Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Palm Tran in Palm Beach County, Florida, are launching new bus routes to better serve riders in the agency’s respective regions.

CAT

The launch of KAT’s new bus network, KAT Reimagined, is scheduled for August 26. To ease the transition, KAT will offer free bus service for two weeks, from August 26 to September 8, 2024, so everyone can experience the benefits of a new and improved transport system.

“KAT Reimagined is a transformative step forward for our community. By providing more frequent and consistent service, we are not only improving accessibility and convenience, but we are also making a significant impact on our city’s sustainability goals. We are excited to offer two weeks of free service so everyone has the opportunity to experience the benefits of our new network firsthand,” said Isaac Thorne, City of Knoxville Transportation Director.

KAT’s redesigned bus network will include 20 fixed routes serving more than 94,000 Knoxville residents within a quarter-mile walking radius of a bus stop. The system-wide redesign aims to provide consistent and frequent service throughout the city, with routes operating seven days a week.

Service improvements include:

• Continuous service seven days a week: With only three exceptions, most lines are also operated during the week, resulting in a 150 percent increase in Sunday service.
• Increased frequency: With KAT Reimagined, 12,000 more residents will be able to access buses that run every 15 minutes – an increase of 80 percent. Most lines will run every 30 minutes or less.

o Routes 11/17 will be merged to provide 15-minute service along Cumberland and Sutherland to Bearden on weekdays.

o The 31 line offers 15-minute service along Magnolia Avenue on weekdays until 6:15 p.m.

The new network will enable 18,300 workplaces to be reached within 45 minutes, representing a 24 percent improvement in accessibility for low-income populations.

KAT is also introducing a new Downtown Connector that will operate every 12 minutes, seven days a week, using the agency’s all-electric buses. The expansion will help reduce air and noise pollution downtown and is consistent with the agency’s commitment to sustainability.

The KAT Reimagined project was created to meet public demand for more frequent and consistent service throughout the week. The comprehensive redesign of KAT’s bus network required extensive public outreach and participation, including input from hundreds of bus passengers, more than 40 organizations representing diverse community interests, and more than 1,000 participants in online and in-person surveys. More than 100 people also participated in public meetings, both via Zoom and in person.

Throughout the process, KAT says it examined various public transport priorities, balancing the need for more frequent journeys in key areas to encourage ridership with the aim of extending coverage to more locations, albeit with less frequent journeys. After several rounds of network designs and public consultations, KAT’s final redesigned bus network was approved in April 2024.

Riders don’t have to wait until launch day to plan their trips. The Transit app now has a bus network preview tool that allows users to explore the new routes in advance.

Palm Tran

Palm Tran will launch its BusLink pilot program on September 3, 2024.

The new BusLink program will serve areas in Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach and Boca Raton, Florida. Approved by the Palm Beach County Commission, the program will replace low-ridership routes – Routes 21, 52 and portions of Route 92.

Palm Tran will reinvest savings from the route swap in faster, more frequent service, including a new, extended 20-minute weekday frequency on Line 3, an extended 30-minute Sunday frequency on Line 3, an extended 40-minute weekday frequency on Line 20, and more.

BusLink operating hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays. Riders are responsible for rides over $8. Eligible rides must have a Palm Tran bus stop within the BusLink zone as a pick-up or drop-off location. The driver will pick up or drop off passengers within 800 feet of the bus stop for safety and convenience. There is also a limit of two vouchers per day per account.

Palm Tran notes that passengers can also use the BusLink program through Yellow Cab Taxi service, including ADA accommodations with wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Passengers using Yellow Cab must first enroll in the program on Palm Tran’s website and then contact Yellow Cab Taxi by phone to schedule their ride.

“We are excited to launch the Bus Link program, which aligns with our commitment to providing innovative and accessible transportation solutions,” said Ivan Maldonado, Palm Tran’s CEO. “This program not only connects residents to our route network, but also opens up new ways to reach important services and destinations.”