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Riders press KTA over route and stop cuts after CAT Reimagined; paratransit users report missed trips
Summary
Multiple riders urged the Knoxville Transportation Authority to restore or adjust routes and stops removed under CAT Reimagined and flagged problems with Lyft/CAC paratransit pickups; speakers cited safety, missed transfers, and lack of sidewalks.
Several riders used the KTA public-comment period on Sept. 24 to press commissioners about service changes implemented under CAT Reimagined, describing lost stops, longer walks for transfers and inconsistent paratransit service.
"Now she's standing out in the dark," said Ron Benson, who described how removal of the Route 21 run forces some riders to walk farther to transfer points and, at certain times of the year, wait in unsafe conditions. Benson asked the authority to restore stops at route ends or adjust transfer times to maintain safe, well-lit transfer points.
Other commenters raised punctuality and coverage concerns. A rider who gave only his first name, Michael, asked whether Route 30 or another connection to Park Ridge/Magnolia would return, noting long walks and waits. Cindy Hilton said removal of Route 22 from Summit Hill reduced late-evening access and urged making the downtown connector run until at least 10 p.m.
Paratransit concerns: John Timmerman, who identified himself as a regular Lyft/CAC paratransit user, thanked staff for preserving Lyft coverage but said recent changes produced late pickups and limited morning availability for medical appointments. Timmerman urged the authority to review usage data and ensure paratransit service remains comparable to fixed-route ADA access.
What staff said: Mr. Thorne and other staff offered to stay after the meeting to answer one-on-one questions and said they will pursue additional outreach and possible retail/partner locations for fare cards and reloads. Commissioners repeatedly asked for clearer online information about where cards and reload locations will be available.
Next steps: Commissioners and staff acknowledged the breadth of public concerns and the need for continued outreach as CAT Reimagined transitions take hold. No immediate service reversals were recorded at the meeting; staff invited commenters to follow up individually and said staff will return with planned outreach and proposal details at the October meeting.
