Ithaca Electric Transportation Access (IETA) Project
Ithaca Electric Transportation Access (IETA) Project operates a partially electric bus fleet that brings clean transit to many Tompkins County communities. However, like any fixed route transit, the bus system has limited service areas. To address this issue Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) and partners are developing a suite of coordinated services to serve low-income and transportation-disadvantaged communities. Services include on-demand transportation; expanding electric bike sharing services; and economic incentives to improve economic mobility. This combination of services will increase transportation access and availability, reduce costs to the consumers, and improve economic stability and opportunity.
Solution Location: Ithaca
Project Progress
How TCAT is Bringing Communities Together with Clean Transportation Services
What is Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT)?
TCAT is the local non-profit transit agency with a mission to address transportation needs, enhance safety and environmental sustainability throughout their community. Limited transportation options in Ithaca’s West End, West Hill, and the Flats neighborhoods have long been a challenge for the community. Without access to affordable and reliable transportation, residents have encountered trouble accessing jobs, healthcare, childcare, and other essential services.
To address gaps within the transportation network in these prioritized neighborhoods, TCAT decided to boost their operations with a new clean transportation initiative that is providing expanded bikeshare services, on-demand transit, transportation subsidies, and street safety improvements.
Community-Led Initiatives for a More Connected Future
TCAT collaborated with various local organizations and opinion leaders to help address mobility gaps and verify which areas to prioritize for the new and expanded localized clean transportation services. Partnering with respected neighborhood-level organizations and providers enabled TCAT to more easily secure local buy-in and build awareness for services as they launched.
NYSERDA’s New York Clean Transportation Prizes (NYCTP) initiative is supporting TCAT and their partners to expand clean, equitable transportation options across the region by enhancing the impact of programs like GO ITHACA’s Easy Access 
and Center for Community Transportation’s Ithaca Bikeshare to reach more residents than ever before. This partnership is strengthening community engagement to ensure that Ithaca’s transportation future is shaped by those who live in it.
Ithaca Bikeshare has quickly become a highly valued community resource, providing a reliable way for residents to reach essential services, connect to regional transit, and foster their community ties. Thousands of trips are logged each month, with the service continuing to grow each year.
Building on this success, eRide , an electric on-demand service launched in the Spring of 2026 expands transportation access throughout the prioritized neighborhoods.. These efforts are creating new connections while supporting a cleaner, healthier future for the region.
TCAT’s project demonstrates the impact of introducing new mobility options while strengthening and expanding the reach of current services that residents already value. The project’s success outlines how services can gain traction quickly when they align with local needs.