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TCAT operations improving but grant dependency and bus shortages remain, county update says
Summary
Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) reported operational improvements — more reliable service, corrected federal triennial review issues, and ridership increases — but remains dependent on state/federal grants and needs new buses; the Legislature heard the update from director and thanked board members.
Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) is showing operational improvements but remains heavily dependent on federal and state operating assistance, board member Deborah Dawson told the Tompkins County Legislature on Feb. 4.
Dawson, the Legislature’s TCAT board representative, said the nonprofit transit provider has replaced key management positions, acquired used buses from Albany to fill short‑term capacity needs, and corrected deficiencies identified in a 2023 Federal Transit Administration triennial review. She reported that missed runs have fallen sharply — December missed runs were reported as 67 out of more than 19,000 scheduled runs — and that ridership is up more than 20% from 2023 levels though still about 27% below pre‑pandemic figures.
Dawson stressed TCAT’s revenue structure: payments from three underwriters (Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca and Cornell University) cover a relatively small share of revenue; fare revenue and state/federal grants, including STOA (State Transit Operating Assistance), provide the remainder. She said Cornell’s service agreement pays for route hours to and from campus and accounts for a substantial share of fare revenue.
Dawson flagged two ongoing vulnerabilities: TCAT’s ineligibility to receive federal and state grants directly because it is a nonprofit (grants flow to Tompkins County and are passed to TCAT as subrecipients), and a fleet shortage made worse when the system’s seven Proterra battery buses were taken off the road for a design defect. New diesel‑hybrid and battery‑electric buses are on order and expected during 2025, she said, but TCAT will continue to face a tight labor market for drivers and mechanics.
Dawson thanked county staff who manage grants and noted the county’s assistance in resolving the FTA review findings. Several legislators thanked TCAT board members and staff for stabilizing service and urged continued partnerships to secure grant funding and new vehicles.
The Legislature did not take formal action on TCAT at the meeting. Dawson said the system’s future depends on continued operating assistance and successful delivery of new buses; she asked the county to continue supporting grant administration and renewal of STOA funding.
