News
Cornell to Pay TCAT More Than $3.3 Million Annually For Next Four Years
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Cornell and Tompkins County Area Transit reached a new four-year agreement over Cornell’s annual contribution to the transit agency.
The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/tag/tcat/)
Cornell and Tompkins County Area Transit reached a new four-year agreement over Cornell’s annual contribution to the transit agency.
Fall 2023 TCAT services will include increased routes and a new fare collection system.
Regular bus passengers of TCAT, including many Cornellians, have expressed frustration over recent service cuts and delays.
TCAT reached a consensus with Cornell, the city of Ithaca and Tompkins County on respective five percent funding increases.
In the Sun article from Oct. 24, “Students Rally for Free TCAT” , Cornell Vice President of University Relations Joel M. Malina is quoted as saying, “Cornell’s contribution goes far beyond those of the City and County in the form of annual fare payments to TCAT, which subsidize the cost of Cornell’s OmniRide bus pass available to employees and students. Of the funds paid to TCAT by the three partners, Cornell provides 70 percent of the total.”
After TCAT reduced bus services for all but two routes — due to a driver shortage — frequent riders have faced increased wait times and confusions over bus scheduling.
After hiring freezes and funding cuts brought on by the pandemic, the TCAT is training new drivers and readjusting bus routes as ridership climbs to near pre-pandemic levels.
A new fleet of electric buses equipped with Wi-Fi and GPS have been released by TCAT, aiming to increase ridership and keeping with TCAT sustainability goals.
TCAT adapts with limited routes and mask mandates, hoping to increase ridership as the pandemic continues.
As the semester begins, TCAT has announced an updated spring schedule, including plans of new, battery-powered busses equipped with free Wi-Fi.