Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) is excited to announce the launch of its new bus network, KAT Reimagined, starting on August 26, 2024. To make this transition easier for the community, KAT is providing free bus service for two weeks, from August 26, 2024 through September 8, 2024. This initiative aims to allow everyone to experience the benefits of the new and improved transit system.
Isaac Thorne, City of Knoxville’s Director of Transit, stated, “KAT Reimagined is a transformative step forward for our community. By providing more frequent and consistent service, we are not only enhancing accessibility and convenience but also making a significant impact on our city’s sustainability goals. We’re thrilled to offer two weeks of free service to give everyone a chance to experience the benefits of our new network firsthand.”
Latest TN News
The KAT Reimagined bus network will feature 20 fixed routes, bringing more than 94,000 Knoxville residents within a quarter-mile walk of a bus stop. This system-wide redesign focuses on providing consistent and frequent service across the city, with routes operating seven days a week. For more detailed information, visit the KAT Reimagined System Map.
### Service Improvements
– **Consistent Service, 7 Days a Week:** The majority of routes will operate throughout the week, with only three exceptions, resulting in a 150% increase in Sunday service.
– **Increased Frequency:** With KAT Reimagined, 12,000 more residents will have access to buses running every 15 minutes—an 80% increase. Most routes will feature service intervals of 30 minutes or better.
– Routes 11 / 17 will combine to provide 15-minute service along Cumberland and Sutherland to Bearden on weekdays.
– Route 31 will offer 15-minute service along Magnolia Avenue through 6:15 PM on weekdays.
### Enhanced Access to Jobs
The new network will enable access to 18,300 jobs within a 45-minute commute, with a 24% increase in accessibility for low-income populations, marking a 19% increase in job accessibility.
### New Downtown Connector
KAT is also introducing a new Downtown Connector, running every 12 minutes, 7 days a week, using all-electric buses. This addition will help reduce air and noise pollution in the downtown area, aligning with the city’s commitment to sustainability.
### Ongoing Commitment to Improvement
KAT will continue to assess the performance of its services and implement improvements as needed, ensuring that the transit network evolves with the needs of the community.
### Background on KAT Reimagined
The KAT Reimagined project was initiated to address public demand for more frequent and consistent service throughout the week. This comprehensive redesign involved extensive public outreach and engagement, including input from hundreds of bus passengers, over 40 organizations representing diverse community interests, and more than 1,000 participants in online and in-person surveys. The final KAT Reimagined bus network was approved in April 2024.
### Plan Your Trip
Passengers can plan their trips in advance using the Transit app, which now features a bus network preview tool. To download this free app, visit TransitApp.com or search “Transit” in your app store.
For more information or to review the new route maps and schedules, visit KATBus.com or view this guide. Printed route maps and schedules are also available at the Knoxville Station, located at 301 Church Avenue.
View All News
Source: Read Original Release
Lane Closures in West Tennessee, August 2024
From August 14 to August 21, 2024, various daytime and nighttime lane closures will occur across multiple counties in West Tennessee‘s Region 4 to facilitate repairs and new installations.