Albany County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Albany County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Heritage Lane Sidewalk Construction
A proposed project with Peter Luizzi and Brothers Construction will add concrete sidewalks along Heritage Lane in the Town of Colonie to improve pedestrian safety.
Winter Road Salt Procurement
Salt prices are up $12 a ton this winter, but the county's rate through the state contract remains competitive, and leftover budget money will fill the salt sheds.
CR102 Onesquethaw Creek bridge rehabilitation
A 1930s arch bridge needs extra engineering to meet modern load standards, adding design costs. Rehab costs about $1 million versus $2.4 million to replace, though a replacement would last longer. The road will close during construction, expected next year.
Federal truck weight limits and bridge safety
A legislator raised concerns about federal proposals to raise truck weight limits, noting many county bridges couldn't handle heavier loads. The commissioner guessed roughly half the county's bridges couldn't sustain superloads like wind turbines.
County Infrastructure & Road Paving
The plan flags specific local fixes: a mid-block crossing on Sand Creek Road, intersection work on Broadway and Livingston Avenue in Albany, and safety concepts around Albany High School, Green Island and Watervliet's 15th/16th Street corridor.
Complete Streets project support
The plan calls for safer streets near schools — signage, speed management and crossing guards — and better crossings within 500 feet of CDTA bus stops, including trouble spots like Outer Central Avenue.
Snow-and-ice cost overrun reimbursement
Clearing state roads last winter cost the county $311,000 more than the state estimated. This amendment makes the state reimburse the county for the difference.
Three-Foot Minimum Passing Distance Law
Local Law "T" would require motor vehicles to keep a minimum distance when passing, primarily protecting cyclists. It's been tabled again pending a public hearing, so it isn't moving this session.
STAR Paratransit Wait Times and Senior Transit Access
Legislators asked about STAR wait times, Access Transit for seniors, and whether there are waiting lists. CDTA says there's no wait list, ridership is growing faster than fixed-route service, and it's improving scheduling software and using freed-up buses to add STAR trips.
Stuyvesant Plaza Bus Stop Discontinuation
Legislator Gillespie's constituents lost their Stuyvesant Plaza stop in an area with few sidewalks and poor lighting. CDTA cut the $300,000 deviation to save a main route, kept four daily trips for now, and asked nearby businesses to fund continued service through a universal access agreement.
CDTA Transit Development Plan and Service Rebalancing
CDTA is rebalancing its entire bus network to match post-COVID ridership and tight budgets, cutting low-ridership route deviations and leaning on Flex microtransit instead of big buses in smaller communities. Some residents lose convenient stops; others get more frequent service.
Fare Payment Modernization and Fare Policy
CDTA hasn't raised fares in 15 years — $1.50 base, $1.30 with a Navigator card — but still doesn't take credit cards or open payment. Open payment is called out in the transit development plan as a goal for the next five to ten years.