Centro

What Centro does

Centro is the public transit brand of the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (CNYRTA), a New York State public benefit corporation that provides fixed-route bus service across Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, Cortland, and Oneida counties, connecting the cities of Syracuse, Utica, Auburn, Oswego, Rome, Cortland, and Fulton. The authority operates through eight wholly-owned subsidiaries organized by geography and function, including CNY Centro (Syracuse/Onondaga), Centro of Oswego, Centro of Cayuga, Centro of Cortland, Centro of Oneida, Centro Call-A-Bus (ADA paratransit), Centro Parking, and Intermodal Transportation Center. Its product portfolio spans fixed-route intercity and local bus service, ADA-mandated paratransit (Call-A-Bus), the MOVE on-demand microtransit shuttle in Rome, NY, Park-N-Ride facilities, and seasonal State Fair service.

The underlying technology stack comprises a GPS-based real-time bus tracking system that powers arrival predictions at stops, a suite of Transit Tools (Track-By-Text, Trip Planner, Bus Tracker), the GoCentroBus consumer mobile app for pass purchases and real-time tracking, a separate CENTRO MOVE app for paratransit and on-demand booking, and a systemwide farebox upgrade rolling out across fixed-route and paratransit vehicles to standardize fare collection. ADA-compliant accessibility features (wheelchair lifts/ramps, kneeling devices) are deployed across the fleet.

Centro makes money through a combination of farebox revenue (Day Passes at $4/$2, MAX 7-day passes at $12/$6, 10-Ride passes at $10/$5, $2-$6 paratransit trips, and $1/$4 MOVE fares), full- and half-fare pricing tiers for seniors, persons with disabilities, Medicare cardholders, and children ages 6-9, transit advertising sold through Lamar, parking operations via Centro Parking under a ~30-year SUNY Upstate Medical University contract, and a $48.60/month parking permit. Distribution runs through two transit hubs, regional offices in five counties, the online store (online-centro-org.3dcartstores.com), automated pass vending machines at hubs, and a network of pass vendor outlets including TOPS Friendly Markets, Regina Check Cashing, Access to Independence, and Catholic Charities. Marquee institutional initiatives include the Better Bus project and Exploring Tomorrow's Transit (ETT) public outreach program for retooling the Syracuse bus system.

Name

Centro

Legal name

Central New York Regional Transportation Authority

Website

https://centro.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Centro (Central New York Regional Transportation Authority) operates fixed-route buses, ADA paratransit (Call-A-Bus), and the MOVE on-demand shuttle across five counties and seven cities in Central New York, serving daily commuters, seniors, persons with disabilities, and intercity travelers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transportation Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (485210), Special Needs Transportation (485991), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Suburban/Regional Commuter Bus Operators (TLAFAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Park-and-Ride / Express Commuter Bus Operators (TLAFAGAF), Shuttle, Park-and-Ride & Mobility Hub Operations (BPABAKAI), Local Transportation, Parking & Mobility Administration (BPAIACAM), On-Street Bus Stops, Shelters & Interchanges (THAIALAE)

Keywords

• Public transit services
• Fixed-route bus service
• Paratransit services
• On-demand shuttle service
• Transit fare products

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Passenger Fares: Revenue from fixed-route bus fares including day passes, MAX passes, 10-ride passes, and cash fares. Reduced fare programs available for seniors, persons with disabilities, and children ages 6-9.
2. Paratransit (Call-A-Bus) Fares: Fares for ADA complementary paratransit service ranging from $2.00 to $6.00 depending on service area and commuter zones.
3. Transit Advertising: Advertising opportunities on buses and shelters, managed through Lamar advertising partnership. Market Manager contact: Nicole Wafer at (315) 278-0748.
4. Parking Operations: Centro Parking subsidiary manages three surface lots in Downtown Syracuse under contract with SUNY Upstate Medical University, generating revenue to offset bus service costs.
5. MOVE On-Demand Service Fares: Flexible shuttle service in Rome, NY with $1 hub trips and $4 zone trips

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Centro operates fixed-route public bus service across five counties in Central New York through its Central New York Regional Transportation Authority structure. Its offerings include Call-A-Bus ADA paratransit for riders with disabilities and MOVE on-demand shuttle service in Rome, NY, supported by digital tools (GoCentroBus mobile app, Transit Tools tracker) and fare products (Day Pass, MAX Pass, 10-Ride Pass). The portfolio also encompasses Park-N-Ride facilities, Centro Parking surface lots, and seasonal services such as the State Fair Park-N-Ride Express.

Product overview

Centro is the public transportation authority for Central New York, operating a multi-modal transit network across five counties. The core offering consists of fixed-route bus service, supplemented by Call-A-Bus paratransit for ADA-eligible riders with disabilities, and MOVE on-demand shuttle service in Rome. The portfolio includes Park-N-Ride facilities, Centro Parking subsidiary operations, and seasonal State Fair service. Digital products include the GoCentroBus mobile app for pass purchases and the Transit Tools suite providing real-time GPS-based bus tracking via Track-By-Text, Trip Planner, and Bus Tracker. Fare products include Day Pass (24-hour), MAX Pass (7-day unlimited), and 10-Ride Pass options with full and half-fare pricing. Service Alerts provide real-time notifications of delays and service changes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Call-A-Bus: Paratransit program providing coordinated ride-sharing transportation for people with disabilities who are unable to ride Centro transit buses.
• MOVE
• GoCentroBus

Products and services

• Fixed-Route Bus Service Public bus transportation service operating across Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, Cortland, and Oneida counties in Central New York, including cities of Syracuse, Oswego, Fulton, Auburn, Rome, Cortland, and Utica. Targeted at general public riders, commuters, students, and visitors needing local and intercity transit.
• Call-A-Bus Paratransit Service Paratransit program providing coordinated ride-sharing transportation for people with disabilities who are unable to ride Centro transit buses, matching the service area and operation hours of the fixed-route bus system under ADA criteria. Fares range from $2.00 to $6.00 depending on service area and commuter zones.
• MOVE On-Demand Shuttle Service Flexible mobile-app-powered shuttle service operating in Rome, NY, offering corner-to-corner shared rides. Riders can request pickups and drop-offs anywhere within the MOD Service Zone with $1 hub trips and $4 zone trips.
• Park-N-Ride Network Network of Park-N-Ride locations across Central New York where customers can park vehicles for free and catch Centro buses. Targeted at commuters combining car and bus travel.
• Centro Parking Lot Management Parking management subsidiary operating three surface lots in Downtown Syracuse under contract with SUNY Upstate Medical University, with monthly permit options at $48.60 per month (currently waitlisted). Revenue offsets bus service costs.
• GoCentroBus Mobile App Mobile application for purchasing and managing ride passes, with mobile payment card functionality, real-time tracking, trip planning, and tap-to-pay fare payment. Available to general public riders across Centro's service area.
• Transit Tools Suite Real-time bus tracking tools using GPS technology to pinpoint exact bus locations and arrival times at stops, including Track-By-Text, Trip Planner, and Bus Tracker applications. Available to general public riders.
• State Fair Park-N-Ride Express Service Direct bus service to The Great New York State Fair from Park-N-Ride locations in Onondaga, Cayuga, and Oswego Counties. Seasonal service targeted at fair attendees.
• Local Event Transit Service Transit service for local events in the Central New York service area. Targeted at event attendees needing rides to and from local events.
• Intercity Bus Service Bus routes connecting Syracuse with Oswego, Fulton, and Auburn, including flag-stop intercity routes. Targeted at intercity travelers between Syracuse and surrounding cities.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SUNY Upstate Medical UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentro Parking, Inc. has managed parking facilities under contract with SUNY Upstate Medical University for nearly 30 years. Revenue from these parking locations helps offset costs of bus services.
• Lamar AdvertisingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLamar Advertising manages transit advertising on Centro buses and shelters. Market Manager Nicole Wafer at (315) 278-0748 handles advertising inquiries.
• TOPS Friendly MarketsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPass vendor outlet location where Centro ride passes can be purchased
• Regina Check Cashing CorporationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPass vendor outlet location at multiple Syracuse and Utica locations
• Access to IndependenceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPass vendor outlet location in Cortland

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Uber Technologies: Global on-demand mobility platform operating ride-hailing, shared rides, and transit ticketing partnerships across Upstate New York including Syracuse. Comparable as a broader mobility ecosystem participant whose on-demand model overlaps with Centro's MOVE offering and represents both an adjacent competitor and a potential integration partner for first/last-mile transit.

Direct peers

• Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA): Public transit authority serving Pinellas County, Florida with fixed-route bus, paratransit, and a recently launched microtransit/on-demand service. Directly comparable as a county-level public transit authority that has rolled out an on-demand mobility service similar to Centro's MOVE offering in Rome, NY.
• IndyGo: Indianapolis public transit authority operating fixed-route bus, paratransit, and the Red Line bus rapid transit corridor. Directly comparable as a mid-sized US municipal transit authority of similar scale, providing a useful benchmark for farebox modernization, BRT planning, and paratransit cost structures that mirror Centro's portfolio.
• Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA): New York State public benefit corporation providing fixed-route bus and paratransit service across the Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties region. Directly comparable as a multi-county NY public transit authority of similar scale with comparable urban-suburban service mix and ADA paratransit programs.
• Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA / RTS): New York State public benefit corporation operating fixed-route bus, paratransit, and on-demand services across Monroe County and surrounding regions. Directly comparable as a mid-sized NY regional transit authority with a similar mix of fixed-route, paratransit, and microtransit offerings serving a comparable Upstate population base.
• Sun Metro (City of El Paso): Municipal transit operator providing fixed-route bus, paratransit, and streetcar (El Paso Streetcar) service across El Paso, TX. Comparable as a mid-sized US municipal transit authority with a similar multi-modal mix (bus + paratransit + heritage rail) and a similarly diversified ridership base.
• Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA-Metro): Buffalo/Niagara Falls area public benefit authority operating fixed-route bus, paratransit, light rail, and parking operations. Directly comparable as another New York State public transit authority combining bus, paratransit, and parking under one corporate umbrella — closely mirroring Centro's subsidiary structure.

Broad incumbents

• New York City Transit Authority (MTA NYCT): The largest public transit agency in North America, operating New York City's subway and bus network as part of the MTA. Comparable as a NY public-benefit transit operator, but at vastly greater scale; relevant as the broad incumbent that anchors statewide transit policy and funding context for regional authorities like Centro.

Regional players

• Megabus (Coach USA): Low-cost intercity bus service operating point-to-point routes across the northeastern US including Syracuse. Comparable on the intercity long-distance passenger bus dimension, overlapping with Centro's flag-stop Syracuse–Oswego/Fulton/Auburn intercity routes but not competing in local or paratransit service.
• Greyhound Lines: Intercity bus operator providing scheduled service across the US including routes through Upstate New York cities such as Syracuse and Utica. Comparable on the intercity/regional corridor dimension that Centro's Syracuse–Oswego/Auburn/Utica routes serve, though Greyhound does not provide local fixed-route or paratransit service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GoCentroBus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GoCentroBus
• Facebookfacebook.com/GoCentroBus
• Instagraminstagram.com/gocentrobus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gocentrobus

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centro