Knoxville Transportation Auth

Knoxville's rich history in public transportation dates back to 1876 when the first street cars of the Knoxville Street Railway Company were pulled by horses and mules along tracks on Gay street. Since its inception, Knoxville Area Transit has grown from this primitive mode of transportation to a mass-transit system for the city of Knoxville, Tenn. It operates more than 75 buses, paratransit LIFT vehicles and downtown trolleys. During peak hours of service, KAT operates around 28 routes, including three express routes and three trolley routes. Funding for the transit system comes from local, state and federal dollars, as well as fare revenues. It is estimated that Knoxville Area Transit carries around 3.2 million passengers per year.