The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) was honored by the American Public Works Association Capital Branch as the recipient of the 2011 project of the Year in Transportation-Transit Category.

They were given the award earlier this month at their annual Awards luncheon that is held at the Century House in Latham.

According to a statement by CDTA, the NY Route 5 Bus Rapid Transit project is the first of its kind in upstate New York. It was launched in 2011 and it is known as BusPlus. The project offers features like, transit signal priority, real time passenger information displays, GIS-based mobile data communication, queue jumpers, CCTA surveillance and pylon signs that house electrical supply units connecting to the fiber optic network.

Ridership along the corridor has increased 13 percent since the launch with customers and there is 25 percent travel time savings over the local service.

The New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald has offered New Yorkers with some safe winter driving tips and suggestions for preparedness on the road.

McDonald is reminding residents that calling 511 or visiting the 511 website are both good ways to find out about the latest driving conditions.

"It's essential for motorists to know how to deal with road conditions during winter storms," said McDonald in a statement. "In addition to checking our Web site for driving tips and updated road condition information, motorists should prepare themselves and their vehicles for unexpected travel impediments.”

The NYSDOT has listed some of the most important tips for safe winter driving:

(AP) - New York Sen. Charles Schumer says more people would use NEXUS cards to go back and forth to Canada if they were more convenient to get.

Right now, western New York travelers have to go to the Whirlpool Bridge in Niagara Falls, N.Y., or the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ontario, to apply for the cards -- which allow pre-screened drivers to reduce wait times at the border by using dedicated NEXUS lanes.

Schumer wants U.S. and Canadian authorities to let people apply at places like malls and post offices.

He'll be at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo this afternoon to talk about his idea.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)