Charlottesville Area Transit
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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].
The current CAT director is Bill Watterson.
History
The bus system was created in September 1975 to replace the privately run Yellow Transit Co bus service[2]. 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. [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)[3].
- Month unlimited: $20 (introduced September 2009)[3].
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. [4]
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[5]to operate Routes 2B, 5, and 10.
Ridership
Ridership is measured on the fiscal year ended June 30. For 2009, CAT reported ridership of 2,012,462, an 18% increase in boardings over the previous year. UVa boardings represented nearly 30% of the total.[1].
Transit development plan
The Connetics Group has been hired by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to produce a transit development plan to prioritize funding in the next six years. [6]. Preliminary results of their study were presented to council at a work session on March 4, 2011. [7] 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]
References
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Print: Council Approves Transit Subsidy, Peter Bacque, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises January 21,1976, Page C1.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 C'ville Transit Service Unveils New Fares, Keith McGilvery, NBC 29, Aug 18, 2009, Updated: Sep 01, 2009, retrieved 2 Sep 2009.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Vinzant, Laura. "CTS budget question." Message to Sean J. Tubbs. 26 Jan. 2010. E-mail.
- ↑ Document for Transit Development Plan
- ↑ Web. Council blesses planning for bus route changes, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 4, 2011, retrieved March 21, 2011.