I looked at the new Capital District Transportation Authority bus schedule, announced on July 24. The most absurd change is that the CDTA Western Avenue #10 bus won’t go into Stuyvesant Plaza as of August 24.
Stuyvesant Plaza is “home to more than 60 shops and restaurants,” a post office, and other amenities. Currently, coming either from the east (downtown Albany) or the west (Crossgates Mall), the bus would travel Western Avenue, turn onto Fuller Road, turn left into Executive Park, enter Stuyvesant Plaza near the post office, where it would stop, then leave the plaza for downtown or Crossgates.
The new decision is for riders to be left on the corner of Fuller and Western. They will have to cross a not-pedestrian-friendly Fuller Road westbound or a not-pedestrian-friendly Western Ave eastbound, then walk into the plaza.
I see this as an accessibility issue. The cars entering/exiting the mall on the Fuller Road side are not pedestrian-friendly either.
I called CDTA yesterday to ask if this was CDTA’s decision or the Plaza’s, but I haven’t heard back. When I called Stuyvesant, the person I spoke to didn’t know about the change until a couple of days ago. If it were the plaza’s plan, it would be a gross disservice to its merchants.
One can take the #114 from near my house and get off at Executive Park, which is somewhat better, but it now runs sporadically, and like the #10, its current frequency will be reduced.
Once upon a time
In 2011, the CDTA radically realigned its bus schedule. I attended so many public meetings that people knew me by name. In response to an email of mine, a CDTA rep wrote, “We also enjoyed our chats at the public meetings and appreciate you taking the time to keep up the dialogue.”
Most of the changes were great. For instance, it added lines to the South End of Albany that had been woefully underserved.
However, they made several tentative plans, including moving the Allen Street bus to Main, which didn’t make sense. Because people, including me, complained, they rejiggered the plan.
I also noted that there was a late (8:10) bus coming out of Corporate (frickin’) Woods. The tentative schedule would have stranded the cleaning crews from the various buildings. They looked at the data and kept the late bus, which about two dozen people rode daily.
So I don’t think this is a hopeless situation, at least not yet. Local people: if you have ideas on how to rectify this, please let me know.
Well they can cut out the corner of Western & Fuller part of the Plaza to make an indent for buses to pick up and drop off.