CHATHAM AREA TRANSIT ANNOUNCES ST. PATRICK'S DAY SCHEDULES

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA – March 13, 2008 – St. Patrick’s Day festivities are quickly approaching and stress-free transportation to and from downtown with no parking worries are high on everyone’s list of priorities. As such, Chatham Area Transit (CAT) offers many convenient options for people – residents and visitors alike -- to get downtown to the parade activities and leave their vehicles at home.

For $1.00 per trip, the public may catch any of CAT’s fixed route buses. CAT bus routes listed will alight passengers in the MLK, Jr. Blvd /Broughton vicinity. East/southside buses alight and board passengers at Oglethorpe/Price.

· 10-East Savannah and the 24-Savannah State/Wilmington Island: Wilmington Island residents can catch these buses from the Island Towne Centre area.

· 17-Silk Hope/Savannah Festival Outlet: From the Savannah Festival Factory Outlet/Hwy. 17-Hwy. 204 Super Wal-Mart area, passengers may catch this route.

· 14-Abercorn: Southside residents may catch this bus from the Savannah Mall area or from the bus stop at the rear of Savannah Mall.

· 11 Candler and 31-Skidaway/Sandfly/Oglethorpe Mall serve the Skidaway Road area.

· 27 Waters Road or 28-Waters Road: serves the Waters Road area.

· 2-West Chatham or 3A and 3B-Augusta Avenue: Westside residents will find these buses a convenient way to get downtown.

Please note that bus stops for the 14 Abercorn and 27 Waters Road routes will shift from under the Oglethorpe Mall parking deck to Hodgson Memorial from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. while the City of Savannah-operated St. Patrick’s Day shuttle is in service.

CAT offices at 900 E. Gwinnett Street will be opened from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. for ticket/token/swipe card sales. CAT Central, 124 Bull Street, will be opened from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Telephone schedule information will be available from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Schedule information is also available on CAT’s website, catchacat.org.

Due to the parade, buses in downtown will detour from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m. and certain bus stops along the parade route will not be served between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Also, the downtown CAT Shuttle and the dot Downtown Transportation in Historic Savannah will NOT be in service on St. Patrick's Day. The River Street streetcar will not operate on St. Patrick’s Day.

In addition, the fare-free Savannah Belles Ferry will be operating from 7:00 a.m. until midnight on St. Patrick’s Day between the Trade Center Landing, the City Hall Landing, and the Waving Girl Landing by the Savannah Marriott Riverfront. The Savannah International Trade and Convention Center’s parking lot will be open to the public on March 17 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The parking fee is $10 per car per day.

Telephone information for CAT services is available at (912) 233-5767. The public may also access CAT’s website at catchacat.org for route and schedule information or go to the City of Savannah’s website for additional St. Patrick’s Day information. Any questions regarding the dot service, please call 447-4026.

WSAV.com Keyword: “St. Pats” for more information