Programs

CDRPC was established as a regional planning board in 1967 by a cooperative agreement among the counties of Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady. Its original purpose was to perform and support comprehensive planning work, including surveys, planning services, technical services, and the formulation of plans and policies to promote sound and coordinated development of the entire Region. Over time, the mission of the Planning Commission evolved in response to changes in the Region’s needs, funding sources, organizational structures, and information technology. Today, CDRPC is charged with the facilitation and coordination of a variety of regionally administered programs that cover the topics of Economic Development, Sustainability, Land Use & Transportation, Water Quality, and Human Services.

Economic Development

Troy Market BlockThe Capital District Regional Planning Commission leads and supports economic development activities primarily within Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties.  Programs such as the Foreign Trade Zone reach a larger region which includes 10 counties in Upstate New York.  Staff work directly with the Capital Region Economic Development Council, the Center for Economic Growth, area Chambers of Commerce, and many more stakeholders and partners to foster a positive climate for growth and prosperity.

Sustainability

NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program

CDRPC helps local governments in the Capital Region deploy NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program to implement clean energy actions, save energy costs, create jobs, and improve the environment. In addition to providing tools, resources, and technical assistance, the program recognizes and rewards leadership for the completion of clean energy projects.

Climate Smart Communities

Climate Smart Communities is a network of New York communities engaged in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving climate resilience.  The Capital District Regional Planning Commission provides technical support to the communities within the Capital Region that are participating in the New York State Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program.

Land Use & Transportation

Ellsworth Commons, MaltaThe Capital District Regional Planning Commission is a member of and works jointly with staff from the Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC), the area’s federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).  Together, the Commission and its partners review and analyze a number of crucial surface transportation planning issues for the Region that include:

  • Alternative Growth and Development Scenarios
  • Expressway System Options
  • Big Ticket and Big Idea Concepts
  • Larger than Regional Policy Concepts
  • Assisting Local Decision Making in a Regional Context

Water Quality

Albany_IslandCreekPierThe Capital District Regional Planning Commission supports a number of initiatives which promote and protect our region’s environmental assets such as clean water and renewable energy.  With funding support from the Section 604(b) Water Quality Program of the Clean Water Act, administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), CDRPC is continuing to participate in efforts to protect the Region’s water resources.

MS4 Stormwater Programs

The major focus of CDRPC’s water quality recent efforts has been to coordinate with the N.Y.S. Dept. of Environmental Conservation in providing assistance to municipalities to implement the new “Phase II” water quality regulations, part of the Federal Clean Water Drinking Act, which took effect in March 2003.  CDRPC is also coordinating the effort to address problems associated with combined sewer overflows into the Hudson River.

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)

Combined sewer systems (CSS) are sewer systems that are designed to collect storm water runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in the same pipe and bring it to the publicly owned treatment works (POTW) facilities.

Capital District Youth Center, Inc. (CDYCI)

Capital District Youth CenterSince 1970, the State Division of Criminal Justice Services has utilized CDRPC as the Region’s coordinator for federally funded human resource and criminal justice services.

CDRPC is the administrator for the Capital District Juvenile Secure Detention Facility, the first multi-county detention center for youth in the nation. Owned by the Capital District Youth Center, Inc. and operated by the Berkshire Farm Center for Youth, the detention facility has provided very significant savings for the member counties since it opened in 1997.