The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
39° Ithaca, NY
The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
Ithaca must stand with TCAT workers for a fair deal

Ithaca must stand with TCAT workers for a fair deal

By The Ithacan • March 20, 2025

Ithaca’s Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit system may soon come to a standstill, but not because of any mechanical failures; the workers who drive and keep the buses running are being pushed beyond...

On March 12, union bus drivers and mechanics at Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, represented by United Auto Workers Local 2300, voted 84% in favor of authorizing a strike if it is needed in their current contract negotiation process.

TCAT union bus drivers and mechanics approve strike authorization

By Julian DeLucia, Assistant News Editor • March 14, 2025
On March 12, union bus drivers and mechanics at Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, represented by United Auto Workers Local 2300, voted 84% in favor of authorizing a strike if it is needed in their current contract negotiation process.

TCAT Crash Course: how Ithaca College students travel around town

By Sarah Cochi, Julia Hargreaves, and Maddy Dombrow • April 12, 2024

Sarah Cochi takes a tour of Ithaca via Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT). Starting at Ithaca College, Cochi explores Routes 11 and 15, which bring her to the Ithaca Commons, the Ithaca Shopping...

Sophomore Caitlyn O'Dell writes about the importance of making improvements to public transportation to foster a more environmentally-friendly world.

Commentary: Accessible public transportation is key to addressing environmental issues

By Caitlyn O’Dell • April 3, 2024
Climate change poses a severe threat to the planet, evident in unpredictable weather patterns during seasonal transitions. As awareness of these changes grows, so does the realization of the need for action to reduce our impact on the environment. One prominent discussion revolves around reducing vehicle emissions, which not only contribute to atmospheric risks like ozone, methane and carbon monoxide, but also raise broader public health concerns related to air and noise pollution.
Free TCAT rides for Ithaca College students were supposed to end at the end of the Fall 2023 semester but have been extended until May 2024.

Free TCAT rides extended for IC students during Spring 2024 semester

By Ryan Johnson, Assistant News Editor • January 22, 2024
In a Jan. 19 intercom post, Melanie Reyes, executive assistant in the Division of Finance and Administration at Ithaca College, announced the Tompkins County Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) will continue to provide free rides during the spring semester to Ithaca College students with a valid college ID. 
From left, sophomores Delanie Alexander and Ella Pemberton ride the TCAT in Fall 2022. For Fall 2023 the TCAT will be free for IC students.

IC covers TCAT bus fare bills for students

By Lorien Tyne, News Editor • August 23, 2023

Ithaca College students can ride the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit for free during Fall 2023 because the college administration chose to temporarily cover the bill for bus fares. This change will...

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Local community groups rally to remove TCAT ride fares

By Aubren Villasenor, Staff Writer • May 3, 2023
The Ithaca Democratic Socialists of America and the Ithaca Sunrise Movement rallied on May 2 to remove ride fares from local public transport.
Although no physical bus hub has been built yet, Ferguson said the DIA will consult the survey along with other bus hubs surrounding Ithaca, like Burlington, Vermont, Binghamton and Corning, New York, for ideas.

Downtown Ithaca Alliance plans to create a new bus hub

By Vivian Rose, Staff Writer • April 12, 2023
The Downtown Ithaca Alliance is currently looking into creating an intercity bus hub in the City of Ithaca for people to wait for buses that travel between cities.
Joel Malina, Cornell University’s vice president of university relations, said TCAT did not justify the financial contribution increase of 8% and said TCAT already has enough funding, so the university would not comply with the larger increase. 

Cornell agrees to 5% increase in underwriter funding for TCAT

By Noa Ran-Ressler, Assistant News Editor • February 1, 2023
TCAT had requested an 8% increase from its three underwriters, including Cornell University, which agreed Jan. 20 to increase funding by 5%, rejecting the 8% increase.
Joel Malina, Cornell University’s vice president of university relations, said TCAT did not justify the financial contribution increase of 8% and said TCAT already has enough funding, so the university would not comply with the larger increase. 

TCAT awarded state funding for electric mobility project

By Syd Pierre, News Editor • November 30, 2022
TCAT was awarded $7 million from the New York Clean Transportation Prize program for its participation in the Electric Mobility challenge. 
From left first-year student Dante Conde, senator at large, senior Grace Madeya, president of the student body, Scott Doyle '98, director of Energy Management and Sustainability and Senior Senate Chair Austin Ruffino, met at the SGC meeting Oct. 24. Doyle said he wants to create a more unified promotion of sustainability by involving students, faculty and staff from all the schools on campus.

SGC discusses campus sustainability and planned bills

By Emma Kersting, Staff Writer • October 26, 2022
At the Ithaca College Student Governance Council (SGC) meeting Oct. 24, the senate met with Scott Doyle ’98, director of Energy Management and Sustainability.
A petition was launched March 3 to make Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) free, which would increase accessibility and efficiency but reduce TCAT’s revenue. The petition is part of a larger campaign by the Ithaca branch of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) called FreeCAT that advocates for fare-free and expanded TCAT services.

Ithaca residents get on board with free TCAT campaign

By Noa Ran-Ressler, Staff Writer • September 14, 2022
Members of the Ithaca community have shown they are ready for free public transit. A petition was launched March 3 to make Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) free.
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