Login
Login

Public transportation in Savannah, Georgia

{{Short description|none}}

{{Infobox public transit

| box_width =

| name = Public transportation in Savannah, Georgia

| image = Savannah, Georgia Amtrak station.jpg

| alt =

| imagesize =

| image2 =

| alt2 =

| imagesize2 =

| image3 =

| alt3 =

| imagesize3 =

| caption = Savannah's Amtrak station

| owner =

| locale =

| transit_type = Air, rail, road, water

| lines =

| stations =

| ridership =

| annual_ridership =

| chief_executive =

| headquarters =

| website =

| callcentre =

| began_operation =

| operation_will_start =

| ended_operation =

| operator =

| marks =

| host =

| vehicles =

| train_length =

| headway =

| system_length =

| notrack =

| track_gauge =

| ogauge =

| minimum_radius_of_curvature =

| el =

| average_speed =

| top_speed =

| osm_id =

| map =

| map_name =

| map_state =

}}

Public transportation in Savannah, Georgia, is available for all four main modes of transport—air, bus, ferry and rail—assisting residents and visitors without their own vehicle to travel around much of Savannah's {{Convert|113|sqmi|km2}}.

Rapid transit throughout Savannah is provided by Chatham Area Transit (CAT), which was established in 1987 as an evolvement of previous providers. There are seventeen fixed bus routes, plus the CAT's dot (downtown transportation)[https://www.catchacat.org/getting-around/ride-free-downtown/dot-express-shuttle/ dot Shuttle] – CatchACat.org system, which provides fare-free bus service on the Forsyth Loop and Downtown Loop, as well as free passage between River Street and Hutchinson Island via the Savannah Belles Ferry.[https://mailchi.mp/79517e1dd7c1/cat-board-to-consider-resumption-of-fare-collection-5500120?e=1cd30bee69 "New Dot shuttle route to begin Jan. 9"] – CAT Express, January 4, 2022 The privately owned Georgia Queen and Savannah River Queen paddle steamers are also berthed on River Street.{{Cite web |last=Shumake |first=Liz |date=2023-04-16 |title=The Georgia Queen |url=https://www.savannah.com/savannah-riverboat-cruises-debut-new-georgia-queen/ |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Savannah, GA {{!}} Savannah.com |language=en-US}}

Savannah is home to one commercial airport—Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport—which opened in 1994. Owned by the City of Savannah, it is the operating base for Allegiant Air.

Amtrak operates a passenger rail terminal at Savannah for its Palmetto and Silver Service trains, which run between New York City and Miami. Two southbound and three northbound trains make daily stops at the Savannah terminal.

In 2021, the Savannah Morning News reported that one-third of low- and median-income (LMI) households in the Savannah–Chatham area lacked reliable transportation. This was according to a survey of LMI households from the nonprofit Step Up Savannah. About 15% did not live near access to a bus route, and only 5% walked or biked.{{Cite web |title=Savannah Morning News Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts |url=https://subscribe.savannahnow.com/restricted |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=subscribe.savannahnow.com}}

Air

{{Main|List of airports in Georgia (U.S. state)}}

File:Swq2.jpg]]

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (ICAO: KSAV), located {{Convert|8|mi}} northwest of the city, had over 1.3 million commercial passenger boardings in 2019. The airport it is the operating base for Allegiant Air.

Eleven airlines serve the airport year-round: Allegiant Air,{{cite web|title=Allegiant Air|url=https://www.allegiantair.com|access-date=7 April 2017}} American Airlines,{{cite web|title=Flight schedules and notifications|url=https://www.aa.com/travelInformation/flights/schedule|access-date=7 April 2017}} American Eagle, Avelo Airlines,{{cite web|url=https://www.aveloair.com/destinations/|title=Destinations|website=Avelo Airlines|access-date=January 18, 2022}} Breeze Airways,{{cite web | url=https://www.flybreeze.com/destinations | title=Breeze Airways }} Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection,{{cite web|title=FLIGHT SCHEDULES|url=https://www.delta.com/flightinfo/viewFlightSchedulesSetup.action|access-date=7 April 2017}} Frontier Airlines,{{Cite web|url=https://flights.flyfrontier.com/en/flights-from-savannah|title=Book cheap flights from Savannah, GA today | Frontier Airlines|website=flights.flyfrontier.com|access-date=May 15, 2021}} JetBlue,{{cite web|title=JetBlue Airlines Timetable|url=https://b6.innosked.com/(S(ke2am3wxgiegj0zs1pxotirq))/default.aspx|access-date=7 April 2017}} Southwest Airlines{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines announces five new routes to Savannah |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/business/20201119/southwest-airlines-announces-five-new-routes-to-savannah |access-date=19 November 2020}} and United Express. Two (United Airlines{{cite web|title=Timetable|url=https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/travel/timetable/default.aspx|access-date=7 April 2017}} and Sun Country Airlines{{cite web |title=Route Map & Flight Schedule |url=https://www.suncountry.com/Explore/Route-Map.html |access-date=7 April 2017}}) provide seasonal-only services.

Popular destinations include Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago; Dallas/Fort Worth; New York City and Washington, D.C.

FedEx Express and UPS Airlines also serve the airport for cargo.

Bus

Chatham Area Transit was established in 1987.{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-08-16 |title=Chatham Area Transit (CAT) {{!}} DRIVE Electric USA |url=https://www.driveelectricusa.org/fleet-stories/chatham-area-transit/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Drive Electric USA |language=en-US}} Its Intermodal Transit Center,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw07gEeUdVE |title=Buses in Savannah, Georgia, USA 2021 |date=2021-09-01 |last=Timosha21 |access-date=2024-05-23 |via=YouTube}} opened in 2013 and located on West Oglethorpe Avenue, is named for Joe Murray Rivers Jr., a transit advocate who transformed public transit in Georgia.{{Cite web |title=Joe Murray Rivers, Jr. Intermodal Transit Center {{!}} Chatham Area Transit (CAT) |url=https://www.catchacat.org/about-cat/intermodal-transit-facility/ |access-date=2024-01-25}} CAT has a fleet of 60 buses,{{Cite web |title=About CAT – Chatham Area Transit (CAT) |url=https://catchacat.org/about-cat/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |language=en-US}} including six electric fixed-route buses.

= Fixed-route list =

There are currently seventeen fixed routes:[https://www.catchacat.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/10.01.19-CAT-System-Map_Page_2.jpg System Map] – CatchACat.org

  • 3: West Chatham / Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport
  • 3B: Augusta Ave
  • 4: Barnard
  • 5: Port Wentworth
  • 6: Cross Town
  • 10: East Savannah
  • 11: Candler
  • 12: Henry
  • 14: Abercorn
  • 17: Silk Hope
  • 20: Skidaway Island / Coffee Bluff
  • 25: MLK Jr. Blvd
  • 27: Waters
  • 28: Waters
  • 31: Skidaway / Sandfly
  • 80: Tiger Shuttle
  • 100X: Airport Express

Route 3 serves Groves High School. The 3B provides inbound services in the morning and outbound services in the afternoon. Route 6 runs once per hour during morning and afternoon peak times. Route 7D-C, the dot extension, replaced route 29.

= Fare-free services =

There are currently four free downtown (dot) shuttles:{{Cite web |title=Schedules – Chatham Area Transit (CAT) |url=https://catchacat.org/current-schedules/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |language=en-US}}

Pooler, Thunderbolt and Port Wentworth opted out of receiving CAT's services upon its 1986 chartering.

Streetcar

File:Old Savannah Tours bus.jpg in 2017]]

Old Town Trolley Tours operates a hop on, hop off sightseeing tour-bus service around the city.{{Cite web |title=Savannah Tours & Attractions Packages Save Up To 35% |url=https://www.trolleytours.com/savannah |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Old Town Trolley Tours |language=en-US}} Beginning at Savannah's Visitor Centre on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, its route has fourteen stops:{{Cite web |title=The Best Interactive Savannah Map For Planning Your Vacation |url=https://www.trolleytours.com/savannah/map |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Old Town Trolley Tours |language=en-US}} Old Town Trolley Welcome Center (West Boundary Street), Franklin Square, Madison Square, Forsyth Park, Taylor Square, Cathedral of St. John The Baptist (Lafayette Square), Old Town Trolley Barn (West Perry Street), City Market, Lucas Theatre (Reynolds Square), River Street, The Waving Girl (East River Street), Isaiah Davenport House (Columbia Square), Colonial Park Cemetery and Bull Street Corridor.

Old Savannah Tours runs a competing service.

Ferry

File:Savannah Belles Ferry, Susie King Taylor.jpg in 2016]]

The Savannah Belles Ferry fleet includes four passenger ferries. They are named for noteworthy women from Savannah's history: Juliette Gordon Low, Susie King Taylor, Florence Martus and Mary Musgrove.{{Cite web |title=Savannah Belles Ferry – Chatham Area Transit (CAT) |url=https://catchacat.org/getting-around/ride-free-downtown/savannah-belles-ferry/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |language=en-US}} Each ferry runs between River Street (from either City Hall or Waving Girl Landing) and Hutchinson Island in the Savannah River. Established in 2000,{{Cite web |last=Rigsby |first=G. G. |title=Trade center authority struggles with funding for ferries |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2011/08/21/trade-center-authority-struggles-funding-ferries/13424562007/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=Savannah Morning News |language=en-US}} the ferries are owned and operated by CAT, and run at no cost to the public. They run between 7.00 AM and 10.00 PM, seven days a week.

Savannah River Boat Cruises runs two paddle steamers from River Street: the four-deck Georgia Queen and the three-deck Savannah River Queen.{{Cite web |title=Tour Our Boats |url=https://savannahriverboat.com/tour-our-boats/ |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Savannah Riverboat |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Georgia Queen |url=https://savannahriverboat.com/georgia-queen/ |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Savannah Riverboat |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2018-08-03 |title=This One-of-a-Kind Cruise is the Best Way to Explore the Savannah River {{!}} Visit Savannah |url=https://visitsavannah.com/article/this-one-kind-cruise-the-best-way-to-explore-the-savannah-river |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=visitsavannah.com |language=en}}

Rail

Savannah's Amtrak terminal, built in 1962, is served by Amtrak's Palmetto and Silver Service trains, which run between New York City and Miami. Two southbound and three northbound trains make daily stops at the station, which is located around {{Convert|3|mi}} west of downtown.

References

{{reflist}}

Category:Transportation in Savannah, Georgia