Charlottesville Area Transit: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Cat-logo.jpg|thumb|right|The original logo for Charlottesville Area Transit which was rejected]]
[[Image:Cat-logo.jpg|thumb|right|The original logo for Charlottesville Area Transit which was rejected]]


[[Charlottesville Area Transit]] ('''CAT''') is a public agency that operates several bus lines throughout [[Charlottesville]] and [[Albemarle County]]. In 1999, a free trolley service was initiated between downtown and the [[University of Virginia]]. The service changed its name from Charlottesville Transit Service to [[Charlottesville Area Transit]].<ref name=prohnineridership/>  
[[Charlottesville Area Transit]] ('''CAT''') is a public agency that operates several bus lines throughout [[Charlottesville]] and [[Albemarle County]]. In 1999, a free trolley service was initiated between downtown and the [[University of Virginia]]. The service changed its name from Charlottesville Transit Service to [[Charlottesville Area Transit]]. <ref name=prohnineridership/> <ref>{{cite-hook|title=CTS becomes CAT|url=http://www.readthehook.com/68429/cts-becomes-cat|author=Dave McNair|pageno=|printno=910|printdate=March 11, 2010|publishdate=March 3, 2010|accessdate=July 8, 2013}}</ref>
 


==History==
==History==
The bus system was created in September 1975 to replace the privately run Yellow Transit Co. bus service.<ref>{{cite-progress|title=Council Approves Transit Subsidy|url=|author=Peter Bacque|pageno=C1|printdate=January 21,1976|publishdate=|accessdate=|cturl=}}</ref> In early 2010, it changed its name from the Charlottesville Transit System (CTS) to Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT). In 2010, CAT began operating hybrid fuel buses. <ref name=prohnineridership/>
The bus system was created in September 1975 to replace the privately run Yellow Transit Co. bus service. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Council Approves Transit Subsidy|url=|author=Peter Bacque|pageno=C1|printdate=January 21,1976|publishdate=|accessdate=|cturl=}}</ref>   In 2010, CAT began operating hybrid fuel buses. <ref name=prohnineridership/>


==Fares==
==Fares==

Revision as of 16:33, 8 July 2013

The original logo for Charlottesville Area Transit which was rejected

Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) is a public agency that operates several bus lines throughout Charlottesville and Albemarle County. In 1999, a free trolley service was initiated between downtown and the University of Virginia. The service changed its name from Charlottesville Transit Service to Charlottesville Area Transit. [1] [2]

History

The bus system was created in September 1975 to replace the privately run Yellow Transit Co. bus service. [3] In 2010, CAT began operating hybrid fuel buses. [1]

Fares

For rides requiring a fare,

  • Single-ride, one-way: $0.75. A reduced fare of $0.35 per trip is available for seniors, who must apply for a reduced fare card.
  • All-day unlimited: $1.50 (lowered from $2 in September 2009).[4]
  • Month unlimited: $20 (introduced September 2009).[4]

Under a pre-paid arrangement between CAT and the University of Virginia, UVa photo IDs of students, faculty, and staff are accepted as fare on all CTS buses.[1]

Youth ages 6 to 18 who reside in Charlottesville or Albemarle County ride free in summer months under the "Youth Ride FREE Program".

FY2012 funding

For FY2012, CAT's budget is based on $645,000 in passenger fare revenue. Of this amount $60,000 is from the University of Virginia as a contribution to the cost of the FREE Trolley. Also, of this amount $145,000 is from the University of Virginia as pre-payment of fares so that those students, faculty, and staff with UVA photo ID are allowed to ride Charlottesville Area Transit by displaying the photo ID.[5]

County funding

Albemarle County participates in the CAT program by paying a share of rides that operate within its borders. In FY2009, Albemarle paid the City $666,634[6]to operate Routes 2B, 5, and 10.

Ridership

Ridership is measured on the fiscal year, ending June 30. For 2009, CAT reported ridership of 2,012,462, an 18% increase in boardings over the previous year. University of Virginia boardings represented nearly 30% of the total.[1]

Transit development plan

The Connetics Group was hired in 2011 by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to produce a transit development plan to prioritize funding in the next six years.[7] Preliminary results of their study were presented to council at a work session on March 4, 2011.[8] Council rejected many of the suggestions, most notably that which would have realigned two low-performing city routes to provide additional service to the relocated Martha Jefferson Hospital. [citation needed]

CAT Director Bill Watterson left his position in February 2012.[9] Lance Stewart, the city's facilities manager, is serving as the acting director. Juwhan Lee is the operations manager.[10]

Nelson Nygaard study

In the summer of 2012, City Council hired the firm Nelson Nygaard to study the system once again to suggest ways to redraw the system.[10] The firm completed the $116,000 study[11] in March 2013. It explores ways to adjust to existing fixed-route bus services to improve service quality and increase ridership. It also considers potential new routes.[12] Route 11 from the Downtown Mall to Fashion Square Mall along Rio Road East, which is one of the new routes suggested by the study, was approved by the Charlottesville City Council on July 1, 2013. Beginning in August, the new route will allow passengers to travel between downtown Charlottesville and Route 29 in 30 minutes instead of the 50 minutes required by the Route 7 bus.[11]


Protests for more funding

A group of activists held a rally in May 2012 demanding that the city fully fund service on Sundays and holidays.[13] That group's protest led to the formation of the group Transit Riders Association of Charlottesville.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 CTS Serves More than Two Million Press release, City of Charlottesville, 7/7/09 retrieved 9 July 2009
  2. Web. CTS becomes CAT, Dave McNair, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, March 3, 2010, retrieved July 8, 2013. Print. March 11, 2010 , 910, .
  3. Print: Council Approves Transit Subsidy, Peter Bacque, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises January 21,1976, Page C1.
  4. 4.0 4.1 C'ville Transit Service Unveils New Fares, Keith McGilvery, NBC 29, Aug 18, 2009, Updated: Sep 01, 2009, retrieved 2 Sep 2009.
  5. E-mail. Bill Watterson, Charlottesville Area Transit. "Charlottesville Area Transit FY 2012 Revenue from Passenger Fares." Message to Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow. May 18, 2011.
  6. Vinzant, Laura. "CTS budget question." Message to Sean J. Tubbs. 26 Jan. 2010. E-mail.
  7. Document for Transit Development Plan
  8. Web. Council blesses planning for bus route changes, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 4, 2011, retrieved March 21, 2011.
  9. Web. City’s transit director departure means new era for system, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 1, 2012, retrieved May 16, 2012.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Web. Speeding change: A driver’s take on updating city bus routes, Graeyln Brashear, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, October 3, 2012, retrieved October 8, 2012. Print. October 3 .
  11. 11.0 11.1 Web. Council OKs new bus route into Albemarle, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, 1 July 2013, retrieved 2 July 2013.
  12. Web. CAT Transit Study, City of Charlottesville, retrieved 2 July 2013.
  13. Web. Rally calls for better area bus service, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, May 12, 2012, retrieved May 14, 2012.

See also

External Links

CTS Website