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301 Church Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37915

General Office: 865-215-7800

Office hours: Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Service Change

ALL BUS ROUTES

Reduced Service Schedules in Effect

Effective Monday, August 29, 2022, reduced service schedules went into effect on some KAT bus routes. Click here for more information.

Transportation Methods

Through the years the methods of transportation have changed in Knoxville. Please read through our history to see where we began, the many transitions, and where we are today.

KAT Historical Timeline

1876

Horse-drawn streetcar service begins in Knoxville.

1890

Knoxville Streetcars are converted from animal to electric power. The first electric streetcar ran from Gay Street to Lake Ottosee (now Chilhowee Park).

1895

Knoxville Electric Streetcar Company changes its name to the Knoxville Traction Company.

1902

Knoxville Traction Company is sold to United Railway and Light Company of America.

1904

Knoxville Traction Company changes its name to the Knoxville Railway and Light Company.

1910

Knoxville had 42 miles of track and was carrying 11 million passengers per year.

1921

National Power and Light Company purchases the streetcar system and changes its name to Knoxville Power and Light Company.

1929

The first buses were used, serving on feeder routes for the streetcar system.

1930

Knoxville Power and Light Company changes its name to the Tennessee Public Service Company, and Knoxville’s first and only electric rubber-tired coaches begin service.

1938

The Tennessee Coach Company buys Knoxville’s public transportation system and changes its name to Knoxville Transit Lines (KTL).

1947

Electric streetcars made their last run in Knoxville on August 1.

1958

Bus service was first added to the University of Tennessee.

1967

Knoxville Transit Lines is sold to the City of Knoxville, and Knoxville Transit Lines (KTL) changes its name to the Knoxville Transit Corporation (KTC). The Knoxville Transit Authority is established.

1972

The first air-conditioned GMC buses arrived in Knoxville.

1975

KTC moves to Jessamine Street.

1978

The Knoxville Transit Authority is renamed the Knoxville Transportation Authority, and KTC changes its name to K-Trans.

1989

K-Trans moved into a new facility on Magnolia Avenue, and the downtown transfer point is moved to Summer Place and Walnut Avenue.

1990

The new office and maintenance facility is dedicated to Reverend W T. Crutcher, chairman and long-time member of the KTA.

1995

K-Trans became Knoxville Area Transit (KAT).

1997

KAT begins neighborhood service using minibusses in Sequoyah Hills and Lincoln Park, and the KTA and Trolley Board consolidate functions.

2001

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was created by city ordinance.

2003

KAT begins Clean Fuels Program with propane-powered vehicles.

2004

KAT is named APTA’s North American Transit System of the Year.

2010

KAT begins operating out of the John J. Duncan, Jr. Knoxville Station, a brand-new, state-of-the-art, LEED-certified transit center, and KAT implements a complete fixed-route system restructure (KATamorphosis). Ridership increases every month for several years.

2011

Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) system is implemented improving system efficiency.

2013

KAT installs the first of several SuperStops to enhance passenger experience at outlying transfer points, and KAT improves frequencies on major routes to every 15 minutes during peak hours.

2014

KAT begins operating Hybrid Electric vehicles, implements a Semester Pass Program, and the City established a Director of Transit position.

2015

KAT restructures Trolley routing with Green Line, Blue Line and Orange Line, and KAT receives the “Shining Star” award from the Federal Transit Administration.

2016

KAT Implemented Google Transit, a trip planning feature on the website, and awarded a contract to develop a new website. The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is dissolved by city ordinance.

2017

All vehicles are equipped with Wi-Fi access for passengers, a free amenity, and new distinctive Trolley signage and shelters installed. KAT named an Outstanding Public Transit System by APTA.

2021

KAT introduces 12 all-electric buses into our fleet.