CAT Riders Guide FAQ

View any bus routes to find a detailed map and schedule

You can also pick up schedules and route maps at any of these locations:

• Moore Square Station Information Booth
• Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex (City Hall), 222 W. Hargett St.
• All Raleigh branches of Wake County Public Libraries
• Employment Security Commission (ESC)
• YMCA and YWCA
• Wake County Human Services
• WakeMed
• CAT Operations Office, 4104 Poole Rd.
• On the CAT buses

To find the quickest way to reach your destination visit GoTriangle.org, our regional trip planner, or call the GoTriangle Regional Call Center at 919-485-RIDE(7433). Our Customer Service Representatives are ready to help you from:
7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Friday
8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturdays
8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sundays and holidays

When calling, be prepared to tell the Customer Service Representative the following information:

1. Where you are
2. Where you want to go
3. When you want to leave or arrive

It's helpful to have a pencil and piece of paper ready to write down the information.

On each brochure, there are two maps, one for outbound and one for inbound.

If you plan to travel away from downtown, select the outbound map.

If you would like to go toward downtown, select the inbound map.

Next, look at the schedule in the brochure for the day you plan to travel.

Some schedules are for Monday-Saturday. Others list separate schedules for Monday-Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Find the numbered timepoint nearest your location on the map. For convenience, all maps are oriented to be read from left to right. The number of the timepoint on the map is the same as the number of its corresponding timetable column.

For each timepoint on the map, there is a corresponding column on the schedule below the map.

Read down the column to find a convenient time for your trip to begin. If your location is midway between two timepoints, you will need to estimate the time the bus will come by your stop.
Read across the line to the right, to the column for the timepoint nearest your destination. This shows your arrival time. If you are transferring to another bus, find the timepoint for your transfer location. Then refer to the brochure for your second route and repeat steps 1 through 5.

You can catch a CAT bus at one of the many bus stop signs located throughout Raleigh.

These signs are conveniently located along each route. (Please be at your stop a few minutes early - the bus is expected within 5 minutes of the scheduled time.

To request that a bus stop be added

• Please call (919) 996-4046 or email catinfo@ci.raleigh.nc.us

To suggest a new bus route

• Please call (919) 996-4048 or email catinfo@ci.raleigh.nc.us

Each bus is equipped with an identification sign displaying the route name, number and direction of travel on the front of the bus above the driver, and on the side of the bus, beside the front door.

Some buses also display the route number on the rear of the bus, in the upper right-hand corner.

Buses that are not operating on a regular CAT route will display a message such as "GARAGE", "SPECIAL" or "OUT OF SERVICE".

Most CAT buses are equipped with electronic fare boxes that accept all U.S. coins and currency.

The fare boxes do not return cash change.

Tell your driver before you overpay so he or she can signal the farebox. The farebox will then give you a magnetic stripe encoded change card that you may use on your next trip.

Find out more about Bus fare rates

Some CAT routes are paired and form interconnecting routes. This makes it easy to get from one part of town to another without leaving the bus. On their way across town, buses stop at Moore Square Station to pick up passengers. Stay on the bus if you are continuing across town - you don't need a transfer. As the bus enters Moore Square Station the identification sign will change to reflect the new route.

The seats in the front of the bus, directly behind the driver and next to the front door, should be offered to passengers who are senior citizens or have mobility impairments.

Otherwise, just pick any seat and relax!

When seated, please keep arms, legs and personal items out of the aisles.

For the safety and comfort of everyone on board, please refrain from smoking, eating or drinking. Operating audio equipment without headphones is prohibited. Pets are not allowed. Service animals are permitted.

While enjoying the ride, remember to watch for your stop.

Signal the driver a block before your stop by pressing the rubber strip or pulling the cord beside the window.

Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before you stand to exit. Whenever possible, please use the rear door. Push the door open when the bus comes to a complete stop (a green light above the rear door will come on when it is safe to open the door).

All CAT routes operate Monday to Friday.

On Saturdays

• Route 18 Worthdale Route 19 Apollo Heights do not operate (area is served by the combined Route 35 Poole Road)
• All other routes operate

On Sundays

• There is reduced service on 9 routes
• View individual route schedules or GoTriangle.org for hours Sunday hours

CAT does not operate on:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Fourth of July
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

We operate on a Saturday schedule on Memorial Day.

The GoTriangle Regional Call Center is open every day except Christmas Day.

Radial CAT routes

• identified when there is not a letter associated with the route number
• start and end in Moore Square Station in downtown Raleigh
• operate along major corridors or serve destinations with high ridership

catConnector routes

• identified by the letter "c" after their route number
• generally do not serve Moore Square Station
• designed as neighborhood circulators or cross-town routes
• allow riders to connect to a radial CAT route
• Some catConnectors have timed connections with radial CAT routes

Express routes

• identified by the letter "e" after their route number
• have limited stops generally located at either end of the route

If you have found an item on the bus please give it to your driver.

Did you leave an item on the bus? It may be in our lost and found.

Please call 919-996-3868. Be prepared to describe the item to the representative.

Items may be picked up from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday at:
CAT Operations Office
4104 Poole Rd.
Raleigh, Nc 27610