Harriman East Construction Update: Pedestrian Improvements

CDTA is excited to share that construction is nearly complete at the new Harriman East BusPlus Purple Line Station. The station is located right next to the W. Averell Harriman State Office Building Campus which houses many state agencies and workers. This new stop along the BusPlus Purple Line will strengthen connections to the Harriman campus and downtown Albany.

Construction began earlier this year focusing on station installation and pedestrian improvements. The new BRT station houses two new upgraded shelters with BusPlus-branded pylons, heated sidewalks with snowmelt pads, and ADA-compliant platforms. In addition to the new shelters, pedestrian connectivity and safety is improved with a new crosswalk and sidewalks to complement the existing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs). Finally, bus pullout lanes were installed allowing buses to pull out of traffic while picking up and dropping off CDTA customers. This will increase the efficiency of transit along the corridor through reduced dwell times.

Improving pedestrian connectivity and safety was of particular importance when planning the new station. The existing RFFBs have high visibility signs and flashing lights to make pedestrians visible to motorists on Campus Access Road. Pedestrians push a button on these signs to activate the lights when crossing the road to get to work or catch the bus. Complementing the RFFBs with a new crosswalk and sidewalks is part of CDTA’s broader investment in mobility solutions for CDTA customers and the community at large.

The Harriman East station is planned to be in operation by the end of this month. Once complete, this addition to the Purple Line will provide enhanced connections for New York State employees to downtown Albany and UAlbany’s Uptown Campus, as well as improve pedestrian safety and connectivity along Campus Access Road. Service information for the BusPlus Purple Line can be found at www.cdta.org/brt!