Courtesy CDTA
The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) rolled out a series of milestones and bold initiatives to help transform the area into a regional mobility integrator during a State of CDTA event on March 3.
Foremost among them is a plan to make electric cars available for rent.
The event recognized what CDTA called “the momentum of 2021 and how CDTA is entering 2022 stronger and more resilient from the challenges of the pandemic.”
“CDTA emerged out of the pandemic with renewed momentum as we look to the future,” CDTA board chairman Jayme Lahut said. “I am proud of the milestones recognized today and bold plans for the future as we work with community partners to support the region’s economic development.”
CDTA revealed the latest offering of their mobility program, DRIVE, an electric vehicle car sharing program. DRIVE is a network of zero-emission vehicles available to qualified drivers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Officials said car share, in tandem with CDPHP Cycle!, FLEX On Demand and SCOOT, continues CDTA mission to transform mobility in the region.
“It is amazing to witness the impact and growth we have had on the region in just the past few years,” said CDTA Chief Executive Officer Carm Basile. “Our Bus Rapid Transit lines span nearly 40 miles, we have a network of electric vehicles, which now includes car share and we are expanding our footprint into Montgomery County to provide even more connections to the Capital Region.
The program will start small, with a fleet of six cars, in late May or early June.
Drivers will be able to rent the cars for $5 per hour or $40 per day, CDTA officials said. The cars are available to anyone 21 years old with a valid drivers license. The driver must have no major accidents, no major moving violations, no DWIs, not more than two minor traffic violations in the last five years. They also need a valid credit, debit or bank card.
Insurance, vehicle maintenance and roadside assistance are all included in the hourly and daily rates. In the event of an accident, drivers are responsible for a deductible.
Cars can be reserved online or via mobile app. Users will lock and unlock the vehicle through the app. Users will be notified of their approved applications three to seven business days after applying.
“We have emerged from the pandemic with forward-thinking ideas that reimagine mobility and transportation, but none of them would be possible without our community partners. I am beyond appreciative to those that have helped us get to this point and can’t wait for all that’s to come in 2022 and beyond.”
Over the last 50 years, CDTA has grown into an organization with 735 employees, a budget of $101 million and served approximately 16 million customers annually, pre-pandemic. It has also grown its fleet to 300 buses and vehicles, which travel 10.2 million miles annually on 50 different routes.