Blog: City Blog

KAT's Service Improvements Starting This Week

Today, KAT started its lastest weekday service improvements. And on Sunday, service will be extended by four hours along four Sunday routes while two new routes will start Sunday service.

Today marked the kickoff of an extension of the Route 41- Chapman Highway route to serve Mountain Grove Shopping Center, just south of Gov. John Sevier Highway. Also, the Route 16 – Cedar Bluff Connector now has extended weekday and Saturday hours until 8:15 p.m.

KAT also made, starting today, a minor timepoint adjustment on Route 45 – Vestal and a minor routing adjustment on Route 90 – Crosstown in the Whittle Springs/Washington Pike area.

For years, the KAT system improvement that's been most requested by riders has been enhanced Sunday service. Starting Sunday, Aug. 30, service on Sundays will begin at 8:15 a.m. and have a final trip from downtown at 8:15 p.m. This extends the current Sunday routes – Kingston Pike, Broadway, Magnolia and Chapman Highway – an additional four hours.

In addition, Route 12 – Western Avenue and Route 20 – Central Avenue will begin operating on Sundays.

“The Route 41 - Chapman Highway extension just started today," said Dawn Distler, the City's Director of Transit. "It's important, because a lot of riders were walking some distance to get to their jobs in the shopping center. They're just as happy as can be to not have to make the long walk up the hill. People have been asking for this, and we're pleased to be able to add that service.

"Meanwhile, an expansion of Sunday service also is something KAT has wanted to do for several years. We're really looking forward to that happening, starting this Sunday."

KAT passenger rides have been on the increase for the past five years, due in part to a new transit center as well as expanded and more frequent service, including 15-minute peak service on major corridors. KAT topped 3 million passenger trips during the past fiscal year.

For details on the upcoming changes, visit www.katbus.com or call 865-637-3000.

Posted by evreeland On 24 August, 2015 at 2:26 PM