Concord Area Transit (CAT) is the primary provider of public transportation in Concord, New Hampshire, United States. In the 1970s, there was discussion about the feasibility of bus service in Concord. Concord's City Council contracted with the Community Services Council to conduct a study. This study served as the framework for the system that was developed. Prior to 1989, Capital Transit had operated bus service in Concord and the YMCA had operated some senior service.
In 1989, the city of Concord went out to bid for public transit service. Since high bids came in to operate the service, the city's mayor appointed a committee made up of supporters and detractors of the bus service. The outcome was to approach the Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack Counties, Inc. (CAPBMCI) to provide the service.
CAPBMCI operated and continues to operate senior bus service in the region and, therefore, was in a position to step up to the plate. The agreement was that the city would provide match support (annual federal grants for transit require a 20% or 50% match depending on the type of funding) to purchase buses and three years of operating support as a pilot program. A City of Concord Advisory Committee would work with CAPBMCI.
CAPBMCI began CAT and still operates it as one of its programs and transportation systems. From CAT's inception, it included fixed-route service as well as weekday service for seniors and people with disabilities. The routes were from Concord Heights to Concord Hospital and from Penacook to the South End of Concord, along with service for people with disabilities and seniors. At this time, the first Orion buses were used on the routes. Trolley-shaped buses were rented and operated during the six-week holiday season for three years. These trolleys were supported by the Chamber of Commerce, Concord Hospital and Steeplegate Mall. CAMBMCI also assumed operation of senior service that had been operated by the YMCA. In 1991, the City of Concord began to provide CAPBMCI with ongoing funding to support public transportation beyond the three-year pilot.
In 1999, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandated specific regulations for bus service for people with disabilities. Since CAT already provided such service, it ensured that it conformed to the new ADA regulations. In 1999, CAT also operated the Penacook, Heights, Manchester Street and senior service routes. Manchester Street service was funded through a three-year Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant.
By 2005, CAT had started a Crosstown bus service between Airport Road and Concord Hospital. The Crosstown bus developed into the Industrial Park route that operates between Industrial Park Drive and the hospital today.
CAT started year-round trolley service in 2008 when it received a three-year CMAQ grant. The matching funds for this grant were generously donated by Delta Dental.
CAT currently provides fixed route transportation Monday-Friday from 6:00am to 6:30pm in Concord. CAT also provides demand-response transportation to seniors and people with disabilities.
Routesedit
Route 3 Crosstown bus on South Street, October 2020
concord, area, transit, this, article, does, cite, sources, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2014, learn, whe. This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Concord Area Transit news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message Concord Area Transit CAT is the primary provider of public transportation in Concord New Hampshire United States In the 1970s there was discussion about the feasibility of bus service in Concord Concord s City Council contracted with the Community Services Council to conduct a study This study served as the framework for the system that was developed Prior to 1989 Capital Transit had operated bus service in Concord and the YMCA had operated some senior service Concord Area TransitA bus in Downtown Concord in 2005 Founded1989Headquarters2 Industrial Park DriveLocaleConcord New HampshireService areaMerrimack County New HampshireService typeBus service paratransitRoutes3Websitewww wbr concordareatransit wbr com In 1989 the city of Concord went out to bid for public transit service Since high bids came in to operate the service the city s mayor appointed a committee made up of supporters and detractors of the bus service The outcome was to approach the Community Action Program Belknap Merrimack Counties Inc CAPBMCI to provide the service CAPBMCI operated and continues to operate senior bus service in the region and therefore was in a position to step up to the plate The agreement was that the city would provide match support annual federal grants for transit require a 20 or 50 match depending on the type of funding to purchase buses and three years of operating support as a pilot program A City of Concord Advisory Committee would work with CAPBMCI CAPBMCI began CAT and still operates it as one of its programs and transportation systems From CAT s inception it included fixed route service as well as weekday service for seniors and people with disabilities The routes were from Concord Heights to Concord Hospital and from Penacook to the South End of Concord along with service for people with disabilities and seniors At this time the first Orion buses were used on the routes Trolley shaped buses were rented and operated during the six week holiday season for three years These trolleys were supported by the Chamber of Commerce Concord Hospital and Steeplegate Mall CAMBMCI also assumed operation of senior service that had been operated by the YMCA In 1991 the City of Concord began to provide CAPBMCI with ongoing funding to support public transportation beyond the three year pilot In 1999 the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA mandated specific regulations for bus service for people with disabilities Since CAT already provided such service it ensured that it conformed to the new ADA regulations In 1999 CAT also operated the Penacook Heights Manchester Street and senior service routes Manchester Street service was funded through a three year Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality CMAQ grant By 2005 CAT had started a Crosstown bus service between Airport Road and Concord Hospital The Crosstown bus developed into the Industrial Park route that operates between Industrial Park Drive and the hospital today CAT started year round trolley service in 2008 when it received a three year CMAQ grant The matching funds for this grant were generously donated by Delta Dental CAT currently provides fixed route transportation Monday Friday from 6 00am to 6 30pm in Concord CAT also provides demand response transportation to seniors and people with disabilities Routes edit nbsp Route 3 Crosstown bus on South Street October 2020 Route 1 Penacook Route 2 Heights Route 3 Crosstown ADA Paratransit Service Concord Senior TransitExternal links editConcord Area Transit official website City of Concord website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Concord Area Transit amp oldid 1191455460, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
