Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc., usually referred to as TCAT, is a private, non-profit public transportation operator, created by Cornell University, Tompkins County, and the City of Ithaca to serve Tompkins County, New York. The vast majority of TCAT bus routes are based in the City of Ithaca and surrounding urban area. These routes serve Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Tompkins Cortland Community College. In 2025, the system had a ridership of 2,488,000, or about 8,000 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2026.
As of 2019, TCAT operates 34 bus routes. Door to door paratransit service is provided by GADABOUT Transportation Services, Inc.
History
TCAT buses on Cornell's campus
Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) was formed in 1998 by consolidating three public transit systems – Ithaca Transit (City of Ithaca), TOMTRAN (Tompkins County) and CU Transit (Cornell University) into a single system. In the 1960s the City and Cornell established independent bus systems which expanded throughout the next two decades. Service was first extended to serve Ithaca's suburbs in the 1970s, and to rural towns beginning in 1982. In 1974, a transit service in Northeast Ithaca (Lansing, Cayuga Heights and the Town of Ithaca) was started by apartment owners contracting with Swarthout Coaches to operate limited service for Cornell students, and as the public demand for service increased, the apartment owners sought assistance from local governments and Cornell University, which became Northeast Transit in 1978.
Tompkins County became involved in supporting suburban routes and in developing rural transit service. The County formed TOMTRAN to extend fixed-route bus service to Dryden, Caroline and Newark Valley in 1982, Groton (1983), Newfield and Ulysses (1985), and Lansing and Danby (1991). In 1999, TCAT initiated bus service to Enfield, the last unserved town in the county. In 1992, the city, Cornell and County built a $5 million transit facility to base transit operations and fleet maintenance including GADABOUT. In 1996, the New York State Legislature adopted a state law authorizing that "the county of Tompkins, the city of Ithaca and Cornell University may jointly provide for mass transportation services in the county of Tompkins.", and on April 1, 1998, the City of Ithaca, Cornell University and Tompkins County established TCAT as a joint venture (public entity) to operate public transit service in Tompkins County, service began in 1999, establishing a unified route and fare system. TCAT re-organized itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, TCAT. Inc. in 2005 with representatives of City of Ithaca, Cornell University, and Tompkins County serving on its board of directors.
In 1976, a consortium of municipalities and human service agencies formed GADABOUT Transportation Services to address travel needs of seniors and people with disabilities and today operates the Federally mandated paratransit service for Tompkins County. Although GADABOUT did not join TCAT in 1998, the two companies are still closely related, with GADABOUT leasing space and maintenance services from TCAT.
Routes
As of Fall 2026, TCAT operates the following routes.
Designation used for select Route 43 trips continuing beyond TC3 to Freeville and Groton.
52
Brooktondale + Slaterville Springs
Monday–Sunday
Serves Brooktondale, Caroline and Slaterville Springs; select trips serve Cornell.
65
Danby
Monday–Friday
Connects Danby with Downtown Ithaca; select trips serve Ithaca College and Cornell.
67
Newfield
Monday–Sunday
Connects Newfield with Downtown Ithaca; select weekday trips serve Cornell.
Seasonal services
Routes 22 and 23 operate only during TCAT's summer service period.
Route #
Route name
Days of service
Notes
22
Summer parks route
Monday–Friday (summer only)
Serves area parks and the Cayuga Nature Center, including Taughannock Falls State Park.
23
Summer parks route
Saturday–Sunday (summer only)
Weekend service to Taughannock Falls, Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls state parks.
Cornell University campus services (former CU Transit routes)
Route #
Route name
Days of service
Notes
81
Cornell Campus Circulator
Monday–Friday
Serves A Lot, Hasbrouck Apartments, North Campus and Central Campus.
82
Cornell–East Hill Loop
Monday–Friday
Connects Cornell Central Campus with East Hill Plaza.
90
Downtown–Cornell Nights
Monday–Sunday
Night service between Downtown Ithaca, Collegetown and Cornell.
92
Cornell Evening & Night
Monday–Sunday
Evening and night service Monday–Saturday; daytime Cornell service on Sunday.
Fleet
TCAT operates a mix of fifty-one 35ft and 40ft transit buses and three small 14-seat buses. All TCAT buses are wheelchair accessible. The fleet is composed of vehicles manufactured by Gillig, New Flyer Industries, and Orion Bus Industries.
In March 2024, TCAT pulled all 7 Proterra battery-electric buses due to its build defects. In response, TCAT has received 5 hybrid buses from CDTA in Albany, as well as ordering 5 new diesel and 6 new battery-electric buses from Gillig, all of which has entered service. Two additional hybrid buses from the same manufacturer will arrive by 2026.
Current fleet
Fleet number(s)
Year
Photos
Manufacturer
Model
Engine
Transmission
Notes
1110–1116
2011
Orion
VII EPA10 (07.501)
Cummins ISL9
Allison B400R
1115 written off after a fire in 2018
1501–1502
2015
Gillig
Low Floor 40
Allison B500R
1601–1605
2016
1801–1811
2017
Cummins L9
1901–1909
2018
New Flyer
XD40
Allison B400R
1910–1912
2019
Freightliner
S2 35
Allison 2500 PTS
2101-2102
2021
New Flyer
XD40
Allison B400R
2103-2110
Proterra
ZX5
Removed from service indefinitely due to build quality issues
TCAT charges an adult fare at $1.50 for all trips. Cash customers are entitled to one free transfer upon request. Seniors and those with disabilities pay half-fare, as do children under 18. Additionally, up to three children, aged five or younger, travel free with an adult.
↑County Resolution No 32 of 1990 "Acceptance of Conceptual Design for Joint Transit Maintenance Facility and Authorizing Federal Section 18 Application", February 20, 1990, Tompkins County Board of Representatives.
↑Article 5-I, Section 119-s-1 of the New York State General Municipal Law
