Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit
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Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, usually referred to as TCAT, is a network of bus routes serving Tompkins County and the Towns of Richford, Berkshire & Newark Valley in Tioga County, New York. The vast majority of TCAT bus routes are based in the City of Ithaca, New York and the Ithaca urban area. TCAT routes serve Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3).
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[edit] Routes
Currently, thirty-eight bus routes comprise the TCAT system. 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. Some notable routes are as follows:
- Route 10 is a loop shuttle service between the Cornell University Campus and downtown Ithaca (The Commons.) Service is every ten minutes, the most frequent of any route on the system, and runs Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Route 11 connects the Ithaca College Campus with downtown Ithaca. It runs every half hour Monday through Saturday until 7:00 p.m. and hourly on Sunday until around 5:00 p.m.. It also serves the Longview Retirement Home. Monday through Saturday, every other 11 bus becomes a route 15 bus after passing the commons (see below.) On Sundays, every 11 bus becomes a 15.
- Route 12 is a night service that connects that Cornell and Ithaca College campuses, stopping at the Commons in between. It runs hourly from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
- Route 13 connects the Commons with the Ithaca High School, P&C, Aldi, Stewart Park, with Pyramid Mall. Route 13 runs hourly Monday through Friday from 6:14 am to 7:25 pm, and on Saturday from 7:30 am to 8:25 pm.
- Route 14 runs between the West Hill Neighborhood of Ithaca with the commons. It also stops at the Ithaca Bus Terminal for connections to Greyhound and Coach USA Inter-city bus service.
- Route 15 connects the Ithaca Commons with Wegmans and Tops Supermarkets, also stopping at Walmart, Kmart, Lowes Home Improvement and other shops along the way. Feeds from the 11 route.
- Route 16 connects the Fall Creek area of Ithaca with the Commons and also stops at Ithaca High School and the TCAT Facility.
- Route 17 connects the Commons with the TCAT facility and offices.
- Route 19 connects the Commons with the hospital (Cayuga Medical Center.)
- Route 30 links the Commons with the Pyramid Mall, running through the Cornell Campus along the way. Service is every half hour, during peak periods every fifteen minutes. Runs seven days a week. Route 30 also serves as the main service for Cornell students going to the Commons when the 10 bus isn't running.
- Route 31 connects the Commons with Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport
- Route 35 connects North Campus to Cayuga Heights and Pyramid Mall on Saturdays & Sundays.
- Routes 41 and 43 connect the commons with Tompkins Courtland Community College (TC3), passing through Cornell University. Please note that the trip from the Commons to TC3 is a multi zone fare.
- Routes 80, 81, 82, 83, and 85 are Cornell campus services that connect the various parking lots and academic centers of Cornell University.
- Routes 92 and 93 are Cornell Blue-Light night services that run until 2 a.m. and are composites of some of the daytime routes.
Other routes link the rural parts of Tompkins County with Ithaca. These services are comparably infrequent, usually running only every few hours (generally coinciding with typical commuter schedules) on weekdays only.
For complete list of routes and schedules, see here.
[edit] Fleet
TCAT operates a mix of 42 low and high floor buses. 90% of TCAT's fleet is ADA compliant. The fleet consists mainly of the following models:
- Orion 01.501 (some from predecessor providers, some ex-CDTA)
- NovaBus RTS-06 WFD
- NovaBus LFS
- New Flyer D40LF
- Gillig Low Floor (being delivered)
In 2007, TCAT will receive its first three hybrid electric buses as part of a statewide order with Gillig.
[edit] Fares
As of August 20th, 2006, TCAT has eliminated the zone fare structure and now charges a flat fare, regardless of point of origin or destination. Cash fares are $1.50 for adults 18-59, $1.25 for children 6-17 and $0.75 for seniors 60 and older. As always, children 5 and younger ride free with a fare paying adult. Remember, drivers do not make change. Pay the exact fare if at all possible.
Free transfers are also available to allow riders to complete their journey. Be sure to request a slip from the driver when you pay the fare, and use that slip to board your connecting bus.
[edit] Ten ride cards
Ten ride cards are available for adult, child, or senior fares and simply cost the price of ten fares. Cards for adults are $15.00, children are $12.50, and seniors are $7.50. Remember, you need to use transfer slips when using a ten ride card, or else you'll be charged twice.
[edit] Passes
A daily pass valid for one calendar day costs $3.00 (it makes sense if you plan to use the bus more than twice per day, since it costs two one-way fares and completely eliminates the need for transfer slips.)
Two, five, and eight day passes are valid for bus travel on 2, 5, or 8 consecutive days (i.e. the clock starts running the first day you use the pass in a bus). The two day pass costs $6.00, the five day costs $12.50, and the eight day pass costs $18.00. Five and eight day passes offer substantial savings if you use the bus several days in a row.
A monthly pass valid for 30 days from the date of first usage is $45.00.
An annual pass costs $495, or can be paid in monthly installments of $41.25 charged to a Visa or MasterCard.
Additionally, there are passes specifically for K-12 and college students in Ithaca and Tompkins County:
Students aged 6-17 (or 18+ if still in high school) can obtain a Semester Youth Pass valid on any bus in Tompkins County through their school or directly from TCAT. The cost is $30 per semester (Sept-Dec or Jan-May). Additionally, a Summer Fun Pass can be obtained for $50 (June-August).
Ithaca College Students have the IC Student Pass. It costs $120 for a semester (8/15-12/31 or 1/1-5/31).
The Cornell Omni-Ride Pass is for Cornell University Students, Faculty, and Staff and costs $200 for the academic year. It provides unlimited bus travel.
Daily, weekly, monthly, and annual passes, the Ithaca College semester pass, and ten ride cards are magnetic tickets inserted into a reader near the farebox on boarding. The Cornell Omni Ride Card is an endorsement on the student or faculty member's ID card. The passes for K-12 students are on lanyards, which are harder to misplace and can be worn arround the neck for fast verification.
The majority of pass types, including all short term passes (1-8 days), passes for K-12 students, and the annual pass can only be purchased directly from the TCAT office or website. Ten ride cards and the monthly pass are sold at various outlets throughout the city of Ithaca and Tompkins County. The IC Student Pass must be purchased at the Ithaca College Book Store, and the Cornell Omni-Ride Pass should be obtained from Cornell Parking and Transportation Services.
[edit] Commonly asked questions about bus service
[edit] Does TCAT run on holidays?
There is no TCAT service on New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Service is sometimes reduced on other holidays, such as Labor Day and Christmas Eve, and service to and from the college campuses is reduced and/or suspended outright during semester and summer breaks. Check http://www.tcatbus.com for up-to-date holiday and break schedules.
[edit] How frequently do the buses run?
Routes 10 and 81 have service every ten minutes, while Route 30 is every half hour, with 15-minute service during peak hours in the morning and afternoon. Route 11 runs every half hour Monday through Saturday, and every hour on Sunday. See individual schedules for more information. Some service is adjusted to reflect seasonal needs. For example, Cornell campus service is significantly reduced during the summer months due to lower demand, while service to Buttermilk Park is greatly increased.
[edit] Is it true the Cornell night buses are free?
Cornell Students and Faculty showing a valid Cornell ID do not pay to ride the Blue Light Night Busses, regardless of whether they have an Omni-Ride pass or not. Cornell pays your fare.
[edit] Which routes take me to the bus terminal?
Routes 14, 20, and 21.
[edit] Which bus takes me to the airport?
Route 31.
[edit] Which routes serve Pyramid Mall?
13, 30, and 32 always serve Pyramid Mall, 37, 44, and 45 also serve the Mall on weekends.
