KAT no longer recommends only cashless fares for rides, moves to allow exact-change payments [Video]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knoxville Area Transit said it is no longer recommending implementing an exclusively cashless payment system for its buses. It instead recommends buses accept exact change for fares, as well as cashless payments starting in 2025.

The transit system previously said it would host public meetings to connect with the community about a proposal to stop accepting cash for bus fares. It said payments would instead be done through a new “Katpay” system, which effectively creates online accounts for riders. They could load money into those accounts to then pay for fares.

Now, KAT is recommending riders be given the choice to either use Katpay or pay exact change for fares.

KAT said on Tuesday that it would still launch the Katpay system, which would also introduce fare capping — a policy that tracks rider usage and stops charging them after reaching …