City of Ithaca, Tompkins County, Cornell University and Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Inc. (TCAT) officials have renewed a mutual transportation agreement, saying that it reaffirms a strong and local commitment to community-wide public transportation for at least another decade.
The 10-year agreement, which went into effect Mon., Oct. 10, renews a 2005 pledge establishing the city, county and Cornell as TCAT’s local underwriters, accounting for approximately 16 percent of the transit agency’s annual operational revenues. TCAT’s $19 million annual budget is also funded by federal and state dollars, user fares, and Cornell’s annual payment for university ridership.
“TCAT is deeply grateful to the city, county and Cornell for their past and continuing collaboration and dedication toward fulfilling the transportation needs of the area’s urban, suburban, campus and rural residents, commuters and visitors,” said TCAT General Manager Scot Vanderpool.
The previous transportation agreement was signed in 2005, the first year TCAT became a legally structured as a private, not-for-profit transportation system. The new agreement affirms that each underwriter has the right to vet proposals from the TCAT Board of Directors seeking an “extraordinary” or substantial investment, such as building a new transit facility or deciding to go fare free. The new agreement will be in effect for 10 years, with options for automatic renewal for up to two additional 5-year terms.
“This agreement is rooted in goodwill and clearly demonstrates that the bond the city, county and Cornell first forged with TCAT more than 20 years ago is durable and lasting,” said Acting Mayor Laura Lewis, City of Ithaca, who is also 2022 Chairperson of the TCAT Board of Directors. “All three underwriters have proven they are in unison in recognizing TCAT as fundamental to a vibrant economy, clean environment and good quality of life for our entire community.”
Shawna Black, Chairwoman of the Tompkins County Legislature, thanked negotiators from TCAT and each of the underwriters for the hours of work they devoted to hashing out the new agreement and said: “Collaboration is one of the strengths of our community, and I’m glad that we were able to reach an agreement that works for each of us in this case.”
“TCAT is a model transportation provider, and I’m glad we’re moving forward re-committing to a consolidated area transit system,” Black said. “Thank you to the tireless efforts of TCAT administration, drivers, mechanics, and others for their work to put the consolidated vision into practice every day, and thank you to Cornell and the City for being willing to work out our differences and get to an agreement.”
TCAT’s current legal structure as a private not-for-profit went into effect in 2005, but its origins go back more than 30 years when the city, county and Cornell were operating their own transit systems. In 1991, leaders of each came together to begin the complex process of consolidation.
“Since TCAT’s inception, Cornell University has been grateful for its partnership with the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County on our world-class transportation system,” said Rick Burgess, Vice President of Facilities and Campus Services at Cornell. “This new and collective Transportation Services Agreement will ensure the stability and future growth of TCAT as we work on our shared goals of service to the community, affordability, and sustainability.”