Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit

Founded	1998 (1998)
Headquarters	737 Willow Ave.42°27′12″N 76°30′20″W / 42.45333°N 76.50556°W / 42.45333; -76.50556
Locale	Ithaca, New York
Service area	Tompkins County, New York
Service type	bus service, paratransit
Routes	34 bus routes[1]
Hubs	Commons (Green St., Seneca St., Albany St.) Cornell University Ithaca Mall
Fleet	54 vehicles[2]
Daily ridership	8,000 (weekdays, Q3 2023)[3]
Annual ridership	2,488,000 (2022)[4]
Fuel type	Diesel, Electric-Diesel
Operator	TCAT, Inc. (fixed routes) GADABOUT (paratransit)
Website	tcatbus.com

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc., usually referred to as TCAT, is a private, non-profit public transportation operator, created by Cornell University, Tompkins County, and the City of Ithaca to serve Tompkins County, New York. The vast majority of TCAT bus routes are based in the City of Ithaca and surrounding urban area. These routes serve Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Tompkins Cortland Community College. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 2,488,000, or about 8,000 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

As of 2019, TCAT operates 34 bus routes.^[5] Door to door paratransit service is provided by GADABOUT Transportation Services, Inc.

History

TCAT buses on Cornell's campus

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) was formed in 1998 by consolidating three public transit systems – Ithaca Transit (City of Ithaca), TOMTRAN (Tompkins County)^[6] and CU Transit (Cornell University) into a single system. In the 1960s the City and Cornell established independent bus systems which expanded throughout the next two decades. Service was first extended to serve Ithaca's suburbs in the 1970s, and to rural towns beginning in 1982. In 1974, a transit service in Northeast Ithaca (Lansing, Cayuga Heights and the Town of Ithaca) was started by apartment owners contracting with Swarthout Coaches to operate limited service for Cornell students, and as the public demand for service increased, the apartment owners sought assistance from local governments and Cornell University, which became Northeast Transit in 1978.

Tompkins County became involved in supporting suburban routes and in developing rural transit service. The County formed TOMTRAN to extend fixed-route bus service to Dryden, Caroline and Newark Valley^[7] in 1982, Groton (1983), Newfield and Ulysses (1985), and Lansing and Danby (1991). In 1999, TCAT initiated bus service to Enfield, the last unserved town in the county. In 1992, the city, Cornell and County built a $5 million transit facility to base transit operations and fleet maintenance including GADABOUT.^[8] In 1996, the New York State Legislature adopted a state law authorizing that "the county of Tompkins, the city of Ithaca and Cornell University may jointly provide for mass transportation services in the county of Tompkins.",^[9] and on April 1, 1998, the City of Ithaca, Cornell University and Tompkins County established TCAT as a joint venture (public entity) to operate public transit service in Tompkins County, service began in 1999, establishing a unified route and fare system.^[10] TCAT re-organized itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, TCAT. Inc. in 2005 with representatives of City of Ithaca, Cornell University, and Tompkins County serving on its board of directors.

In 1976, a consortium of municipalities and human service agencies formed GADABOUT Transportation Services to address travel needs of seniors and people with disabilities and today operates the Federally mandated paratransit service for Tompkins County. Although GADABOUT did not join TCAT in 1998, the two companies are still closely related, with GADABOUT leasing space and maintenance services from TCAT.

Routes

As of December 2019, thirty-six bus routes comprise the TCAT system.^[11] Routes are identified by number and are usually indicated on a marquee at the front of the bus, and sometimes on the side as well. TCAT's main hub is Green Street Station, off of the Commons, a two-block pedestrian mall in downtown Ithaca. Most non South Hill routes run through the Cornell University campus; East Avenue and Tower Road near Uris and Statler Halls is considered a secondary hub.^[12]

Fleet

TCAT operates a mix of fifty-one 35 ft and 40 ft transit buses and three small 14-seat buses. All TCAT buses are wheelchair accessible. The fleet is composed of vehicles manufactured by Gillig, Nova Bus, New Flyer Industries, and Orion Bus Industries.

Current fleet

A TCAT Advantage T40 bus

A TCAT LFS bus

Fleet Number(s)	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Notes
204,206,208	2002	New Flyer	D40LF
601–608	2006	Gillig	Advantage T40
610–612	2006	Ford	E450
613–614	2007	Gillig	Advantage T40 Hybrid
701–703	2007	Gillig	Advantage T40 Hybrid
901–902	2009	Gillig	Advantage T40
1102–1103	2011	Gillig	Advantage T40 Hybrid
1104–1106, 1108–1109, 1118 (Formerly 1107)	2011	Gillig	Advantage T40
1110–1114, 1116	2011	Orion	VII Next Generation Bus
1501–1502	2015	Gillig	Advantage T40
1601–1605	2016	Gillig	Advantage T40
1801–1811	2018	Gillig	Advantage T40
1901–1909	2019	New Flyer	XD40
1910–1912	2019	Champion	DF350

Fares

TCAT charges an adult fare at $1.50 for all trips. Cash customers are entitled to one free transfer upon request. Seniors and those with disabilities pay half-fare, as do children under 18. Additionally, up to three children, aged five or younger, travel free with an adult.

Historical images

• 
  Ithaca Transit Patch
• 
  TOMTRAN Bus 1991
• 
  TCAT Facility (Depot)
• 
• 
• 
  TCAT scheme at night

Sources

External links

• Official website