Central New York Regional Transportation Authority
The Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (d/b/a Centro) is a New York State public benefit corporation and the operator of mass transit in Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, and Oneida counties in New York state.[2] The CNYRTA was formed on August 1, 1970, along with similar agencies in Rochester, Albany, and Buffalo. CENTRO won the American Public Transportation Association's 2006 "Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award" for bus companies serving 4 million to 30 million riders a year.
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| Slogan | Easy to use, hard to beat. |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1970 |
| Headquarters | 200 Cortland Avenue, Syracuse, NY, 13205-0820[1] |
| Locale | Syracuse and surrounding areas |
| Service type | Bus transit |
| Fleet | 238[2] |
| Daily ridership | Approximately 42,000 (weekdays)[2] |
| Fuel type | Diesel, CNG, Diesel-electric hybrid |
| Chief executive | Richard Lee |
| Website | www.centro.org |
Organization
Centro has a 9-member board of directors, including one non-voting member.[3] Its CEO is Richard Lee.[4] In 2017, Centro had operating expenses of $93.34 million, no outstanding debt, and a level of staffing of 738 people.[5]
Operations
Centro operates four separate systems in the urban areas of the counties served. Each system generally offers a spoke-and-hub route system focused on the downtown areas.
CNY Centro
The biggest service area is the city of Syracuse and suburban Onondaga County. Centro took over the assets and operations of the Syracuse Transit Corporation on January 17, 1972, and those of the suburban Syracuse & Eastern Transit Corp. in 1974. CNY Centro has 34 routes with a service pattern typical of a spoke-and-hub system. Routes begin in Downtown Syracuse or Syracuse University and spread out through the area. Many local routes provide service to towns in suburban Onondaga County. CNY Centro also operates Syracuse University campus shuttle and special event services and various tripper routes for Syracuse City School District high school students.
Routes in this network are numbered 10 to 88. Instead of an alpha-numeric route numbering system, CNY Centro denotes route variations by prefixing the route number with an additional digit. The base route number is the shortest version of the route (ex. route #26), with the longest route version being numbered higher (ex. route #26/#326).
Centro of Oswego
Routes are based in the City of Oswego, New York. Service began on August 28, 1972. Routes extend east and west through the city. The neighboring communities of Fulton and Mexico are also provided with fixed route service. Centro assumed operation of Oswego-Fulton-Syracuse intercity bus service from S&O Coach on June 21, 1993. Centro also provides zero-fare bus service on the SUNY Oswego campus.
Centro of Cayuga
Routes are based in the City of Auburn, New York. Service began on April 2, 1973. Since 2004 all local bus routes are interconnected, offering one-seat rides throughout the city. Centro of Cayuga provides service connecting Auburn and outlying rural communities with Downtown Syracuse. Centro assumed operation of Auburn-Syracuse intercity bus service from Onondaga Coach on August 30, 1993.
Centro of Oneida
Centro of Oneida began operation on April 1, 2005 with the acquisition of the financially troubled Utica Transit Authority based in Utica, New York. The UTA was a local agency only and did not have the same ability to raise revenues as a public benefit corporation such as the CNYRTA. Merging the local county bus operations into the Centro system brought greater financial stability. On October 1, 2005, Centro of Oneida assumed the operations of the VIP Transportation bus system in Rome, New York. This merger of services has allowed for improved transit for citizens of Oneida County. All of the former UTA and VIP buses were reconditioned with digital destination signs, upgraded air conditioning systems and new fare collection equipment. All buses are wheelchair accessible.
However, Oneida County routes do not connect directly to those in Onondaga, Cayuga, and Oswego Counties. Service between Utica, Rome and Syracuse was operated by Central New York Coach Lines until 1993 and these rights are now owned by Birnie Bus Service.
Routes (as of March 2020)
Onondaga County
| Route Number | Route Name | Major Streets | Variations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | South Salina - Nedrow | South Salina |
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| 510 | Tully - Lafayette Express | ||
| 16 | North Salina - 7th North |
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| 20 | James St - Lamson St |
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| 21 | James St - Sunnycrest Rd |
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| 22 | James St - Route 298 |
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| 23 | James St - East Syracuse- Shoppingtown |
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| 26 | South Ave |
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| 30 | SU/Westcott St |
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| 36 | West Genesee St - Camillus |
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| 38 | Auburn |
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| 40 | SU - Nob Hill - Drumlins |
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| 46 | Liverpool - Route 57 |
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| 48 | Liverpool - Morgan |
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| 50 | Destiny USA - RTC |
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| 52 | Court St - Park St |
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| 54 | Midland Ave - Valley Drive |
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| 58 | Parkhill |
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| 62 | Fayetteville - Manlius |
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| 64 | Western Lights |
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| 68 | E Fayette St - Erie Blvd. East |
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| 72 | Townsend - East Colvin |
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| 74 | Solvay |
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| 76 | Salt Springs Road |
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| 80 | Grant Boulevard |
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| 82 | Baldwinsville |
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| 84 | Mattydale |
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| 86 | Henry Clay Boulevard |
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| 88 | North Syracuse - Cicero |
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| 90 | Wegmans Shopper | 190, 290, 390, 590, 690, 790, 890 | |
| 92 | Tops Shopper | 392, 492, 592, 792 | |
| 94 | J - Lot Shuttle | ||
| EXTRA | Syracuse Community Extra Service | Additional service along regular routes when local schools are in session. Service is open to the public and regular fares apply. Trips may deviate from regular routes to better serve neighborhoods and schools. | |
Cayuga County
| Route Number | Route Name | Variations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Genesee | |
| 2 | Franklin | |
| 3 | North St | |
| 4 | State | |
| 6 | Wegmans Shopper (Tuesdays) | |
| 7 | Welch Allyn | |
| 8 | Moravia | |
| 236 | Auburn - Syracuse[6] | 38, 138 |
Oswego County
| Route Number | Route Name | Variations |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | Price Chopper Plaza via 104 | |
| 1B | Price Chopper Plaza via Hamilton Homes | |
| 1C | Price Chopper Plaza via Seneca | |
| 1D | Price Chopper Plaza -Brandonwood Homes Ext. | |
| 2A | College via 104 | |
| 2B | College via Seneca | |
| 2C | College via Sunrise Terrace - West Utica St | |
| 2D | College via Ellen | |
| 3 | Mexico Loop | |
| 4A/4B | Fulton - River Glen | |
| 5A/5B | Fulton - Fulton Commons | |
| 9 | Price Chopper Shopper (every other Wednesday) | |
| 10 | SUNY Oswego - Blue Route | |
| 11 | SUNY Oswego - Green Route | |
| 246 | Oswego - Syracuse[7] |
Oneida County - Utica
| Route Number | Route Name | Variations |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Whitesboro | |
| 111 | New York Mills | |
| 12 | Bleecker | |
| 15 | James | |
| 20 | Lenox | |
| 22 | South St | |
| 24 | Genesee - Sangertown | 124, 224 |
| 28 | Herkimer Rd | |
| 29 | Riverside | 129, 229 |
| 30 | Clinton | |
| 31 | Oneida St | 131 |
| 114 | Mohawk[8] |
Oneida County - Rome
| Route Number | Route Name | Variations |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Walmart | |
| 4 | James St - Rome Hospital | |
| 5 | Hospital - Griffiss - Mohawk Acres | |
| 6 | MVCC - Griffiss - Freedom Plaza | |
| 7 | Griffiss - RFA - Freedom Plaza | |
| 9 | Mohawk Acres - Griffiss - Hospital[9] |
Projects
Downtown Syracuse Transit Hub
The 'Common Center' was traditionally the main transfer point for Syracuse routes, dating back to the streetcar era. The location is in the heart of Downtown Syracuse, at the intersection of Salina and Fayette Streets. Buses utilized all four corners to "line up". There were many downsides to this setup, the biggest being the lack of protection from the weather. The few benches, canopies and bus shelters offered minimal protection from the elements, a less than ideal situation given the area's frigid winter temperatures. Also, passengers were often forced to cross one of the busiest intersections in Downtown twice to transfer between buses. The congestion caused by having up to 20, full-sized city buses at the corner at any given time had been blamed for the lack of development in the 300 block of South Salina St.
A site for a new Downtown Syracuse CENTRO Transit Hub was chosen in 2006, at the intersection of Adams and Salina Streets. This was the site of a Red Cross blood center. Centro purchased the site through eminent domain and tore down the standing building. Plans were approved by the Federal Transit Administration in November 2008. The design team included Centro, QPK Design, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Robson Woese Inc., and Fisher Associates. Construction began in 2011 and the facility opened on September 4, 2012. The indoor facility offers a bus bay for every route, covered outdoor waiting, and indoor waiting. The facility also provides public restroom facilities and an information center.
Utica Common Center relocation
The traditional transfer point for Utica transit services was the 'Busy Corner', the intersection of Genesee Street, Bleecker Street and Lafayette Street. Funding was made available in 2005 for a new downtown transfer facility. The transfer point was moved one block east to a new $6.2 million facility on Charlotte Street between Bleecker and Elizabeth Streets. This portion of Charlotte Street was closed to traffic and a new center boarding platform with 10 bus bays constructed. Other amenities include a headhouse with enclosed waiting area, a Centro Information booth, bus ticket vending machines and public restrooms. A canopy was also be built over the Charlotte Street platform. Demolition work at the site began in March 2012 and construction of the new facility was completed by the end of the year. Initial plans to build a two-floor city parking garage in conjunction with the transfer center have now been shelved. The facility was named the Centro Hub and was opened for service on February 4, 2013.
Active bus fleet
| Fleet Numbers | Year | Model | Length | Engine | Destination Sign | Bike Rack | Assigned Divisions | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 671 | 1996 | MCI 102-D3 | 40 | Diesel | Unknown | No | CNY Centro, Centro of Oswego, Centro of Cayuga | Retained as part of the contingency fleet |
| 9977 | 2000 | Orion V 5.501 | 40 | CNG | LED | Yes | CNY Centro | Retained for charter service for disabled passengers. Only CNG Orion to be rehabbed (current paint scheme, LED signs, A/C, 7 wheelchair positions). |
| 2500–2522 | 2005 | New Flyer D40LF | 40 | Diesel | LED | Yes | CNY Centro, Centro of Oswego | First low-floor buses for Syracuse and Oswego areas. |
| 2523–2541 | 2005 | New Flyer C40LF | 40 | CNG | LED | Yes | CNY Centro | 2523–2533 equipped with upholstered seating for longer runs; 2534–2541 have regular transit seating; 8 units are sold to CATA of State College, Pennsylvania |
| 2720–2721 | 2007 | Gillig Advantage | 35 | Diesel | LED | No | Centro of Oneida | First low-floor buses for Utica area. |
| 2800–2802 | 2008 | Gillig Advantage | 40 | Diesel | LED | Yes | CNY Centro | Equipped with upholstered seating for longer runs. |
| 2810–2812 | 2008 | Gillig BRT | 30 | Diesel | LED | No | Centro of Oneida | |
| 682-686 | 2009 | MCI D4000CT | 40 | Diesel | LED | No | CNY Centro, Centro of Oswego, Centro of Cayuga | First coach buses with LED destination signs. |
| 2900–2904 | 2009 | Gillig Advantage | 40 | Diesel | LED | Yes | CNY Centro | Equipped with upholstered seating for longer runs. |
| 2905–2908 | 2009 | Gillig Advantage | 35 | Diesel | LED | No | Centro of Oneida | |
| 2945–2948 | 2009 | IC Bus LC Series | 27 | Diesel | LED | Yes | CNY Centro | |
| 1000–1017 | 2010 | OrionVII 07.501 | 40 | CNG | LED | Yes | CNY Centro | 1015–1017 wrapped for Connective Corridor service |
| 1019 | 2010 | OrionVII 07.502 | 35 | Diesel | LED | No | Centro of Oneida | |
| 1101-1112 | 2011 | OrionVII 07.502 | 35 | Diesel | White LED | No | Centro of Oneida | |
| 1200–1255 | 2012 | OrionVII 07.501 | 40 | CNG | White LED | Yes | CNY Centro | These buses introduced an updated Centro paint scheme |
| 1260-1264 | 2012 | OrionVII 07.502 | 35 | Diesel | White LED | No | Centro of Oneida | |
| 1266 | 2012 | OrionVII 07.503 | 30 | Diesel | White LED | No | Centro of Oneida | |
| 1267-1268 | 2012 | OrionVII 07.501 | 40 | Diesel | LED | Yes | CNY Centro | Former Orion demonstrator units, purchased by Centro in 2012 |
| 1269–1270 | 2012 | OrionVII 07.501 | 40 | CNG | White LED | Yes | CNY Centro | Former Orion demonstrator units, purchased by Centro in 2012 |
| 1271–1272 | 2012 | OrionVII 07.501 | 40 | CNG | White LED | Yes | CNY Centro | Built for NYCTA but not delivered, purchased by Centro in 2012 |
| 690-696 | 2015 | MCI D4000CT | 40 | Diesel | LED | No | CNY Centro, Centro of Oswego, Centro of Cayuga | |
| 1625–1631 | 2016 | Gillig Advantage | 40 | CNG | LED | Yes | CNY Centro | |
| 1700–1709 | 2017 | Gillig Advantage | 30 | Diesel | LED | Yes | CNY Centro, Centro of Oswego, Centro of Cayuga | |
| 1750–1781 | 2017–2018 | Gillig Advantage | 40 | CNG | LED | Yes | CNY Centro | |
| 1800–1809 | 2018 | Gillig Advantage | 40 | Diesel | LED | Yes | CNY Centro, Centro of Oswego, Centro of Cayuga | |
| 1900–1913 | 2019 | Gillig Advantage | 40 | CNG | LED | Yes | CNY Centro | |
| 1920–1921 | 2019 | Gillig Advantage | 35 | Diesel | LED | Yes | Centro of Oneida |
See also
- Capital District Transportation Authority - Capital District, New York
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority - New York Metropolitan Area
- New York State Thruway Authority
- Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority - Buffalo, New York
- Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority - Rochester, New York
- List of bus routes in Onondaga County, New York
- Port of Oswego Authority
References
- "Contact Us". www.centro.org. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- "About Centro". www.centro.org. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- "CNYRTA Board Website". Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- "CNYRTA Executive Leadership Website". Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- "NYSABO 2018 Report" (PDF). pp. 16, 29, 44. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- "Schedules Auburn". www.centro.org. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- "Schedules Oswego". www.centro.org. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- "Schedules Utica". www.centro.org. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- "Schedules Rome". www.centro.org. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
External links
- Official CENTRO website
- BusTalk Surface Transportation Galleries - Centro bus photos
- "Centro will use $2.65M from feds to help buy buses from Whitestown", Rome Sentinel, March 6, 2009. Retrieved on 3 October 2009.
- New York Streets Webcams
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