Charlottesville Area Transit

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Catch the CAT, and let us provide the ride.

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Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) provides bus service to the greater Charlottesville area. Riders enjoy safe, clean, and comfortable service Monday through Sunday.

The Downtown Transit Station's hours are from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, and from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sundays.

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Charlottesville Area Transit (formerly Charlottesville Transit Service) provides bus service to Charlottesville and portions of urban Albemarle County, Virginia. CAT buses operate Monday to Saturday, with Sunday service available on the Free Trolley, Route 2, and Route 12 (serving Downtown, the University of Virginia, the Route 29 corridor, and 5th Street Station.)

The service was founded in 1975 when the City of Charlottesville acquired J.T. Graves' Yellow Transit Company, which had been providing municipal bus service with subsidies from the City. CAT provided more than 2.3 million passenger trips in the 2016 fiscal year.

Regular fare is 75 cents per trip, with a discounted rate of 35 cents available for seniors or disabled persons with a CAT reduced-fare card, which is available at the Downtown Transit Station (615 E. Water St, or 970-3649).

24-Hour Passes cost $1.50 (75 cents for those who qualify for reduced fares), and 30-Day Passes can be purchased for $22.00 ($12.00 for those who qualify for reduced fares).

Through a pre-paid arrangement, UVa Student, Faculty, and Staff IDs are accepted as fare on CAT buses.

CAT offers two fare programs for area students. Children under the age of 13 ride free without the need for a special ID. Teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 ride free with a valid Youth ID, which is available at the DTS.

CAT also operates the Free Trolley, which runs between UVA and the Downtown Mall from 6:35 am until 11:32 pm Monday through Saturday and from 8 am to 5:47 pm on Sunday. Service is offered every 15 minutes Monday through Saturday; every 20 to 30 minutes on Sunday.

CAT's Facebook page is monitored and updated Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Questions about service disruptions outside of regular business hours should be directed towards your driver.

More information about CAT routes, fares, and programs is available online at www.catchthecat.org.