Capital Area Transit System


Capital Area Transit System, labeling itself CATS, is a public transportation provider in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. It serves the city and several west bank suburbs, but does not travel outside parish boundaries or across the Mississippi River.

History

Originally formed as the Capital Transit Corporation by the City of Baton Rouge, the system came to be known as the Capital Area Transit System in 2004 during a re-branding of the agency. CATS was later defined by an act of the Louisiana Legislature in 2005. The act established the transit agency and dictates its governance but did not create any revenue source for CATS. Ballot measures to create tax revenue for the system failed to pass in 2009 and 2010, and attempts to reduce service further and increase fares were rejected by the Metro Council, leaving CATS facing a budget shortfall that would have resulted in a complete system shutdown by midyear 2012. CATS finally found stable funding that same year and avoided shutdown when voters in the cities of Baton Rouge and Baker approved a property tax increase.

Criticisms

The agency is often criticised as providing unreliable service, with delays of an hour or more common. Although CATS has worked to address this issue, proponents of the system have voiced concerns that progress has been slow and some changes lacked proper planning.
Louisiana State University created its own shuttle service, Tiger Trails, in 2008 due to complaints rising from CATS's service to and from the campus.
Brian Marshall resigned as CEO on April 22, 2013 due to controversies surrounding the agency.
Bob Mirabito resigned as CEO on May 6, 2016 due to controversies and criticisms regarding his operation of the agency.

Routes

Below is the new, route list effective February 24, 2019. Most, but not all, routes connect two hubs together to allow for cross-town connectivity.
¹Most routes utilizing the North Street Town Square hub currently stop at the corner in front of the Old State Capitol just before the North Street Transit Pavilion due to congestion caused by bus layovers at the stop.

Former Routes

The buses that operate CATS fixed routes are equipped to accommodate most riders with disabilities. For riders whose disability prevents them from using the standard routes at all, CATS provides the OnDemand paratransit service. An application process must be followed prior to using the service, and all start and end points must be within 3/4 mile of the CATS service area. Paratransit customers pay the same $1.75 fare.

Current and Past Fleet

Fleet Number RangeThumbnailYearManufacturerModel NumberEngineTransmissionNotes
21-251958GMCOld LookEx-Baton Rouge Bus Company 21-25.
26-501971GMCT6H-4521A
51-801955GMCTDH 3714
78-791987Blue BirdCity BirdDetroit Diesel 6V92Ex New Orleans NOPSI?
80-831986GilligPhantom 3096TB6V92Detroit Diesel 6V92Voith 864.3Ex-Capital Metro Transit 1600, 1605-1606 & 1610.
84-931988GilligPhantom 35102TB6V92Detroit Diesel 6V92Allison B400RETIRED
94-1031990GilligPhantomDetroit Diesel 6v92TAAllison B400RETIRED
104-1201997GilligPhantom M11T35102Cummins M11EAllison B400SOME RETIRED
121-1271998GilligPhantom C21B102N4Cummins M11EAllison B400SOME RETIRED
128-1312002GilligLow FloorCummins ISCVoith 864.4SOME RETIRED
250-2552001GilligPhantomCummins ISLVoith 864.4Ex-Valley Metro Roanoke, VA 6 - 0101 series buses in service 2015
256-2572002GilligPhantomCummins ISCVoith 864.4Ex-LTS Lafayette, LA 2 - 7000 series? In service early 2016
132-1592005Blue BirdUltra Low FloorCummins ISBAllison B300 5spdSOME RETIRED
160-1652011GilligLow FloorCummins ISLVoith 864.4
1662012GilligLow FloorCummins ISLVoith 864.4
82-962012Glaval BusEntourageF550 V8 PSD6spd HD ATHD Fixed Route "Cut-Away" high floor 30' bus w/ rear lift.
167-1782014GilligLow FloorCummins ISLVoith 864.4
179-1832015GilligLow FloorCummins ISLVoith 864.4NEW! Electric Cooling Fans ISL9
184-1872016GilligLow FloorCummins ISLVoith 864.4Similar to buses 179-183. In service 9/2016
188-1952017GilligLow FloorCummins ISLVoith 864.4Driver area enclosed. In service 12/2016
196-2072018GilligLow FloorCummins ISLVoith 864.4Driver area enclosed. In service 12/2018
300-3022011Double KMain StreetCummins ISBAllison B300 5spd
3032012Double KMain StreetCummins ISBAllison B300 5spd
208-2152019GilligLow FloorCummins ISLVoith 864.4Driver area enclosed. Delivered 12/18, In service 02/19.