News Summary
The Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT) has appointed a newly formed Board of Directors following Georgia House Bill 756. Detric Leggett serves as Chair and Kelvin D. Moore as Vice-Chair. To enhance governance, the Board plans a retreat to discuss the fiscal year 2026 budget. Recent violent incidents involving CAT buses have prompted safety upgrades, including new shields and driver training. CAT is also launching eco-friendly hybrid ferries and continuing a zero-fare program for students, demonstrating a commitment to safety and sustainability in public transit.
Savannah – The Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT) has announced the appointment of a newly formed Board of Directors following the enactment of Georgia House Bill 756 (Act 323). The Board held its inaugural Special Called Meeting on July 2, 2025, setting the stage for enhanced governance in public transit services across Chatham County.
Detric Leggett was elected as Chair of the Board, while Kelvin D. Moore takes on the role of Vice-Chair. Additionally, Stephanie Cutter has been re-appointed as the Interim Executive Director/CEO of CAT. Emphasizing commitment to the community, Leggett highlighted the Board’s aim to improve public transit services while Moore noted the importance of reflecting diverse voices in their decisions. The Board’s immediate agenda includes a planned retreat to review the fiscal year 2026 Operating Budget and Capital Plan, with a regular Board meeting scheduled for July 29, 2025, at 4 p.m. All CAT Board meetings will remain open to the public in compliance with the Georgia Open Meetings Act.
This leadership transition comes in the wake of two violent incidents involving CAT buses, prompting immediate action from CAT officials to bolster safety measures. In the recent attacks, which occurred within five days of each other, a blind woman and a bus driver sustained injuries. To address concerns, Deidrick Cody, Chairman of CAT, announced the ordering of new safety shields for buses, alongside upgrades to driver training protocols.
In a bid to reassure the commuting public, CAT is also holding community meetings to discuss safety improvements and reassure riders regarding their safety amid recent events. Current security measures include surveillance cameras installed both on buses and in facilities, which have proved instrumental in ongoing investigations of the assaults. The individual alleged to be connected with the first incident on June 16, 2025, is Brandon Collier, 40, who has since been arrested.
Following these violent incidents, CAT has started to suspend riding privileges for individuals involved in the attacks as part of a broader strategy to secure the safety of all riders.
In other developments, the Savannah Belles Ferry Service plans to launch two new hybrid ferries, named Susie King Taylor II and Juliette Gordon Low II, which represents a significant push towards eco-friendly public transport options in Savannah. These advancements demonstrate CAT’s commitment to innovative and sustainable transportation solutions.
Meanwhile, the Student Zero-Fare Pilot Program for students within the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System will continue until May 31, 2025. To maintain the program, the school district is contributing $3,000 per month. Registration for student zero-fare passes remains open until March 21, 2025, and parents have been notified of the registration process through email announcements in the past week.
For real-time updates, riders are encouraged to access the CATApp, available for download on Google Play and Apple iTunes. This resource provides commuters with essential travel information and notifications regarding CAT services.
The recent administrative changes, safety enhancements, and sustainability efforts reflect CAT’s ongoing initiatives to better serve the community while reinforcing the importance of rider safety and responsible transit operations.
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Additional Resources
- WTOC: CAT Discusses Safety Issues Following Assaults on Bus
- Wikipedia: Transportation in the United States
- WJCL: Chatham Area Transit Holiday Schedule for Juneteenth
- Google Search: Chatham Area Transit
- WSAV: Chatham Area Transit Authority to Launch New Hybrid Ferries
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Public Transportation
- Savannah Now: Savannah-Chatham Public Schools Extend Student Zero Fare Program
- Google News: Chatham Area Transit services
