Free Transit for Three Years in Charlottesville

Federal stimulus spending will enable the Charlottesville Area Transit to operate without fares for three years. The agency is also considering a plan to make the fare-free service permanent.

1 minute read

April 5, 2021, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Bus Station

Bram Reusen / Shutterstock

"Charlottesville Area Transit is planning not to charge for rides during the next three years," reports Katherine Knott.

Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) Director Garland Williams last week informed the Regional Transit Partnership of the fare-free program, crediting funding from the CARES Act, approved in March 2020, and the more recent American Rescue Plan, approved in March 2021.

CAT has operating fare-free throughout the pandemic, according to Knott as a way to limit physical contact between drivers and riders. In addition to the three-year fare-free program, Williams also announced that CAT is studying making the transit system fare free permanently.

An article from earlier in March by Allison Wrabel also reports that CAT is working on a plan to restore service to pre-pandemic levels while restructuring bus service on a high frequency grid. That proposal includes an could potentially yield an increase in service hours, new weekend service, and improved frequencies and heavily used routes.

Thursday, March 25, 2021 in The Daily Progress

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Yellow electric school bus with preteen students exiting.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses

The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

April 25 - Associated Press

City Hall building in Austin, Texas.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund

A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

April 25 - Spectrum Local News

Brick school building with mid-sized tree on front lawn.

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards

Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.

April 25 - Governing