Knoxville, TN – August 20, 2024 – Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) is excited to announce the launch of our new bus network, KAT Reimagined, on Monday, August 26, 2024. To make this transition easier, KAT is offering free bus service for two weeks, from August 26, 2024 through September 8, 2024, allowing everyone to experience the benefits of our new and improved transit system.
Isaac Thorne, City of Knoxville’s Director of Transit, commented, “KAT Reimagined is a transformative step forward for our community. By providing more frequent and consistent service, we are not only enhancing accessibility and convenience but also making a significant impact on our city’s sustainability goals. We’re thrilled to offer two weeks of free service to give everyone a chance to experience the benefits of our new network firsthand.”
New Network Overview
The KAT Reimagined bus network will feature 20 fixed routes, bringing more than 94,000 Knoxville residents within a quarter-mile walk of a bus stop. This system-wide redesign is focused on providing consistent and frequent service across the city, with routes operating seven days a week.
Service Improvements
• Consistent Service, 7 Days a Week: The majority of routes will operate throughout the week, with only three exceptions, resulting in a 150% increase in Sunday service.
• Increased Frequency: With KAT Reimagined, 12,000 more residents will have access to buses running every 15 minutes—an 80% increase. Most routes will feature service intervals of 30 minutes or better.
o Routes 11/17 will combine to provide 15-minute service along Cumberland and Sutherland to Bearden on weekdays.
o Route 31 will offer 15-minute service along Magnolia Avenue through 6:15 PM on weekdays.
Enhanced Access to Jobs
• 19% Increase in Job Accessibility: The new network will enable access to 18,300 jobs within a 45-minute commute, with a 24% increase in accessibility for low-income populations.
New Downtown Connector
KAT is also introducing a new Downtown Connector, running every 12 minutes, 7 days a week, using our all-electric buses. This addition will contribute to reduced air and noise pollution in the downtown area, aligning with our commitment to sustainability.
Ongoing Commitment to Improvement
KAT will continue to assess the performance of our services and implement improvements as needed, and as our capabilities allow, ensuring that our transit network evolves with the needs of the community.
Background on KAT Reimagined
The KAT Reimagined project was initiated to address public demand for more frequent and consistent service throughout the week. This comprehensive reimagining of our bus network involved extensive public outreach and engagement, including input from hundreds of bus passengers, over 40 organizations representing diverse community interests, and more than 1,000 participants in online and in-person surveys. Over 100 individuals also attended public meetings, both via Zoom and in person.
Throughout the process, we explored different transit priorities, balancing the need for more frequent trips in key areas to encourage ridership with the goal of expanding coverage to more locations, albeit with less frequent service. After multiple rounds of draft networks and public consultations, the final KAT Reimagined bus network was approved in April 2024.
Plan Your Trip
Passengers don’t have to wait until launch day to plan their trips. The Transit app now features a bus network preview tool, allowing users to explore the new routes in advance. To download this free app, search ‘Transit’ in your app store.
For more information on how to use this tool or to review the new route maps and schedules, click here. Printed Route maps and schedules are also available at Knoxville Station.
For more information on this news release, contact Becca James at 865-215-7826.
