the Albany region through the FY21 COVID Omnibus (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021), and an additional $51 million through the American Rescue Plan. Late last year, Schumer also secured a historic $61 million through the USDOT’s Capital Investments Grant (CIG) Program for the CDTA to expand its Albany Washington/Western Bus Rapid Transit project, which extended from the downtown Albany Bus Terminal, through the SUNY Albany and the Harriman State Office Complex, to the Crossgates Mall. Finally, in the recently signed bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act the senator was able to deliver an estimated $113.9 million for the CDTA over the next 5 years. The CDTA estimates that their annual allotment over the previous 5 years has been $21.2 million and under the bipartisan Infrastructure Law that would increase to $27.1 million, roughly a 30% increase.
At the event, Schumer explained that the Gateway Mobility Hub will also expand the Gateway Plaza Park and improve the pedestrian environment along State Street and Church Street. The hub will feature three bus bays, heated sidewalks, designated charging spaces for four electric vehicles, and two spots will service the DRIVE rental locations. The hub will also feature a Cycle! and SCOOT rack to increase alternative transportation options for city residents. In addition, the new center will include intercity service provided by Greyhound and ADK Trailways to help folks in the Capital Region stay connected to other major transportation hubs. The project is estimated to cost $5 million, with federal funding secured by Senator Schumer supporting approximately 80% of the project.
###