Harriman East Construction Completion: 2 Years Since BusPlus Purple Line Opening

Since the launch of the Purple Line, plans have been underway to add a new station at the W. Averell Harriman State Office Building Campus. This station, and a smaller stop at Colonial Street, were planned to be the final constructed for the Purple Line. Construction is now complete at the new station, marking a major step forward in expanding transit access across the region! The Harriman East station is fully upgraded with new shelters, snow melt pads, and a bus pull-out lane. The opening of these final stations for the Purple Line coincides with the 2-year anniversary of the Purple Line and gives a great chance to look back on all the ways the line has benefitted customers and the region at large.

As a BRT line, the Purple Line benefits from dedicated bus lanes, upgraded bus shelters, ADA improvements, and transit signal priority for faster and more comfortable service for CDTA customers. Many improvements were made to the corridor ahead of the Purple Line opening in November 2023, including adding 16 new articulated buses, construction of the region’s first busway in the heart of UAlbany’s Uptown Campus, and a new bus garage, among other upgrades.

These new stations are just the latest additions to improve the Purple Line. See below for key milestones in the Purple Line’s first two years of service:

· 1 roundabout installed at the Crossgates Mall to improve traffic flow and prevent backups to I-87

· 1-mile-long dedicated busway installed on the UAlbany campus, with dedicated lanes for buses and space for walking and cycling

· 3.1 linear miles of roadway repaved make for smoother rides for riders, drivers, and those on bikes and scooters

· 3.5 linear miles of sidewalk reconstructed or added to local streets to make it easier to walk to destinations, including CDTA stops

· 5 queue jump signals installed that allow buses to get ahead of traffic at intersections

· 16 BRT stations, equipped with new shelters and heated sidewalks, operational as of January 2026

· 35 signal upgrades at intersections to improve transit and traffic efficiency

· 49 new crosswalks to improve pedestrian safety and connectivity

· 69 ADA ramps constructed or modified to improve accessibility for all

· 132 heated sidewalk mats installed to keep snow from accumulating at BRT stops

· 169 scheduled trips per day on the BusPlus Purple Line

· 269 trees planted in the City of Albany and along the UAlbany busway

· 500-foot-long contra-flow bus lane installed at Brevator St and Belvedere Ave to help speed up travel to Harriman Campus

· 2.5 million riders have used the Purple Line since service started on November 5, 2023.

Service details for the BusPlus Purple Line are available at BusPlus Purple Line stations and online at www.cdta.org/brt!