12/12/2024 – Chatham Area Transit (CAT) is excited to announce the relaunch of its Microtransit On-Demand service, a flexible and convenient zero-fare pilot program designed to meet Chatham County’s evolving transportation needs.
The service will officially launch in Zone Two – West Chatham, a critical area supporting workforce development, on Sunday, December 15. The zone will cover parts of Jimmy Deloach Parkway, the Highlands neighborhood, and Benton Boulevard. Operating seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., the service enables riders to request on-demand rides within the zone through a user-friendly app. Additionally, the service provides a multimodal integration feature that connects trips to and from the zone with CAT’s fixed-route bus network.
“This relaunch represents our commitment to innovation and inclusivity in public transit,” said Dedrick Cody, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Microtransit allows us to reduce barriers and give our riders the flexibility they need in their daily commutes.”
From April 2024 to June 2024, CAT successfully piloted its first Microtransit zone in East Savannah. During this period, Microtransit serviced over 1,000 riders and provided over 930 unique trips that facilitated direct access to jobs, medical appointments, and essential needs.
“There is a demand for Microtransit in our communities,” said Stephanie Cutter, CAT Interim Executive Director/CEO. “What CAT is doing is first-of-its-kind, and we are grateful for the partnerships with our national, state, and local leaders who help make this possible.”
The CAT SMART Microtransit Pilot Project is funded through the $1.2 Million USDOT SMART (Strengthening Mobility & Revolutionizing Transportation) Grant, and partnerships with the ATU Local 1324, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, and Savannah State University. CAT received the grant, secured by U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock, in April 2023.
CAT will launch a Facebook live-stream event on Monday, December 16, to share more details about the Microtransit pilot program, answer questions, and demonstrate how to use the service.
For more information, head to https://catchacat.org/smart
