Port Wentworth seeks to join CAT tax district for expanded bus service

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. (WTOC) - Port Wentworth is looking to join Chatham Area Transit’s tax district, a move that would bring more bus routes through the city.

City manager Steve Davis presented the proposal to the CAT board on Tuesday. The pitch centers on Anchor Park, a project that has been in development for years, and aims to make travel to and from the park easier for residents.

Transit expansion could benefit both parties

Chatham Area Transit board chair Detric Leggett said the proposal could help the transit system.

“That’s actually a game changer for us to have an addition to go to Port Wentworth,” Leggett said.

The proposal goes beyond a single fixed route. Port Wentworth is seeking a route system throughout the city.

“We’ve been experiencing some real exceptional growth up here, we’re trying to be proactive and give some alternatives to give our residents to choose a different mode of transportation,” Davis said.

Ideas include routes to ice rink, shuttle service

Both Leggett and Davis discussed potential routes involving The Cove, a new ice rink in the area.

Leggett said he would like to see a direct route from Savannah to the ice rink.

“I would love to have a straight route with GDOT to get past a lot of that traffic and get a straight lane from Savannah all the way to the cove,” Leggett said.

Davis suggested shuttle buses could transport people from the training facility to games at Enmarket Arena downtown.

With some of CAT’s funding set to be reduced by the county, Leggett said working with more municipalities could help maintain service levels.

“It answers a lot of questions. And they’re going to shore up a lot of dollars as well as the businesses that will benefit from having people come in,” Leggett said.

CAT has not accepted any proposal yet. The transit system is still in the decision-making process.