(JAN. 16, 2026) — Cherokee County leaders, Chamber of Commerce members and the community braved the frigid temperatures Thursday to celebrate the start to the new home for Cherokee Area Transit Service and the announcement of a $1 million state infusion into the project.
The groundbreaking event was held at the site of the future CATS headquarters on Univeter Road at Pinecrest Road. Currently, CATS shares office space in a smaller facility with Fire & Emergency Logistics. They have operated out of 884 Univeter Road since 2009. The new facility will be located at the corner of Pinecrest Road and Univeter Road.
“CATS is one of those services that is primarily funded by federal funding, even this building is mostly federally funded. What a needed service it is for people who don’t have other options to get around,” said Chairman Harry Johnston. “Thanks to everyone and especially to the CATS team. It’s another great day in Cherokee County.”
CATS provides public transit services to Cherokee County residents – most riders are going to doctor appointments, the grocery store or other big box retailers, and taking care of other necessary errands. CATS also provides transportation to clients of the Cherokee County Senior Center and Empower Cherokee. In 2025, CATS provided more than 36,000 trips for county residents, including 18,970 rides to Empower Cherokee clients and 8,907 rides for Senior Center clients. Twenty-six buses are in the fleet, with seven powered by propane.
“We appreciate the Board’s support on this project, and we’re excited for what the future holds for our operation,” said Transit Director Greg Powell. “Our staff is dedicated to serving our ridership, and this is a service many of our residents depend on.”
The new facility will help address challenges of operating a fleet of buses in a shared facility and will accommodate future system growth.
The Board of Commissioners awarded the construction contract in October to Place Services, Inc. The $5.1 million construction contract is funded with 80% Federal Transit Administration funds and 20% local funds. In December, the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority (ATL) announced $1 million in funding to Cherokee Area Transit Service, which will offset the impact to local funds for the 20% match.
“We’re really excited to financially invest in this project,” said Jonathan Ravenelle, Chief of Planning, Strategy, and Program Implementation for ATL. “I’m excited about the growth that CATS has shown over the last several years.”
The total project cost, including design, engineering, site preparation, construction, and furnishings, is expected to be about $6.7 million. It is estimated that Cherokee County will only have to cover about 3 cents to 6 cents on the dollar from SPLOST funding. The majority is funded with federal and state funds designated for transit services.
“It’s great to be able to bring a much-needed project to the County Manager and Board of Commissioners that will have a limited impact on the county’s overall budget,” said Community Services Agency Director Bryan Reynolds. “I’m proud to say that we’ll be paying pennies on the dollar for this project that will serve both our residents and county staff for years to come.”
Design of the facility was taken into account for both operations and aesthetics. The design mirrors a historic train station, complete with ticket window and waiting area. The 7,000-square-foot building includes offices, dispatch, driver’s breakroom and training rooms. The site also includes employee parking and secure parking for up to 50 small buses, allowing for fleet growth, a propane fueling island, and a covered area for training.
+++
