chatham area transit
chatham area transit authority: proudly connecting our community with the people and places they love .
chatham area transit’s continuing mission is to provide quality public transportation services in a professional and responsive manner .
the chatham area transit is extending the hours of its free downtown shuttle service on monday, july 9 .
don' t forget, effective today, chatham area transit will be implementing service changes on route 6 cross town .
the city’s public transit network has two main components: the fare - free downtown transportation (dot) system and the ordinary chatham area transit (cat) bus services .
the city is joining forces with chatham area transit to offer a simplified downtown shuttle service as part of a parking and mobility plan .
when chatham area transit officials dedicate the downtown transit center on oglethorpe avenue, they will be celebrating not only the completion of renovations but also a rebranding of an embattled agency .
in ongoing efforts to match our service levels with the needs of the community, chatham area transit will be implementing these service changes effective july 9, 2018 .
chatham area transit authority is governed by a board of directors consisting of nine (9) members. these members represent chatham county, the city of savannah, and all the communities therein, including special groups such as the elderly or disabled .
effective july 9, 2018, in ongoing efforts to match our service levels with the needs of the community, chatham area transit will be implementing service changes on route 6 cross town .
chatham area transit (cat) provides numerous paid services around savannah and its suburbs. of these, probably the most useful to tourists is the 100x airport express service to the airport .
it has been successful in a number of ways ,
liakakis said .
it' s really a positive thing for our chatham area transit board, being able to have that particular service .
all of them are making their way through chatham area transit' s main terminal on west oglethorpe avenue on the edge of the downtown historic district. known as the joe murray rivers jr. intermodal transit center, the terminal opened in late 2013 after a $ 15 million renovation .
chatham area transit (cat) is savannah' s municipal transportation system. in the historic district, they operate a free shuttle service, the route is found on this site: urltoken and on this site chatham area transit they offer a free shuttle down river street, a free boat across the river to hutcheson island, and a free bus which loops around the downtown of savannah, including forsyth park and river street, all for free !
click on the following links to learn more about chatham county and public transportation .
read below for more details on how cat serves and supports chatham county’s youth .
the chatham county board of commissioners has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 1. 75 percent in general maintenance and operations taxes, an increase in property taxes by 0. 99 percent in special service district taxes and 1. 86 percent in chatham area transit authority taxes .
pets in carriers will be allowed on vehicles to be taken to the evacuation staging area .
the skidaway road area is served by the 11 candler and 31 - georgia regional bus .
savannah’s chatham area transit (cat) will officially begin its new public bicycle sharing program on friday, making it one of a growing number of major metropolitan areas in the united states to do so in recent years, and the first in georgia .
approximately 23 percent of cat' s revenues are generated from a transit tax district, which incorporates the city of savannah, unincorporated area and part of garden city .
the waters road area is served by the 27 waters road or 28 - waters road bus .
savannah alderman bill durrence, who sits on the chatham area transit board, said the new trolleys are part of an effort to improve the look and feel of free services downtown. if the downtown area continues to expand, he said, parking and congestion problems could increase, so there needs to be better accommodations and incentives to use public transportation .
cat is the public transit authority for savannah, ga, chatham county, and the surrounding area. our mission is to be the premier mobility manager for the region. we do this by providing quality public transportation services in a professional and responsive manner .
a strategic plan on how to grow service there will be forthcoming, robinson said, and the new west chatham county route could be leverage for cat in establishing a presence in the area .
lastly, chatham county endorses the “team” concept within our organization and encourages you as citizens and businesses to participate with “team chatham” to produce a beautiful, self - sustaining community today and in the future! please use this website to familiarize yourself with chatham county and its government .
in 1996, cat played a major role, in conjunction with the chatham emergency management agency (cema), in the mandatory evacuation of chatham county citizens in preparation for hurricane fran .
in 1986, with steadily worsening operating and financial conditions, and recognizing the continuing community need for a reliable and affordable public transportation system, the chatham urban transportation study policy committee created a community - wide transit task force charged with studying the local transit system and making recommenda­tions as to the future of public transportation in savannah and chatham county .
( mall parent company) ggp is excited to partner with chatham area transit to bring a best - in - class transit experience to oglethorpe mall ,
baker said in an email .
from improved amenities including an expanded bus stop, new seating and' leaning posts,' to upgraded ticketing and real - time video route information, transit riders can expect the very best cat has to offer when visiting oglethorpe mall .
note: some counties may also be served by transit agencies in adjoining counties .
as the mobility manager for all of chatham county, we have some exciting opportunities for qualified professionals .
cat is continually seeking talented employees to help us fulfill our commitment to the people of chatham county .
mercer, 201 rommel ave. , garden city, 31408 (outside transit district )
the dot service is provided by savannah mobility management inc. , a nonprofit that works with chatham area transit and includes representatives from local government and the hospitality and tourism industries. in addition to the express shuttle, dot services also include a free ferry and the currently grounded street car on river street .
further down the line, the transit system might have alternative fuel vehicles, a new satellite location and a partnership with the savannah - chatham school system to provide transportation for high school students .
in 1995, discussions were initiated on the construction of a downtown transit center. federal funding was allocated for the building of this center to provide the citizens of cha­tham county with a consolidated, centrally located transit center while enhancing cat’s existing and expanding transit services .
the bill that allows for the expansion is unnecessary, vaquer said, because transit officials are already moving ahead with engaging the center for urban transit research at the university of south florida in tampa to study the community' s transit options and provide a recommendation .
cat provides a door - to - door mobility service available to eligible persons with disabilities in chatham county .
buses are operated by the chatham area transit system which has a number of bus lines that will get you in and around the city and neighboring towns. despite the number of bus lines, residents prefer to walk or bike when possible. in fact, savannah is one of the most walkable cities in the country !
according to the transit mobility vision plan produced by the coastal region metropolitan planning commission in 2013, the majority of passengers on cat' s buses today are
transit dependent .
call the functional and medical needs coordinator at the chatham county health department, (912) 356 - 2441 .
everyone has a right to travel options and freedom. become a voice for public transit today !
still, he said, cat intends to follow whichever route transit might take in the future .
routes that do not travel downtown will connect with routes that do so people can reach the staging area at the civic center .
port wentworth, 507 s. coastal hwy. , port wentworth, 31407 (outside transit district )
liakakis estimated about 24, 000 people in chatham county don' t have their own means of transportation. for them, cat is a lifeline, the sole form of transit to medical appointments, shopping, school or work .
wilmington island residents can catch the 10 - east savannah and the 24 - savannah state / wilmington island from the island towne centre area .
southside residents may catch the 14 - abercorn bus from the savannah mall area or from the bus stop at the rear of savannah mall .
westside residents will find the 2 - west chatham or 3a and 3b - augusta avenue buses a convenient way to get downtown .
cape cod' s public transportation system with bus and trolley service to all towns from woods hole to provincetown and to 24 boston area hospitals .
click here to view all of the transit options on cape cod, including ccrta bus routes and bike routes .
renovations to the transit center were extensive, involving interior design improvements and new features such as a ticket counter .
the mbta and 15 regional transit authorities (rtas) provide fixed route and paratransit service in communities across the state. use this page to learn which municipalities are members of each transit authority. then visit your transit authority' s webpage - or contact them directly - to learn what specific services they may offer to your city or town .
these riders make up
a significant amount
of the approximately 105, 000 trips made each day in chatham county, reese said .
over the past four years, chatham county has developed the chatham community blueprint. we involved thousands of citizens and businesses to develop and prioritize the needs, goals, strategies and actions steps needed to implement change for the good of all of chatham county. bottom line, we believe in excellence and planning for the future. our definition of excellence is delivering full value to the taxpayer and citizen for every dollar spent .
in 1890, the first electric streetcar ran across the rails of the savannah street railway. these streetcars were the marvel of the dawning electric age, and this form of trans­portation enabled savannah to truly begin the extension of the city limits. as early as the turn of the last century, the streetcar barn was located on gwinnett street at harmon where the current headquarters of the chatham area transit authority are now situated .
since then, it' s been a hub of activity as buses come and go, carrying passengers from one area of the city and county to another .
vaquer said tuesday there are still several issues to work out with the legislation. cat has developed a counter proposal to one suggested by the metro atlanta rapid transit authority that could provide for more revenues for the state' s smaller transit systems .
features for this blog can now be found on the new in transit webpage and on the travel home page. read more…
thank you for your interest in joining our team! cat is continually seeking talented employees to help us fulfill our commitment to the people of chatham county .
in transit is a blog on travel news, deals and tips, written by the editors and reporters of the travel section .
to help you figure out when school is in session or when special events may be going on, we have linked to some of the area’s college / university calendars .
one of the hottest urban communities in the area. perks include counter - height bar seating, granite countertops in bathroom and kitchen, stainless steel appliances, and more .
cat’s stellar history continued to make strides in im­proving public transit services for chatham county. from july 1, 2005 to june 30, 2006, cat fixed route ridership was 3, 520, 337, an increase of 6. 25 percent compared to the same time the year prior .
these riders have sustained the transit system so far, but to be successful in the future, many of those in the community who don' t currently use cat, who opt to drive their own vehicles, will have to be persuaded to use transit .
savannah - chatham county public school system (sccpss) families can click on the sccpss logo for a list of each school and the routes that serve them .
from the savannah festival factory outlet / hwy. 17 - hwy. 204 super wal - mart area, passengers may catch route 17 - silk hope / savannah festival outlet .
cat officials have made no secret of their desire to extend service - and increase revenues - county - wide, specifically into west chatham county and rapidly growing pooler .
the transit agency plans to take up full responsibility for the cat mobility program — formerly known as paratransit — including regular and overflow transportation .
cat lobbyist mike vaquer told the transit system' s board of directors tuesday that cat, too, is opposing jackson' s legislation .
on tap for the coming year, cat will launch a new smart phone app for transit riders and build more shelters along bus routes .
ramond robinson, cat' s chief development officer, said the goal is to increase ridership in the high employment area that includes the airport, gulfstream, jcb and georgia tech savannah .
proud provider of mobility options for savannah - chatham county. we connect you with the people and places you love by bus, bike, ferry, & more. # catchacat
transit officials in the meantime have been lobbying for money from the state and federal governments to keep the bus system running. the need has become all the more pressing in recent months since the cat board of directors signed off on a restructure of the transit system' s line of credit .
at the suggestion of our customers, we have implemented regularly occurring public meetings. these meetings are scheduled for the 2nd wednesday of every other month at the transit center at 5: 30 pm. come speak with cat staff! we want to hear your feedback about fixed route, ferry, paratransit and any other general transit questions. join us at the transit center (610 w. oglethorpe ave .) at 5: 30 pm .
in 2013, the cat board ended its contract with veolia, believing the general manager and staff capable of continuing their progress without the management contract price tag. that fall, the new joe murray rivers, jr. intermodal transit center opened with great success and a heartfelt dedication to one of savannah’s strongest transit advocates. soon after, in january 2014, cat partnered with the city of savannah to introduce the first transit - owned bikeshare in the state of georgia, cat bike. starting small with two downtown stations—one conveniently located at the transit center—plans to expand the popular system are ongoing .
plan, design and implement transit facilities (benches, shelters, superstops, stations, etc .) in coordination with service development activities .
starting july 9, the free dot shuttle hours will be extended! the goal of the extended night and weekend hours is to help residents, employees and visitors access the downtown area. learn more :
currently cat is progressively seeking to claim its true identity as the savannah / chatham county area’s regional mobility manager and will continue to focus on providing quality public transportation services in a professional and responsive manner. transit innovations and new technologies will play a major role in this destiny, and the resources must be in place to embrace them. the continued support of our customers, stakeholders and community will be even more important. as our community grows and changes, so does cat, because transportation is not an end but a means to success .
or try out the new cat interactive transit system map to see our entire fixed route network, plus helpful & popular destinations and the routes that serve them. if you are trying to plan your trip, we also recommend you use our google transit trip planner tool at near the top of each page .
the cat bike program, operated by b - cycle, a company that develops and maintains bike sharing systems, opened with two solar - powered stations in downtown savannah offering a total of 16 bicycles. and chatham is definitely looking to aggressively expand the program in the near future, jessie fernandez - gatti, a transit planner at cat, said .
# signsyouareamillennial according to @ apta _ transit get around, millennials are increasingly becoming multi - modal and moving to communities that provide robust public transportation options. urltoken
the georgia house transportation committee last month unveiled a $ 1 billion transportation plan that would include $ 100 million for operating the state' s 128 transit systems .
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in fact, the day after the cat board' s meeting, the house transportation committee revealed some changes to the legislation. one such change stripped the section of the bill that directed proceeds from an electric vehicle taxes to transit systems. funding for transit would have to be included in the state budget under the latest version .
shalonda rountree, cat' s marketing and business development manager, said new pass partnerships with local businesses have also built awareness of the transit system' s offerings .
cat gets people moving around savannah. our transit services bring hard - working commuters to their jobs, students to their schools, and fun - seekers to entertainment, shopping areas, and restaurants. we provide mobility to residents of chatham county as well as to large numbers of tourists, taking them to and from the airport, their hotels, and countless attractions .
chatham county government and the services it provides to its residents is a reflection of the county itself – large, diversified, sophisticated and efficient. with a $ 227 million budget and over 1, 700 employees, chatham county provides a wide range of services to include serving social needs, business development, employee training, recreational opportunities, public safety, court services and roads and bridges construction and maintenance .
we will continue to oppose that ,
vaquer said, adding that in addition to chatham county' s western cities, it appears the legislation also has opposition in the state senate and house .
more importantly, the center will serve as the passenger loading area for all downtown buses instead of broughton street near the courthouse. greyhound, which leases space at the center, has been reduced to occupying four bus bays .
great location, close to schools, parks and restaurants. luxury units include range, refrigerator, bathtub, carpet, and patio or balcony. community features pool, playground, game room, bbq grill area and gym .
in 2010, the cat board voted to enter into a delegated management contract with veolia transportation as a way of bringing private business efficiency to this critical public service. under the public - private partnership, cat rolled out a rebranding campaign designed to not only change the look of the buses but the entire perception of chatham area transit and local public transportation. a new website was designed, new uniforms were chosen for bus operators, and the mentality that cat was operating as a bus company was beginning to change. cat trans­ported more than 3. 4 million people and began positioning itself as a regional mobility manager .
in 2004, crossroads business center employers asked for bus service to reach employees for unfilled jobs. as a result, cat added service to the # 2 west chatham route which carries people to the crossroads business center as well as to the old airport and the savannah / hilton head in­ternational airport. ridership on the # 2 west chatham has exceeded projections. additionally in 2004, cat installed one hundred bus shelters throughout the transit district under cat’s passenger amenities program which also included the installation of benches and trash receptacles. installation of 25 more new shelters with benches and trash receptacles was planned for 2006 .
chatham county has been issued an evacuation order. beginning at noon today (thursday) fixed route buses will continue to run regular service and pick up anyone at a cat bus stop who is trying to evacuate .
in 2001, cat purchased and placed into operation two trolley replicas on the cat shuttle route. the wheelchair - lift - equipped trolleys connect with most cat routes in the down­town area and sport a distinctive savannah green and gold design .
welcome to the new chatham county website – your gateway to both a responsive, transparent and reform - minded government, and to one of the most diverse, historic, beautiful and economically - vibrant counties in america .
a charming community that' s recently been renovated. just minutes from area malls and universities. on - site amenities include a large pool and wading pool, fitness center, and tennis courts. apartments feature modern interiors and designer finishes .
as result, cat officials plan to apply for a federal transit administration grant for federal funding of the streetcar extension. about 43 percent of cat' s revenues come from grants .
right by the river and highway 17. a game room, cardio - wellness center and a cyber cafe. gate - accessed community with a salt - water pool, grilling area and gym. updated appliances and extra storage in the apartments .
the city of savannah and unincorporated chatham county, thunderbolt and part of garden city currently receive cat bus service. the towns of bloomingdale, pooler, port wentworth, tybee island, vernonburg and most of garden city do not .
in 1998, cat developed its website, www. catchacat. org, which contains details about the transit system as well as route maps and schedules to assist site visitors with trip in­formation .
as one of those industry best practices, cat follows board - approved transit service guidelines for making decisions about where, when, and how often we serve the various areas of our county .
the map (and list below) show which cities and towns are within the service areas of each regional transit authority, as well as which cities and towns are served by the mbta .
functional and medical needs clients the chatham county health department maintains a functional and medical needs registry which consists of residents who may require medical assistance during emergency situations. those on the registry may need specially trained health care providers, special facilities equipped to meet their needs, and specialized vehicles and equipment for transport. if a hurricane is threatening our area, it is important cema and health department officials know where the most vulnerable residents are located so that evacuation assistance can be provided to them .
– a one - way ticket on savannah’s ordinary public transit system costs $ 1. 50. transfers (valid for 90 minutes) are free, but should be requested before depositing your fare .
though seemingly piecemeal, all these activities - construction of new facilities, development of programs and funding initiatives - are part of a road map for the transit system completed by cat officials in 2013 .
but a new route 3 will replace the former route 2, which used to service the airport, and extend it beyond jimmy deloach parkway in west chatham county to highlands and benton boulevards. service will also be operating during later hours .
high - quality features include gourmet kitchens, fireplaces, air conditioning, garden tubs, and walk - in wardrobes. enjoy the fire pit, pool, and outdoor grill area. close to historic downtown savannah with links to i - 95 and i - 16 .
as filed, the legislation would allow for cat to conduct a study to determine which areas might benefit from an expansion. if a need was found, the legislation would allow chatham county to levy taxes to support an expansion to those areas .
uber - modern apartments in historic downtown savannah, within shouting distance of chatham square and forsyth park. granite countertops, tall ceilings and private balconies. on - site fitness center, dog wash room, private parking lot, and controlled access .
in october 2014, construction was completed on the first phase of an intermodal facility on hutchinson island. designed to serve anticipated growth across the river, phase 1 of this project prepares the area for a second ferry dock with customer seating, cover, and information tools .
beyond the next few years, it' s difficult to say where cat might go, reese said. technology is changing the face of public transit faster than anything the industry has experienced in the past .
cat is proud to partner with cema, the chatham emergency management agency, for the safety of our community. to learn more about cema or to sign up for their newsletter or alerts, visit their website or call (912) 201 - 4500 .
with the newly transformed center, cat sees an opportunity to transform its image from a troubled transit agency, saddled with a public reputation for inefficiency and fiscal problems, into a leading transportation alternative in the region .
our 100x airport express provides service between the airport and the jmr transit center, as well as, including stops at select downtown hotels. monday through sunday, 8 a. m. - 6 p. m .
reese said the transit organization in the future might provide even more specialized services for events such as the savannah music festival. such a change could reduce traffic and open up parking downtown during these activities, he said .
the sangamon mass transit district (smtd) provides public transportation on 16 daytime fixed routes throughout the springfield, illinois area. five night routes operate monday through saturday with the first bus leaving the transfer center at 6: 45 pm and the last bus leaving the transfer center at 9: 45 pm. the fixed - route buses provide service to medical facilities, major employment centers, tourist attractions, major retail shopping centers, schools, colleges, professional buildings, the central business district and all major points of interest .
chatham county is the fifth largest county in georgia, and proud to be the home of the georgia ports authority better known as the port of savannah. the port is one of the top three busiest ports in the united states. with just under 300, 000 people living in chatham’s 632 square miles, the county is home to scores of major employers in manufacturing, paper products, chemicals, transportation and other heavy equipment, logistics, healthcare, food products and education with companies such as gulfstream, weyerhaeuser, international paper, and dane trailers .
in 1989, the american public transportation association (apta) presented cat with the “outstanding public transportation achievement award” for small transit systems. this award acknowledged cat as the best transit system in its size category in north america. also during 1989, cat installed 31 new bus shelters and over 90 new passenger benches. as a result of the bench and shelter program, cat received an award from the historic savannah foundation for “enhancing the quality of the historic district. ”
the joe murray rivers jr. intermodal transit center at the greyhound bus station underwent a $ 15 million makeover. now, it' s cat' s headquarters and, starting monday, its central bus portal in addition to continued greyhound operations .
in addition, she said, cat' s shuttles to the city of savannah' s fourth of july show and the st. patrick' s day festival provide opportunities for people who don' t normally use transit to experience it firsthand .
work will begin this year at oglethorpe mall on the first of five super stops. these stops will operate much like a smaller - scale version of a transit center, complete with seating, lighting and information kiosks, in addition to ticket vending .
what to do for evacuation should evacuation be required, cat will continue to run regular routes for as long as possible while also stopping at the staging area (civic center) on each trip to accommodate those without their own form of transportation for evacuation. click here to open the cema brochure about taking public transportation, bringing pets, and more .
in 2015, cat continued efforts to generate interest in full county - wide service, meeting with communities in west chatham county. the first super stop was also completed, bringing new seating, bike racks, an information screen, and a ticket vending machine (tvm) to the oglethorpe mall. a major marketing effort took place most of that year preparing customers for the discontinuation of change cards on the bus, lowering pass rates, and offering a brand new half - fare for youths. another tvm was installed at the transit center to give customers 24 - hour access to ticket sales .
in january of 2017, cat celebrated 30 years of service. later that year, cat again provided free services to chatham county during hurricane irma, transporting over 1, 900 residents to and from out of town shelters. in may of 2018 cat unveiled the first of 18 new 35 - ft buses being added into its fleet .
passes are available for purchase via cash, check, debit and credit card at the joe murray rivers, jr. intermodal transit center, 610 w. oglethorpe avenue, monday - friday from 7: 00 am - 8: 00 pm. check payments accepted with valid id .
whether on foot or by bike, on land or on water, cat is proud to offer the most affordable and sustainable options for getting around chatham county. the information below explains our fixed route bus fares. please see the paratransit page for paratransit fares and information and visit the bike & ride page for details on our bike sharing program .
historic homes divided into apartments of varying sizes, as well as a few new condo and apartment developments, await you downtown. besides being close to the economic center of savannah, there are also a number of shops, restaurants and bars in the historic district to keep you entertained. prices for two bedrooms in this area range greatly, with smaller places going for $ 700 - 900 and larger homes and newer rentals going for $ 1200 - 1500 .
by summer 2014, cat welcomed the community to an open house of its newly renovated operations and maintenance facility. boasting a state - of - the - art control center for managing transit operations, a key - less badge entry system, and on - site training facilities, cat central brought much - needed upgrades to the community’s only public transportation agency .
several large cities in the united states, including chicago, new york, los angeles and san francisco, have all implemented bike share programs in the last few years. atlanta, georgia’s busiest metropolitan area, is in the process of developing its own, expected to start in 2016 with close to 600 bicycles at more than 50 stations, according to a report from business insider. the city has already invested $ 2 million in expanding and improving existing bike lanes in anticipation of its opening .
while cat officials in the past have relied on bank loans and lines of credit to pay the bills as they waited for congress to approve their federal funding, the transit organization at the end of last year voted to restructure a $ 7. 7 million line of credit with wells fargo to a $ 1. 5 million line of credit with a $ 5 million loan .
i don' t think most people have an appreciation of the impact either in terms of the size or the scope ,
reese said .
if they' re riding the transit system... they' re working, they' re learning or they' re spending money. when you see our bus, you actually see our economy in motion .
the coming of the twentieth century saw the consolida­tion of the major local railway properties under the newly created savannah electric company which handled all lighting, power, and transit operations. the savannah elec­tric company constructed amusement parks and casinos at thunderbolt and isle of hope so crowds would have some place to go. the casino at thunderbolt housed comic opera, vaudeville and even moving picture shows .
in addition, vaquer said the legislation intended to change the makeup of the board of directors isn' t needed. as written, the bill wouldn' t provide a seat on the board for new cities that might join the transit system. the board operates well as is, he said, and there is no need to expand the membership as jackson' s bill proposes .
cat operates its transit services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age or disability in accordance with title vi of the civil rights act of 1964 and its amendments. any person who believes he or she has been subjected to discrimination may have rights and protections under title vi. visit our title vi page to learn more .
the cat board meets once a month at the joe murray rivers, jr. intermodal transit center at 610 w. oglethorpe avenue. these meetings are open to the public. those who would like to speak at a board meeting should contact ceo curtis koleber to make arrangements prior to the meeting. watch recorded board meetings on the cat youtube channel and subscribe to be notified when new videos are posted .
in 2016, cat celebrated some major funding victories, receiving awards totaling more than $ 15 million from the georgia state road and tollway authority’s go! transit capital program and the u. s. department of transportation’s bus and bus facilities grant program. both grants will be used for replacing aging buses and paratransit vehicles. with the board’s approval in november, a portion of the funds will also be used to purchase new electric buses .
passes, and also books of 10 tickets, are sold at savannah’s transportation hub, the joe murray rivers, jr. intermodal transit center, at 610 west oglethorpe avenue (three blocks north of the visitor center on martin luther king, jr boulevard, then left onto west oglethorpe. the bus station, which is also used for greyhound coach services, will be on your right). hours for ticket sales are monday - friday, 7am - 8pm .
in 2009, cat received a federal grant to purchase its first eleven hybrid buses. these buses improved fuel consumption, reduced exhaust emissions, and provided a quieter and smoother ride for the transit passengers. each bus was equipped with six on - board cameras and performed on battery power when traveling under 30 miles per hour. the addition of the hybrid buses to the fleet demonstrated cat’s commitment to be a responsible environmental partner in this community. 2009 also ushered the beginning of cat’s new brand and progressive movement into the future .
the electric streetcars continued to flourish through the 1920’s and 1930’s but were eventually overtaken by buses going into the 1940’s. in january 1946, the savannah elec­tric and power company sold its holdings to the savannah transit company (stc). on august 26, 1946, the last streetcar operated in savannah. the streetcar on this last trip was driven by motorman luther m. page who had been driving since 1912. with the dawning of the gasoline - powered city bus, mr. page chose to retire rather than to learn how to drive a bus .
cat has a major impact on the local economy by carry­ing people to work, to school, to medical appointments, and other activities. as part of the transportation development plan (tdp) completed in 2000, an on - board rider survey was con­ducted which indicated that 83% of riders use cat to travel to work or to school (kindergarten through the university level). the collective income of employed riders who used cat to commute was estimated to be $ 122, 000, 000. a second tdp completed in late 2006 yielded route improvement, technology and marketing recom­mendations as well as results of rider and telephone surveys. cat’s future growth and direction was mapped out for the next five years, and as a result of the community’s input, the future called for different approaches to how we view public transit .
enter your trip details below to determine the best route for your trip. it' s easy !
the early streetcars were staffed by a motorman who stood on an open platform. he wore a heavy wool blue coat and trousers year round. there was no heat on board and the motorman stood in a cardboard box with rags wrapped around his feet to stay warm during the colder months. pas­sengers fared no better than the motorman as there was no heat in the streetcars .
in 1951, the stc had a contest for the design of a new bus token. an azalea de­sign was chosen and 100, 000 tokens were produced. pas­sengers did not care for these tokens because they could not use a safety pin to secure the tokens on their shirt or jacket. a short time later, the stc ordered the azalea to­ken with a hole punched in the center and passengers were once again happy .
with increased hours of operation, quality customer service, and an outstanding safety record, ridership increased over 32 percent from 1987 to 1990. revenue increased and cat’s preventive maintenance and other cost - saving programs reduced its operating costs .
cat’s annual ridership rose from 3. 5 million trips in 1990 to 3. 6 million in 1993. new buses replaced those older buses still in the pre - 1987 fleet. four new teleride vans were purchased, increasing the fleet to fourteen .
in 1997, four 20 - passenger diesel vans were purchased to replace the electric - powered cat shuttle buses as well as to augment service on other routes. with the arrival of these new vans, cat had 32 lift - equipped vehicles in its 65 - bus fleet. of cat’s 20 routes at that time, 15 were served by lift - equipped buses. also in 1997, cat initiated placement of new bus stop signs along some of its bus routes. these newly styled signs joined the orange bus standards which have been a savan­nah landmark since the mid - 1940’s .
in 1999, cat and the city of savannah signed an agree­ment that allowed cat to operate its downtown cat shuttle serving both residents and visitors fare - free .
the year 2000 marked new demands in flexibility for public transportation. in response to community requests, cat installed bicycle racks on all buses in its fleet. this year also saw the completion of cat’s strategic transportation development plan (tdp). recommendations from the tdp re­sulted in operations improvements and increased route efficiency .
in 2003, the arrival of 31 new low floor replacement buses with a voice annunciation system for major stops made cat’s fleet 100% lift equipped. that same year, cat took over the operation of the savannah belles ferry system with the construction and christening of the juliette gordon low and the susie king taylor, two distinct ferry vessels .
through a contract executed in 2005 with the city of savannah, cat operated the successful liberty st. park­ing shuttle on weekdays from the liberty parking garage to other municipal parking garages and major downtown destinations .
july 2012 brought the defeat of the t - splost vote, a transportation sales tax initiative designed to fund infrastructure and transportation projects across georgia as a countermeasure to declining federal and state funding. however, cat staff continue to seek alternative funding sources through grants and state legislation efforts .
other major project milestones during that time include collaborating with customers to revamp the paratransit plan and customer handbook to provide clearer guidelines and improve service; launching the cat freedom program, a wheelchair accessible taxi partnership designed to provide increased independence and cost - saving options to the community; completing the data - collecting and community input stages of a new tdp in order to shape the next five years of cat’s future; and progressing on the intelligent transportation system (its) project, installing hardware and testing components .
cat also stepped up for the community during hurricane matthew, providing free services before and after the evacuation, and helping to take and return the 4, 400 people who evacuated .
a convenient, cost - saving option to encourage employees to use public transportation to and from work .
learn about our organization, job opportunities, and what we' re doing to serve the community .
find ticket prices, sales locations, and calculate how much public transportation can save you .
see where cat can take you, and get the latest passenger schedule updates .
with reduced fares and a popular paratransit service, cat offers mobility options for everyone .
if you have any questions, please feel free to call our customer service ride line at (912) 233 - 5767 or visit our contact page (link at the top of each webpage) to fill out our online form. and as always, thank you for catching a cat !
catch a cat for free! click on the logo for information on our free dot shuttle, savannah belles ferry, and river st. streetcar .
find the answers to our customers’ most frequently asked questions (faq), and let us know if you have any to add .
cat is committed to providing you with the best possible service: on - time, safe, comfortable, and easy to use .
every day we strive to ensure that our service not only lives up to your expectations, but exceeds them. that is our promise to you! so when we help connect you with the people and places you love, or if we ever fall short on our promise of the highest quality service, please let us know .
5: 00 am – 4: 00 pm on saturday; and 8: 00 am – 4: 00 pm on sunday .
lost & found is located at cat central, 900 e. gwinnett street, savannah, ga 31401. please call ahead so your item can be located .
please use the form below to share your questions, suggestions, and comments. the data submitted will be treated confidentially and will not be disclosed to third parties .
if you are a human and are seeing this field, please leave it blank .
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how to find out about an emergency in the event of a major emergency or disaster, such as a hurricane, cema will activate warning sirens. whenever you hear a warning siren, you should go inside and check a tv or radio for advisories .
to find out when you can return home, call the cema re - entry hotline: 1 - 855 - 880 - 2362 (toll - free) .
the tvm is a ticket vending machine. it allows convenient purchasing of passes any day of the week, at any time, so that boarding the bus is as easy as tap & go !
discover the cost saving benefits of taking public transportation. click on the image and find out !
thanks to a partnership with the dot, cat provides the following downtown services for free: the dot shuttle, river street streetca r, and the savannah belles ferry. learn more about all of these free services on our ride free downtown page .
tickets and passes marked with an “h” are eligible for our half - fare program rates .
day pass unlimited trips for the day of activation. valid on local and commuter routes only .
stored value cards * choose an amount to load and tap the card to ride. reload as needed .
providing a discount to our frequent customers and saving time while boarding, the cat smartcard replaces all those troublesome paper tickets. load it with any of the pass amounts marked with an asterisk (*) above, and receive a discount when recharging it. simply tap your valid smartcard on the farebox when boarding, and then make yourself comfortable. you’ll wonder how you ever did without it !
public transportation is not only better for your health and the environment, it helps keep more money in your pocket. look at the chart below to see how you can save even more by using cat passes .
transfers are valid for 1½ hours (90 minutes) one - way on any local route. passengers must request a transfer
when paying with cash on the bus, please note that you must pay exact fare only. if the amount deposited in the farebox is more than the required fare, there is no way for change to be issued. for security reasons, operators do not carry money for change .
day passes can also be purchased on the buses. upon boarding the bus, and before depositing $ 3. 00, passengers must inform the bus operator that they would like to purchase a day pass .
bent, folded or wet paper passes / change cards can get stuck in the farebox and may not be readable. please keep them flat and dry. better yet, put your pass amount on a smartcard .
passes or change cards that are lost, stolen, or damaged are not replaceable, exchangeable or eligible for cash refunds .
a ride cannot exceed one roundtrip per bus and should rightfully terminate one - way at the end of the line .
young children under 41″ tall (height of most fareboxes) ride free. only two young children per accompanying passenger may ride free .
youths / seniors / disabled passengers must show cat id card or present a medicare health insurance card issued pursuant to sections ii and xviii of the social security act when boarding .
learn more about our half - fare program, including how to apply, today .
to pursue a career at cat, please read our current opportunity information below and follow the steps needed to apply for any open positions .
interested applicants should email their resume to our hr department and include the position being applied for in the subject line. thank you!
chatham area transit is the provider of public transportation in the savannah , georgia metropolitan area . the authority was founded in 1987 after the collapse of previous transit providers . services operate 7 days a week and 90 % of county residents are within reasonable walking distance of a bus route . 
chatham area transit is the provider of public transportation in the savannah, georgia metropolitan area. the authority was founded in 1987 after the collapse of previous transit providers. services operate 7 days a week and 90% of county residents are within reasonable walking distance of a bus route.
chatham area transit is the provider of public transportation in the savannah, georgia metropolitan area. the authority was founded in 1987 after the collapse of previous transit providers. services operate 7 days a week and 90% of county residents are within reasonable walking distance of a bus route.