Archive: News

As we all know, these are tough financial times and, unfortunately, TCAT is not immune. TCAT has undertaken the difficult process of cutting costs, reducing operating expenses and increasing revenues in order to absorb anticipated budget cuts.
 
This is the third successive year in which state aid, our largest single source of financial support, has been significantly reduced. Every indication is that there will be additional cuts in state and federal assistance in 2012. TCAT’s three local funders, Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca and Cornell University are facing their own fiscal challenges.

On Aug. 4 TCAT made its case to all three local funders. The budget includes a number of cost‑cutting proposals; it also assumes that in 2012 each funder will maintain current funding levels of $829,432 each. It’s important to note, local funding has not been increased since 2009. At the same time, TCAT officials say they are doing everything possible to curb costs.

TCAT’s service development department went through a painstaking process of finding ways to reduce service on unfunded, poor performing and duplicative routes in a way that will have the least detrimental effect on our passengers.  They include:

• discontinuing out‑of‑county service on the Route 52 as Tioga County does not contribute to the service (however TCAT staff is presently in talks with the county to determine if they can offset the cost);
• discontinuing the Route 68 as a portion of it duplicates the Route 15 service and there is low ridership on the Route 13/Elmira corridor;
• discontinuing special Tower Road trips on the Route 83;
• combining the mediocre‑performing Routes 53 and 54 in a way that will still enable full coverage;
• reducing frequency on rush hour trips on the Route 14 from every half hour to one hour, similar to other urban routes.

In addition, for the first time since 2003, TCAT is proposing fare increases for our rural boardings, beginning Jan. 1, 2012, as it obviously costs more in labor, parts and fuel to operate rural routes than urban routes. Fares are being proposed that originate in rural areas (Zone 2) outside the Greater Ithaca Area (Zone 1) to increase from $1.50 to $2.50.  The fare for a trip that originates in Zone 1, traveling to Zone 2, will remain at $1.50. Rural trips at $2.50 inbound and $1.50 outbound, result in $4 round trips, up from current $3. (NOTE; In 2007, rural round trips were reduced from $6 to current levels.



In order for TCAT to engage the public, information sessions and a subsequent public hearing and TCAT Board of Directors vote will be held at locations listed on the TCAT Web site October through December.

In addition, TCAT is holding a formal public comment period from now through December 1 (exceeding the 30‑day minimum requirement.)

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