With the onset of the summer months and the associated poor air quality days, Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) has announced that rides on all routes will be fare-free when air quality forecasts for Knoxville reach Orange Level or higher.

This includes express routes and paratransit LIFT services as well as regular, fixed route bus service. This opportunity will be available throughout the 2009 summer season.

The “T” bus service on the UT Knoxville campus is free every day.

An Orange level alert indicates that air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Reducing automobile travel is one of the most effective things that an individual can do to improve air quality, as car exhaust directly contributes to the pollutants causing Air Quality Action Days.

“We hope to encourage everyone to do his or her part to improve air quality by taking transit,” says Cindy McGinnis, KAT General Manager. “This summer is a great opportunity to try our system and improve air quality at the same time.”

To obtain route and schedule information for the “T” campus service and other KAT routes in Knoxville, and to find out if it is an Air Quality Action Day, call 637-3000 or visit KAT’s Web site.

The project is possible due to funding from the federal Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Grants Program and state funding.

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