CDTA Buses in Albany: A Visitor's Honest Guide
A CDTA bus at a downtown Albany stop
CDTA is the only public transit in Albany, and for visitors it's useful on exactly 3 or 4 routes.
The routes that matter for tourists
The BusPlus Red Line runs along Route 5 between downtown Albany and downtown Schenectady, passing through Colonie every 15 minutes on weekdays. That's the one you’ll actually use for a Schenectady day trip. The 905 shuttles between Albany airport (ALB) and downtown for about $1.50, taking 25 to 35 minutes depending on traffic. The 10 climbs Western Avenue through Pine Hills toward the University at Albany's uptown campus. Beyond those, buses exist but frequencies drop hard on evenings and Sundays.
Pay with the Navigator app or exact cash. A one-ride fare is $1.50 and a day pass is $4, which pays for itself on the second trip. Don’t expect the frequency of a big-city bus system; a 20-minute wait is normal off-peak, and the last buses on many routes run before 11pm.
What CDTA won’t do for you
There is no light rail, no subway, and no commuter rail within Albany itself. Amtrak stops at Albany-Rensselaer across the river, but that's intercity, not local. If you’re heading to Saratoga Springs, Troy, or a suburb like Delmar in the evening, CDTA gets thin and Uber or Lyft is often the honest answer. Rideshare is widely available downtown with typical waits under five minutes; a downtown-to-airport ride runs $25 to $35 depending on time of day.
Before you book
The questions people ask about Downtown Albany, answered with this month’s numbers.
Not for downtown and Center Square. You do if you want to see Saratoga, Bethlehem, or the Berkshires without long rideshare bills.
Route 905 bus for $1.50 or rideshare for $25 to $35. The bus runs roughly every 30 minutes during the day.
