KAT, Palm Tran to launch new bus services

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

KAT

The launch of KAT’s new bus network, KAT Reimagined, is set for Aug. 26. To make the transition easier, KAT is offering free bus service for two weeks, from Aug. 26 through Sept. 8, 2024, allowing everyone to experience the benefits of a new and improved transit system.  

“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,” said Isaac Thorne, city of Knoxville director of transit.  

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. The system-wide redesign is focused on providing consistent and frequent service across the city, with routes operating seven days a week.  

Service improvements include:  

• Consistent service, seven days a week: The majority of routes will operate throughout the week, with only three exceptions, resulting in a 150 percent increase in Sunday service.  
• Increased frequency: With KAT Reimagined, 12,000 more residents will have access to buses running every 15 minutes—an 80 percent increase. Most routes will feature service intervals of 30 minutes or better.  

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

     o Route 31 will offer 15-minute service along Magnolia Avenue through 6:15 p.m. on weekdays.

The new network will enable access to 18,300 jobs within a 45-minute commute, with a 24 percent increase in accessibility for low-income populations.  

KAT is also introducing a new Downtown Connector, running every 12 minutes, seven days a week, using the agency’s all-electric buses. The addition will contribute to reduced air and noise pollution in the downtown area, aligning with the agency’s commitment to sustainability.    

The KAT Reimagined project was initiated to address public demand for more frequent and consistent service throughout the week. The comprehensive reimagining of KAT’s bus network involved extensive public outreach and engagement, 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 individuals also attended public meetings, both via Zoom and in- person.  

Throughout the process, KAT says it explored different transit priorities, balancing the need for more frequent trips in key areas to encourage ridership, with the goal of expanding coverage to more locations, albeit with less frequent service. After multiple rounds of draft networks and public consultations, the final KAT Reimagined bus network was approved in April 2024.  

Passengers don’t have to wait until launch day to plan their trips. The Transit app now features a bus network preview tool, allowing users to explore the new routes in advance.

Palm Tran

Palm Tran is launching its BusLink pilot program Sept. 3, 2024.  

The new BusLink program will serve areas in Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach and Boca Raton, Fla. Approved by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, the program will replace low ridership routes – route 21, 52 and segments of 92.

Palm Tran will reinvest the savings from the route replacements into faster and more frequent service, including new increased 20-minute weekday service to route 3, increased 30-minute Sunday service to route 3, increased 40-minute weekday service to route 20 and more.  

The hours of operation for BusLink will be weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Riders are responsible for any trip charges that are more than $8. Eligible trips must have a Palm Tran bus stop within the BusLink zone as a pickup or drop off location. The driver will pick up / drop off within 800 feet of the bus stop for the rider’s safety and convenience. There is also a limit of two vouchers a day per account.

Palm Tran notes passengers may also use the BusLink program through Yellow Cab Taxi service, including ADA accommodations with wheelchair accessible vehicles. Riders who use Yellow Cab must first sign up for the program on Palm Tran’s website and then contact Yellow Cab Taxi by phone to set up their ride.

“We are thrilled to launch the Bus Link program, which aligns with our commitment to providing innovative and accessible transportation solutions,” said Ivan Maldonado, Palm Tran’s executive director. “This program not only connects residents to our fixed-route network, but also opens up new opportunities for reaching essential services and destinations.”