Fares

All cash fare rides are the same low price regardless of how long the trip (within Tompkins County) no matter what day you travel(weekends and weekdays).

Cash fare, single ride for travel within Tompkins County

• Adult (ages 18-59) - $1.50
• Youth (ages 6-17) - $0.75
• Senior Citizens (age 60+) / Persons with Disabilities - $0.75 (half fare)

Passes

Cards & Passes Price for travel within Tompkins County

• Fifteen-ride card - $20.00
• Fifteen-ride card Youth (6-17) - $10.00
• Fifteen-ride card Senior Citizens/Disabled - $10.00
• 1-day pass (unlimited) - $3.00
• 2-day pass (unlimited) - $6.00
• 5-day pass (unlimited) - $15.00
• Week pass - $17.50
• Monthly pass - $45.00
• Annual pass - $450.00
• Semester Youth Pass (ages 6-17) Valid Sept-Jan or Feb-June - $30.00
• Summer Fun Pass (K-12 students) Valid July 1st to August 31st  - $50.00

Please note that 1 & 2 day passes are sold only at TCAT, 737 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, or online at the TCAT store. TCAT accepts cash, checks, MasterCard and Visa.

Deals

The more consecutive days of riding you purchase at one time, the more you save on your per-day cost.  If you purchase:

• 1-6 consecutive days, you pay $3.00 per day
• 7-30 consecutive days, you pay $2.50 per day
• 31-364 consecutive days, you pay $1.50 per day
• 365+ consecutive days, you pay $1.25 per day

Pass Usage

• Fifteen-ride cards are good for any 15 one-way trips.
• The 1-day pass is good for unlimited rides on one calendar day.
• The 2- and 5-day passes are good for unlimited rides on consecutive days only; the countdown begins on the first date the pass is used.
• Monthly passes are good for unlimited rides for one month from the date they are first used.
• Annual passes are good for unlimited rides for 12 consecutive months and are sold only at TCAT or online at the TCAT store. Annual passes may be paid for in monthly installments charged to your creditor debit card.
• The Semester Youth Pass (lanyard) is good for unlimited rides each semester (Fall, September 1 – January 30; Spring, February 1 – June30). Youth ages 6 to 17, or until graduation from high school, are eligible. Home-schooled and non-academic youth are age-eligible. Youth Passes are available at Ithaca City Hall, Groton Village Hall, Kinney Drug in Dryden,  Ithaca Town Hall, Newfield Town Hall; in person or by mail at TCAT, 737 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY14850; or online at the TCAT store.
• The Summer Fun Pass (lanyard) is good for unlimited rides from June 20 to August 31. Youth ages 6 to 17, or until graduation from high school, are eligible. Home-schooled and non-academic youth are eligible. Summer Fun Passes are available in person or by mail at TCAT, 737 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850, or online at the TCAT store.

Transfers

Transfers are valid between all routes. Riders are allowed one transfer, at no extra cost, to complete their trip.

If you need to use more than one bus to get to your destination, please ask for a transfer when you board the first bus.  TCAT transfers will be honored only on the day of issue and within one hour of their time of issue OR on the next feasible trip. They will not be accepted on any trip that will return the passenger to the area in which the transfer was originally issued, nor to re-board the same route.

Monthly, annual, youth, 1, 2, and 5 day pass holders do not need transfers to continue their trips.

Special Fares

Ithaca College students can buy a pass specifically created for them. The Student Semester Pass is $110 per semester (August 14 through December 31; or January 1 through May 31).

To activate your semester bus pass on your ID card, go to our home page, click on the pictures of Student ID's that says "College Students" and follow the instructions from there.  You will have to create a TCAT account, add your student ID to your account, and then "recharge" your ID with an Ithaca College Semester Pass.  You can only add a bus pass to your card online.  You cannot do it over the phone, however, if you have any questions, feel free to call us at 607-277-RIDE!

It's important to note that it may take 1-2 days for your new bus pass to work on the bus. In the meantime, please carry an alternate fare.

 

Cornell faculty, staff, and students are offered various special programs and options by the University. Visit Cornell Commuter and Parking Services or call 255-4600 for information.

Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities: If you have a Medicare, Senior Citizens Council Membership, ADA Paratransit Eligibility, or a Disability Eligibility card, you may show your card to the driver and pay half the cash fare. The Disability Eligibility Card is available to those persons receiving SSI, SSD, or Disabled Veteran’s Benefits resulting from a service-connected disability.

 

TC3:  The new TCAT bus schedule expands service for TC3 students until 9:17 p.m. weeknights, and service directly to the residence halls on the weekends. A partnership between TC3 and TCAT also means you can use your TC3 Card with TCAT and receive discounted bus passes.

The TC3-TCAT Unlimited Pass: $150 for all bus routes / active Jan. 19 to May 20
The TC3-TCAT Basic Pass: $100 for routes 43 and 75 / active Jan. 19 to May 20

Note: plan ahead. It may take 2-3 business days for your passes to activate on the buses.

To Purchase a Pass

Bus passes can be purchased online by depositing Panther Dollars. Go to myTC3 and select myCard and follow the login process.  From there, add cash by credit card, make your deposit. Then select "service" and then "buy a pass." It can take up to two days for the pass to activate, so students will have to pay regular fare to board the bus until the card is active.

Bus Schedules

The NEW TC3-TCAT schedule (routes 43 and 75) can be found online.

 

Para-transit

Para-transit service is also available for elderly and disabled members of the general public, Cornell faculty and staff, and Cornell students. For further information about provisions for persons with disabilities at Cornell University, see Cornell’s Access brochure.

Children five years old and under ride free and must be accompanied by a responsible adult (up to three children).

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