| Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit | |
| Headquarters: | 737 Willow Ave.42.4533°N -76.5056°W |
| Locale: | Ithaca, New York |
| Service Area: | Tompkins County, New York |
| Service Type: | bus service, paratransit |
| Routes: | 34 bus routes[1] |
| Hubs: | Commons (Green St., Seneca St., Albany St.) Cornell University Ithaca Mall |
| Fleet: | 54 vehicles[2] |
| Ridership: | |
| Annual Ridership: | |
| Fuel Type: | Diesel, Battery Electric |
| Operator: | TCAT, Inc. (fixed routes) GADABOUT (paratransit) |
Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc., usually referred to as TCAT, is a private, non-profit public transportation operator, created by Cornell University, Tompkins County, and the City of Ithaca to serve Tompkins County, New York. The vast majority of TCAT bus routes are based in the City of Ithaca and surrounding urban area. These routes serve Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Tompkins Cortland Community College. In, the system had a ridership of, or about per weekday as of .
As of 2019, TCAT operates 34 bus routes.[3] Door to door paratransit service is provided by GADABOUT Transportation Services, Inc.
Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) was formed in 1998 by consolidating three public transit systems – Ithaca Transit (City of Ithaca), TOMTRAN (Tompkins County)[4] and CU Transit (Cornell University) into a single system. In the 1960s the City and Cornell established independent bus systems which expanded throughout the next two decades. Service was first extended to serve Ithaca's suburbs in the 1970s, and to rural towns beginning in 1982. In 1974, a transit service in Northeast Ithaca (Lansing, Cayuga Heights and the Town of Ithaca) was started by apartment owners contracting with Swarthout Coaches to operate limited service for Cornell students, and as the public demand for service increased, the apartment owners sought assistance from local governments and Cornell University, which became Northeast Transit in 1978.
Tompkins County became involved in supporting suburban routes and in developing rural transit service. The County formed TOMTRAN to extend fixed-route bus service to Dryden, Caroline and Newark Valley[5] in 1982, Groton (1983), Newfield and Ulysses (1985), and Lansing and Danby (1991). In 1999, TCAT initiated bus service to Enfield, the last unserved town in the county. In 1992, the city, Cornell and County built a $5 million transit facility to base transit operations and fleet maintenance including GADABOUT.[6] In 1996, the New York State Legislature adopted a state law authorizing that "the county of Tompkins, the city of Ithaca and Cornell University may jointly provide for mass transportation services in the county of Tompkins.",[7] and on April 1, 1998, the City of Ithaca, Cornell University and Tompkins County established TCAT as a joint venture (public entity) to operate public transit service in Tompkins County, service began in 1999, establishing a unified route and fare system.[8] TCAT re-organized itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, TCAT. Inc. in 2005 with representatives of City of Ithaca, Cornell University, and Tompkins County serving on its board of directors.
In 1976, a consortium of municipalities and human service agencies formed GADABOUT Transportation Services to address travel needs of seniors and people with disabilities and today operates the Federally mandated paratransit service for Tompkins County. Although GADABOUT did not join TCAT in 1998, the two companies are still closely related, with GADABOUT leasing space and maintenance services from TCAT.
As of December 2019, thirty-six bus routes comprise the TCAT system.[9] 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. TCAT's main hub is Green Street Station, off of the Commons, a two-block pedestrian mall in downtown Ithaca. Most non South Hill routes run through the Cornell University campus; East Avenue and Tower Road near Uris and Statler Halls is considered a secondary hub.[10]
| Route # | Route Name | Terminals | Days of Service | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outbound | Inbound | |||||
| 13 | Fall Creek – Mall – Commons | The Shops at Ithaca MallThe Shops at Ithaca Mall | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsGreen St. @ Commons | Monday – Saturday | |
| 14 | West Hill – Hospital – Commons | HospitalCayuga Medical Center | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsGreen St. @ Commons | Everyday | |
| 14S | West Hill – Shopping | West HillOverlook Apts. | ↔ | WalmartWalmart | Everyday | |
| 15 | Southside Shopper | LOOPIthaca Commons (Seneca St. @ Commons) – Southside — Titus Towers — WalMart — Titus Towers — Southside — Ithaca Commons (Green St. @ Commons)] | Everyday | |||
| 17 | TCAT – Fall Creek – Commons | TCATTCAT Garage | ↔ | Ithaca Commons Seneca St. @ Commons | EverydayIrregular Service | |
| Ithaca Commons Green St. @ Commons | ||||||
| Cornell Vet SchoolARR:Vet School DEP:Boyce Thompson Institute | ||||||
| Hasbrouck ApartmentsHasbrouck Apts. | ||||||
| Note: Most TCAT bus routes serve the Downtown Ithaca Commons. Rts. 20 and 21 also serve West Hill. Select Rt. 36 services also serve Fall Creek. See "Rural Routes" section. | ||||||
| Route # | Route Name | Terminals | Days of Service | |||
| Outbound | Inbound | |||||
| 11 | Ithaca College – Commons | Ithaca CollegeCollege Circle Apts. | ↔ | Ithaca Commons Green St. @ Commons | Weekdays Only | |
| 11N | Ithaca College – Commons – Collegetown | Multi-Section RouteIthaca College (College Circle Apts.) – Ithaca Commons (Green St. @ Commons) – Collegetown (Schwartz CPA) | Night Time Only | |||
| 11S | Ithaca College – Commons – Southside Shopping | LOOPIthaca College (College Circle Apts.) – Ithaca Commons – WalMart — Ithaca Commons — Ithaca College (College Circle Apts.) | Everyday | |||
| Note: Rt. 65 also serves Lower South Hill and Ithaca College. See "Rural Routes" Section | ||||||
| Route # | Route Name | Terminals | Days of Service | |||
| Outbound | Inbound | |||||
| 10 | Cornell – Commons | LOOPIthaca Commons (Seneca St. @ Commons) – Cornell West and Central Campus – Ithaca Commons (Seneca St. @ Commons) | Weekdays Only | |||
| 30 | Mall — Cornell — Commons | The Shops at Ithaca MallThe Shops at Ithaca Mall | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsSeneca St. @ Commons | Everyday | |
| 31 | Convenient Care – Cornell – Commons | LOOPIthaca Commons (Green St. @ Commons) – Cornell Central Campus – Convenient Care – Winston Court — Cornell Central Campus — Ithaca Commons (Seneca St. @ Commons)] | Weekdays Only | |||
| 32 | Airport – Cornell – Commons | Ithaca Tompkins Regional AirportAirport | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsARR:Seneca St. @ Commons DEP:Green St. @ Commons | Weekdays Only | |
| Northwood ApartmentsNorthwood Apts. | ||||||
| 51 | Eastern Heights – Cornell – Commons | LOOP Ithaca Commons (Seneca St. @ Commons) – Tower Rd. (Cornell) – East Ithaca – Eastern Heights (Skyvue @ Snyder Hill) – East Ithaca – Tower Rd. (Cornell) – Ithaca Commons (Seneca St. @ Commons) | Everyday | |||
| 70 | Mall – Cornell – Commons | The Shops at Ithaca MallThe Shops at Ithaca Mall | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsSeneca St. @ Commons | Weekends Only | |
| 72 | Airport – Cornell – Commons | Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport Airport | ↔ | Ithaca Commons ARR:Seneca St. @ Commons DEP:Green St. @ Commons | Weekends Only | |
| Northwood Apartments Northwood Apts. | ||||||
| 77 | Warren @ Farrell – Winston Court – Mall | LOOPThe Shops at Ithaca Mall (The Shops at Ithaca Mall) – Warren Rd. – Winston Court – The Shops at Ithaca Mall (The Shops at Ithaca Mall) | Saturday Only | |||
| Note:Rt. 13 also serves the Mall. See "Downtown and West Hill" section. Rts. 41, 53, and 75 also serve Cornell University. See "Rural Routes" Section. Select Services on Rts. 20, 21, 36, 40, 43, 52, 65, and 67 also serve East Hill and Cornell University, mostly during peak hours. See "Rural Routes" section. Select Rt. 17 services also serve East Hill, Collegetown, and Cornell University. Services are limited and irregular. See "Downtown and West Hill" section. | ||||||
| Route # | Route Name | Terminals | Days of Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outbound | Inbound | ||||
| 20 | Enfield | EnfieldEnfield Highway Department | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsGreen St. @ Commons | Everyday |
| Cornell Central Campus and Vet SchoolARR:Boyce Thompson Institute ARR:Dairy Bar DEP:Vet School | |||||
| 21 | Trumansburg – Jacksonville | TrumansburgAubles Trailer Park | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsGreen St. @ Commons | Everyday |
| Cornell Vet SchoolARR:Boyce Thompson Institute DEP:Vet School | |||||
| 36 | South Lansing | South LansingLansing Fire Company #3 | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsARR:Seneca St. @ Commons DEP:Green St. @ Commons | Weekdays Only |
| Lansing High SchoolLansing School | Cornell Vet SchoolARR:Boyce Thompson Institute DEP:Vet School | ||||
| Ithaca High SchoolLake St. @ Ithaca High School | |||||
| 37 | North Lansing | North LansingLansing Fire Station #4 | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsARR:Seneca St. @ Commons DEP:Green St. @ Commons | Weekdays Only |
| Springbrook Apartments Springbrook @ Farrell | |||||
| South LansingLansing Town Hall | Cornell Central CampusARR:Sage Hall DEP:Dairy Bar | ||||
| 40 | Groton – Freeville | GrotonGroton Express Mart | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsSeneca St. @ Commons | Everyday |
| 41 | Etna Demand-and-Response (DAR) Zone | Etna DAR Zone | ↔ | CollegetownSchwartz CPA | Everyday |
| 43 | Dryden – TC3 | Tompkins Cortland Community CollegeTC3 | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsSeneca St. @ Commons | Everyday |
| Groton – Freeville – TC3 – Dryden | GrotonGroton Express Mart | ||||
| 52 | Caroline – Brooktondale | CarolineCaroline Turnaround | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsARR:Seneca St. @ Commons DEP:Green St. @ Commons | Everyday |
| Cornell Vet SchoolARR:Vet School | |||||
| 53 | Brooktondale – Ellis Hollow – Varna | AM LOOPIthaca Commons (Green St. @ Commons) – Brooktondale – Ellis Hollow – Varna – Cornell – Ithaca Commons (Seneca St. @ Commons) | Weekdays Only | ||
| PM LOOPIthaca Commons (Green St. @ Commons) – Cornell – Varna – Ellis Hollow – Brooktondale – Ithaca Commons (Seneca St. @ Commons) | |||||
| 65 | Danby – South Hill | DanbyHillview TerraceMobile Home Park | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsARR:Seneca St. @ Commons DEP:Green St. @ Commons DEP:Aurora St. @ Commons | Monday – Saturday |
| Cornell Vet SchoolARR:Boyce Thompson Institute DEP:Vet School | |||||
| 67 | Newfield | NewfieldNewfield Central School | ↔ | Ithaca CommonsGreen St. @ Commons | Everyday |
| Cornell Vet SchoolARR:Boyce Thompson Institute DEP:Vet School | |||||
| 74 | Groton – Mall | GrotonGroton Express Mart | ↔ | The Shops at Ithaca MallThe Shops at Ithaca Mall | Weekends |
| Ithaca CommonsGreen St. @ Commons | |||||
| 75 | Dryden – Mall | Tompkins Cortland Community CollegeTC3 Dorms | ↔ | The Shops at Ithaca MallThe Shops at Ithaca Mall | Weekends |
| Ithaca CommonsDEP:Green St. @ Commons | |||||
| Route # | Route Name | Terminals | Days of Service | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outbound | Inbound | |||||
| 81 | A Lot – Vet School via Central Campus or Judd Falls Rd. | Cornell Vet SchoolARR:Dairy Bar ARR:Boyce Thompson Institute DEP:Vet School (Early Morning) | ↔ | Cornell Parking Lot AA Lot – Lower Stop | Weekdays OnlyEarly Morning and Peak Time Only | |
| Cornell Vet SchoolDairy Bar (Peak Hours) | ||||||
| 82 | Hasbrouck – East Hill Plaza via Central Campus and Tower Rd | East Hill PlazaEast Hill Plaza | ↔ | Cornell Parking Lot AA Lot – Lower Stop (Except Morning Peak) | Weekday Only | |
| Hasbrouck ApartmentsHasbrouck (Morning Peak Only) | ||||||
| 83 | North Campus – Central Campus via Cradit Farm Dr | LOOPHasbrouck Apartments (Hasbrouck) – North Campus – Central Campus | Weekday Only | |||
| 83W | West Campus – Central Campus via Campus Rd | LOOPWest Campus (Stewart @ University) – Central Campus (Uris Hall Across Street) | Weekdays OnlyMorning Peak Only | |||
| 90 | Collegetown – North Campus | LOOPCollegetown (Schwartz CPA) – Central Campus – North Campus (Robert Purcell Community Center) – Cradit Farm Dr. – Central Campus – Collegetown (Schwartz CPA) | EverydayNight Service Only | |||
| 92 | North Campus – Collegetown – East Hill Plaza via Tower Rd | LOOPHasbrouck Apartments (Hasbrouck) – North Campus – Thurston Ave – West Campus – Collegetown (Schwartz CPA) – Tower Rd – Maple Ave – East Hill Plaza (East Hill Plaza) | Weekday Night Time;Weekends | |||
| 93 | North Campus – Collegetown – Eastern Heights via Hoy Rd | LOOPHasbrouck (Hasbrouck Apartments) – North Campus – Thurston Ave – West Campus – Collegetown (Schwartz CPA) – Maple Ave – East Hill Plaza – East Ithaca – Eastern Heights (Skyvue @ Snyder Hill) | EverydayNight Time Only | |||
| Note: Day time only, Rts. 52 and 53 also serve the East Ithaca community. See "Rural Routes" section. | ||||||
TCAT operates a mix of fifty-one 35 ft and 40 ft transit buses and three small 14-seat buses. All TCAT buses are wheelchair accessible. The fleet is composed of vehicles manufactured by Gillig, Nova Bus, New Flyer Industries, and Orion Bus Industries.
| Fleet Number(s) | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 204,206,208 | 2002 | New Flyer | D40LF | ||
| 601–608 | 2006 | Gillig | Advantage T40 | ||
| 610–612 | 2006 | Ford | E450 | ||
| 613–614 | 2007 | Gillig | Advantage T40 Hybrid | ||
| 701–703 | 2007 | Gillig | Advantage T40 Hybrid | ||
| 901–902 | 2009 | Gillig | Advantage T40 | ||
| 1102–1103 | 2011 | Gillig | Advantage T40 Hybrid | ||
| 1104–1106, 1108–1109, 1118 (Formerly 1107) | 2011 | Gillig | Advantage T40 | ||
| 1110–1114, 1116 | 2011 | Orion | VII Next Generation Bus | ||
| 1501–1502 | 2015 | Gillig | Advantage T40 | ||
| 1601–1605 | 2016 | Gillig | Advantage T40 | ||
| 1801–1811 | 2018 | Gillig | Advantage T40 | ||
| 1901–1909 | 2019 | New Flyer | XD40 | ||
| 1910–1912 | 2019 | Champion | DF350 |
TCAT charges an adult fare at $1.50 for all trips. Cash customers are entitled to one free transfer upon request. Seniors and those with disabilities pay half-fare, as do children under 18. Additionally, up to three children, aged five or younger, travel free with an adult.