Capital Area Transit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There is another bus system called Capital Area Transit in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Capital Area Transit (CAT), also known as the Cumberland-Dauphin-Harrisburg Transit Authority, is a regional public transportation agency that operates bus, paratransit, and commuter rail (2006) service in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania metropolitan area, which includes the counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, and Perry. Service is also provided to select communities in Lancaster and York counties.
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[edit] History
The Cumberland-Dauphin-Harrisburg Transit Authority, was formed in 1973 after the dissolution of the Harrisburg Railways Company. When that company ceased operations, the local municipalities, in order to continue to provide mass transit, formed the Authority under the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Municipal Authorities Act of 1945, as amended. Formed by the Cumberland and Dauphin County Commissioners and the City of Harrisburg, CAT was designated as the public transportation provider in the greater Harrisburg area.
The Authority is governed by a Board of Directors who are appointed by the three municipalities, and who each serve a term of five years (at which time they may be reappointed by their respective municipalities). The Board meets each month on the last Wednesday to set policy and provide guidance to the staff. Committees of the Board meet on an ad hoc basis dependent upon the activity occurring within the Authority.
CAT currently has two divisions -- a Fixed Route Bus Division and a Shared Ride/Paratransit Division. A third division for commuter rail is being developed. CAT has approximately 200 employees.
[edit] Funding
CAT has about a 35% farebox recovery ratio. The remainder of the operational funds to provide service as well as capital funds comes from Cumberland and Dauphin Counties and the City of Harrisburg and the PENNDOT. Additional funding for capital expenditures is received from the Federal Transit Administration.
[edit] CorridorOne Commuter Rail
In late 1999 the Authority’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to pursue the vision of bringing commuter rail to the Harrisburg metropolitan area. The project, termed CorridorOne, gives the Authority a new direction and will provide growth opportunities well into the 21st century.
