CATS Kicks Off Comprehensive Operational Analysis to Improve Efficiency and Service

BATON ROUGE, La. - The Capital Area Transit System (CATS) has launched a Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) of its entire system, a periodic evaluation considered a best practice among transit systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness in serving communities.

Called Smart CATS – A Blueprint for Stronger Connections, the detailed assessment of the entire CATS system will take a holistic look to determine where improvements are needed. It will identify ridership, where passengers are coming from and going to, bottlenecks in the system, and how routes may perform better.

The Smart CATS process will also include a robust stakeholder and public outreach component to gather input on how the system can be improved. The public will be heard through surveys, public meetings, rider focus groups and online outreach.

CATS CEO Bill Deville said the Smart CATS plan will also take a detailed look at how the CATS system will integrate with the Plank-Nicholson Bus Rapid Transit project as well as updated technology and microtransit deployment. “Smart CATS will map how we continue to improve public transit and assure the public that CATS makes the best use of our tax dollars,” Deville said.

Anyone interested in providing helpful input can sign up on the CATS website here to be a part of Smart CATS.

CATS presented its last COA to the public in 2012, and Deville said he anticipates publishing the10-year update in 2022.