Chatham Area Transit has formally announced a new perk for students in Chatham County – passes that will allow them to ride CAT buses on all routes for free.  A press conference to announce the Student Zero-Fare Pilot Program was held on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.  The program is open to all K-12, College and University students in Chatham County.

The Student Zero-Fare passes are good for all fixed route and paratransit services.  All a K-12 student needs to do is show the bus operator/driver their signed CAT Student Bus Pass.  That pass can be downloaded and printed after signing up via the CAT website at www.catchacat.org/studentfare. Students may also present the pass on their mobile device.

The program is currently slated to launch on January 29^th and run through the Spring semester until May 31, 2024.  Registration for the bus passes began on January 17^th.

The program is not designed to take the place of school transportation. Chatham Area Transit officials say the objectives of the Student Zero Fare Pilot Program are multifaceted. They include:

•           Eliminate financial barriers that deter students from utilizing public transportation

•           To increase ridership for CAT's fixed route service

•           To educate the next generation about public transit

•           To promote confident lifelong public transit riders