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TCAT is rolling out temporary, but longer-term route adjustments, effective Sun., Oct. 22 through Sat., Jan. 20, as the agency continues to contend with driver shortages and limited bus availability.
These latest changes include strategic reductions to urban, campus, suburban and rural service. They will go into effect on the heels of a shorter emergency-service period TCAT put into effect Sept. 14 through Oct. 21, in response to a spate of missed trips. TCAT staff hope the next three months will give staff the time to rebuild the ranks of drivers and for the agency to fully benefit from improved maintenance protocols, which are already getting more buses maintained, repaired and on the road faster.
Since the start of TCAT’s fall service period Aug. 20, dispatchers have been forced to cut service at the last minute to high-demand routes, mostly the 10, 30 and 81, with little notice to riders. Missed trips have been especially frustrating for morning commuters, causing many to be late to school, appointments, and work and/or being forced to walk long distances after being bypassed by full buses. Dispatchers typically eliminate trips on high-frequency routes because those routes have less wait time before the next bus comes along. But continuous last-minute cuts to these higher-performing routes threaten a downward spiral of lost ridership, which, in turn, can damage the entire system.
“We deeply apologize to the many riders whose daily lives have been continuously disrupted by our inability to provide the service they deserve, and hope these more strategic changes over the current emergency cuts will lessen some of those inconveniences,” said TCAT General Manager Scot Vanderpool. “Our planners made every effort at cutting trips where there are alternatives, though not as convenient, will still enable riders to get to and from their destinations. It’s always difficult to reduce any service, but our priority must be to ensure that we stick to the schedules we say we are running.”
TCAT is striving to keep customers informed with pre-planned service reductions, but there remains the chance that unforeseen circumstances can affect service. TCAT asks riders to please check its Bus Tracker for the status of their routes. The Bus Tracker also includes passenger alerts, which are also streamed on the red banner across TCAT’s home page. Riders are also encouraged to download real-time information apps, to include the Transit app, which is now connected to data platform creator, Swiftly. See TCAT’s app page for a list of apps available.
According to TCAT’s Policy: Public Notice for Fare Increases and Major Service Reductions, “temporary” service changes mean short term changes to fixed-route bus and paratransit services caused by road construction and maintenance, road closures, emergency road conditions, fiscal crisis, civil (and labor) disputes, any other uncontrollable circumstances and seasonal service (e.g., summer service) that last for 180 days or less. TCAT’s aim is to restore service for the next service period, starting Jan. 21.
Routes that will not run
- 14S (West Hill shopper) All service Mon.-Sun. cut. As an alternative, riders are advised to use route 14 to travel downtown, and transfer to a route 15 that serves southwest retailers.
- 83 (Cornell Campus/Cayuga Heights) Cayuga Heights riders are urged to use route 31 for alternative service.
Routes with no changes (per original fall schedules)
- 10 (Commons/Cornell)
- 30 (Ithaca Mall/Cornell/Commons)
- 31 (Winston Court/ Etna/ Cornell)
- 77 (Lansing Town Hall/ Etna/Winston Court)
- 81 (Cornell Campus)
Routes to be adjusted:
11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 32, 36, 37, 40, 43, 51, 52, 65, 67, 82, 90 &, 92
New maps and timetables will soon be published on TCAT’s schedules page and printed copies will be available by emailing TCAT at tcat@tcatmail.com or calling (607) 277-RIDE (7433).[/one_half]
Click on individual routes or see highlights belows:
- 11 (Ithaca College/Commons)
Mon.-Fri. The first five stops at Longview are now demand-only. (Riders must alert their drivers or pull the yellow cord indicating they want to stop there.)
Sat-Sun. No changes.
- 13 (Commons/Fall Creek/Aldi/Ithaca High School/TCAT)
Mon.-Fri. Many a.m. and p.m. timing adjustments. Outbound from downtown: Adds 7:48 a.m.; 9:20 a.m. and 9:50 a.m. trips. Eliminates 11:10 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. trips.
Sat.-Sun. No changes.
- 14 (Cayuga Medical Center/ West Hill/Commons)
Mon.-Fri.. Last outbound trip from Green St. Station leaves one hour earlier at 8 p.m.
Sat.-Sun. No changes.
- 15 (Southside Shopping)
Mon.-Fri. Last outbound trip from Green St. Station leaves one hour earlier at 7:21 p.m.
Sat.-Sun. No changes.
- 17 (TCAT/Fall Creek/ Commons)
Mon.-Sun. Numerous timing adjustments based on changes to other routes.
- 20 (Enfield/ Commons)
Mon.-Fri.
Outbound from the Commons: Eliminates the 7:48 a.m.; 12:55 a.m. and 5:38 p.m. trips.
Inbound from Enfield: Eliminates the 8:13 a.m.; 1:20 p.m. and 6:07 p.m. trips.
Sat. No changes. (Route does not run on Sunday.)
- 21 (Trumansburg/Jacksonville/ Commons)
Mon.-Fri.
Outbound from the Commons: Eliminates the 6:55 a.m.; 12:00 p.m.; and 7:15 p.m. trips.
Inbound from Compass Manufactured Home Community: Eliminates the 7:28 a.m.; 12:33 p.m.; and 7:57 p.m. trips. (Please note: the 8:15 a.m. inbound trip, which TCAT has learned is used by several New Roots students to get to school, has been restored.)
Sat.
Outbound from the Commons: Eliminates 2 p.m. trip
Inbound from Compass Manufactured Home Community: Eliminates the 2:34 p.m. trip from Compass Manufactured Home Community.
Sun. No changes.
- 32 (Airport/Cornell/Commons)
Mon.-Fri
Outbound from Green St. Station: 7 p.m. outbound trip from Green St. Station ends at airport at 7:31 p.m.
Inbound from Airport: Eliminates 7:46 p.m. inbound trip. Added 9:30 p.m. inbound trip starting from Northwood Apts.
Sat.-Sun No changes.
(For Lansing routes 36 and 37, below, planners adjusted service so that riders can use a combination of both routes (or one in lieu of the other) to complete trips.)
- 36 (Lansing School/Cornell/Commons)
Mon.-Fri.
Outbound from Green St. Station to Lansing Schools: Eliminates 9 a.m.; 12 p.m.; 3:18 p.m. and 6:05 p.m. trips. Three a.m. trips remain that will travel from Lake @ Ithaca High School to Cornell: 8:45 a.m.; 9:09 a.m.and 9:44 a.m.
Inbound from Lansing Schools to Green St. Station: First trip moved earlier to 7:11 a.m. (instead of 7:22 a.m.) Eliminates 9:33 a.m.; 12:33 p.m. 3:50 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. trips. The last inbound trip from Lansing Town Hall to the Shops at Ithaca Mall will run 30 minutes later at 8:37 p.m.
- 37 (Lansing Town Hall)
Mon.-Fri. Significant timing changes.
Outbound from Green St. Station: Eliminates the 7:28 a.m.; 1:50 p.m. and 5:43 p.m. trips. Last outbound trip from Green St. Station will depart 30 minutes later at 8 p.m.
Inbound from Lansing Town Hall: Eliminates the 2:30 p.m. Inbound from Springbrook @ Farrell: Eliminates the 6:19 p.m. trip.
- 40 (Groton/Cornell/Commons)
Mon.-Fri.
Outbound Etna Mills: Combined first two trips (6:06 a.m. and the 7:28 a.m.) into one now at leaving 6:52 a.m.
Outbound from Green St. Station: First trip leaves earlier at 8:30 a.m. (instead of 8:40 a.m.) Eliminates the 5:50 p.m. trip. (NOTE) Last outbound Route 43 will depart Green St. Station at 6:55 p.m. to travel to Groton and Freeville.
Inbound from Groton Speedway: Combines the first two trips into one departing Groton Speedway at 7:10 a.m. (instead of both 6:44 a.m. and 7:44 a.m.) Eliminates the 6:30 p.m. Last inbound trip at 7:45 p.m. will bypass Cornell.
Sat.
Outbound from Green St. Station: Eliminates the 10 a.m. trip. (NOTE) Last outbound route 43 from Green St. to travel to Groton and Freeville is 5:55 p.m.
Inbound from Groton Speedway: Eliminates the 10:40 a.m. trip. Added a 6:55 p.m. inbound -only trip from Groton Speedway to provide later Sat. service.
Sun.
Outbound from Green St. Station: Eliminates the 1:55 p.m. trip. (NOTE) Last outbound route 43 from Green St. to travel to Groton and Freeville is 5:55 p.m.
Inbound from Groton Speedway. Eliminates the 2:35 p.m. trip. Added a 6:55 p.m. inbound-only from Groton Speedway.
- 43 (Groton/Freeville/ Dryden/Cornell/Commons):
Mon.-Fri.
Outbound from Green St. Station: Eliminates the 8:30 p.m. trip
Inbound from TC3 eliminates the 9:05 p.m. trip.
Sat.
Outbound from Green St. Station: Combined 9:20 a.m. and 11:35 a.m. trips into a 10:50 a.m. trip. Last outbound trip departs Green St. Station at 5:55 p.m. (5 minutes earlier.)
Inbound from TC3 dorms: Combined the 10 a.m. and 12:24 into a 11:30 a.m. trip.
Sun.
Last outbound trip from Green St. Station departs at 5:55 p.m. (5 minutes earlier.)
- 51 (Eastern Heights/Cornell/Commons)
Mon.-Fri.
Eliminates a previously added 2:55 pm inbound-only trip from East Hill Plaza. Route retains hourly service.
Sat.-Sun.
No changes.
- 52 (Caroline/ Cornell/ Commons)
Mon.-Fri.
Outbound from Green St. Station: 9:50 and 2:14 trips combined to create at 12:55 p.m.
Inbound from Caroline: 10:25 a.m. and 2:56 p.m. trips combined to create a 1:35 p.m. trip.
Sat.-Sun.
No changes.
- 65 (Danby/Cornell/ Commons):
Mon.-Fri.
Outbound from Green St. Station: Eliminates the 7:39 a.m. Moves 1:15 p.m. trip later to 2:20 p.m.
Inbound from Hillview Terrace Mobile Home Park: Eliminates the 8:05 a.m. Moves 1:42 p.m. trip later to 2:48 p.m.
(Note): First two inbound trips and last two outbound trips will serve Alumni Circle at IC only. No service into campus.
- 67 (Newfield/Commons)
Mon.-Fri.
Outbound from Commons: Eliminates 7:47 a.m., 11:30 a.m.; 1:10 p.m. Last outbound trip departs 30 minutes later, at 7:05 p.m.,
Outbound from Vet School: Eliminates the 3:20 p.m.
Inbound from Newfield Schools: Eliminates the 8:12 a.m.; 1:38 p.m.; and the 4:00 p.m. inbound trips The last inbound trip will depart nearly 30 minutes later at 7:28 p.m.
Inbound from Buttermilk: Eliminates the 11:44 a.m.
Sat.
Outbound from Seneca St. Station: Eliminates 1:13 p.m.. trip
Inbound from Newfield Schools: Eliminates the 1:40 p.m. trip.
Sun.
No changes.
- 82 (Cornell Campus)
Mon.-Fri.
Reduced frequency between 9:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. to every 30 minutes instead of every 15 minutes.
- 90 (Commons/Cornell Late Night)
Mon.-Sat.
Last northbound trip will now depart Seneca St. Station 40 minutes earlier at 12:32 a.m.
Last southbound trip will depart Robert Purcell Community Center at 12:57 a.m.
Sun.
No changes.
- 92 (Cornell Late Night)
Mon.-Sat.
Last southbound trip will depart Hasbrouck Apts. 30 minutes earlier at 12:40 a.m.
Last northbound trip will depart Schwartz Center for Performing Arts 30 minutes earlier at 12:56 a.m.
Sat.
Last southbound trip will now depart Hasbrouck Apts. 30 minutes earlier at 1 a.m.
Last northbound trip will depart Schwartz Center for Performing Arts 30 minutes earlier at 1:16 p.m.
Sun.
No changes.