KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Knoxville Area Transit’s downtown connector bus recently had its busiest month ever, continuing a trend of increased ridership since the route stopped charging a fare.
At the Knoxville Transportation Authority Board’s July 23 meeting, Knoxville Director of Transit Isaac Thorne reported that the downtown connector bus had its busiest month ever in June with over 18,000 rides. He said that the route averaged around 5,000 to 6,000 monthly riders in 2025.
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KAT launched a zero-fare pilot program last December, and the KTA Board voted to make the route free on a permanent basis in May. Thorne said that downtown connector ridership is up 39% year-over-year since the pilot program began.
The bus route links downtown destinations like the Old City, Market Square, Gay Street, and Covenant Health Park. The service normally operates on a 15-minute schedule with three buses on the route, with two additional buses added during certain events at Covenant Health Park…