Albany

The Capital District Transportation Authority has been awarded the necessary federal funding to construct and launch its new Blue Line bus rapid transit route connecting downtown Albany, Troy and Waterford along the Hudson River.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a Capital Investment Grant of $26.9 million on Tuesday afternoon. The BRT corridor is the second of three planned by the CDTA. Its corridor connecting downtown Albany and Schenectady began operating eight years ago along Route 5 and is identified variously as Bus Plus and the Red line.

A third route, the Purple line, will connect downtown Albany to the University at Albany, SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Crossgates Mall. That line is in the planning stages.

CDTA's chief executive, Carm Basile, welcomed news of the grant. "It's one financial piece, a big piece, of the puzzle," he said. "This ... allows the project to move forward."

Bus Rapid Transit features buses that make only limited stops, with synchronized traffic signals and in some cases dedicated lanes to help expedite their movement along the route.

CDTA has considered making the new corridor all-electric, using battery-powered buses along the route, but Basile said that hasn't been finalized. A decision to go all-electric would have to be made in several months when CDTA orders buses for the route.

The authority has four electric buses on order and those could be used on the Blue line, Basile said, along with traditional diesel buses.

CDTA also has sought to build a transit center in downtown Troy, occupying space in a parking garage owned by developer David Bryce. It's involved in an ongoing court battle with Bryce.

"We'd love to have (the transit center) happen as part of the project," Basile said. But he added that the garage dispute wouldn't delay it.

The Federal Transit Administration still must approve a construction grant agreement, but CDTA officials expect work to begin almost immediately. Some preliminary work has already been completed, and CDTA spokeswoman Jaime Watson said the authority wants to have the Blue line operating by late 2020.

Basile thanked the region's congressional delegation, in particular Sen. Charles Schumer, who five years ago helped CDTA qualify for the federal Small Starts program, which led to Tuesday's grant announcement. He also thanked U.S. Rep Paul Tonko for his assistance.

"I have fought for years, alongside CDTA Chief Executive Carm Basile, to create this game changing Hudson River BRT Line that will bring countless people to and from work, shopping, entertainment and loved ones," Schumer said Tuesday evening. "Today, with this major federal investment from the feds, I'm thrilled to announce that we will, at long last, be able to make this critical new bus route a reality.

"Modern and reliable transportation infrastructure acts as the backbone of our Upstate economies, and this new bus line will provide a much-needed shot in the arm to the Capital Region's," Schumer said.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand also welcomed news of the grant.

"This federal funding is great news for the Capital Region. The new route will help connect communities from Waterford all the way to downtown Albany and make commuting between these two locations more accessible and efficient," Gillibrand said. "Bus transit is a vital form of transportation for many New Yorkers, and I will always fight to make sure our communities have for the resources they need to modernize and expand their transportation infrastructure."