Details about these changes will be posted in the near future on TCAT’s website www.tcatbus.com and via Cornell information outlets. People can also email TCAT at tcat@tcatmail.com or call TCAT at 607-277-7433 (RIDE), press No. 3, to leave comments or to ask TCAT to mail information regarding proposed cuts via U.S. Postal Service.
The first trip of the day that passes the Caroline Town Hall at 5:52 am would be eliminated. The schedule which currently passes Town Hall at 6:32 am would change to 6:12 am.
The last trip of the day that passes Town Hall at 7:03 pm would also be eliminated. The schedule that currently passes Town Hall at 6:23 pm would change to 6:15 pm.
The reason for these cuts is that TCAT has been unable to hire enough drivers to fill all the routes it operates. Schedules are being cut back throughout the County to bring the number of routes in line with the number of drivers available. A shortage of bus drivers is a problem throughout upstate New York.
To gather input, TCAT is planning public information sessions. Two are scheduled at the Borg Warner East room in the Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E. Green St., Ithaca, from noon to 2 p.m. and again 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, to collect feedback. Additional public information sessions at Cornell University, which makes up about 70 percent of TCAT’s ridership during the academic year and more than 50 percent over the summer, are being planned as well. Information about these sessions will be posted in the near future here on TCAT’s website www.tcatbus.com and via Cornell information outlets.