Big moves in Knoxville as the city's transportation board gives the green light to a revamped bus network aimed at enhancing public travel. The Knoxville Transportation Authority Board stamped their approval on the new KAT Reimagined routes and times on April 25, overhauling the city's bus system with an eye towards more frequent and reliable service across the board.

Among tweaks made in an the final draft, Route 22 sees fine-tuning in its schedule, while Route 45 makes a comeback with direct service to Flenniken Landing, a nod to the local community's input. Starting August 26, Knoxvillians can kiss inconsistent service goodbye as the retooled routes kick into gear, confirmed Knoxville's official announcement.

Isaac Thorne, the city's Director of the Transit, laid out the plan's benefits: More frequent service, consistent daily operations, better job access, a high-frequency downtown connector zooming by every 12 minutes, and a boosted UT campus connection with eight buses an hour. "This updated network reflects our commitment to providing efficient, accessible, and reliable transit services to our community," Thorne said, as detailed by the city's news release.

As August rolls around, the public is being pointed to KATBus.com to get familiar with a the detailed maps and schedules of the new network. The site’s update hopes to guide commuters through the overhauled service, paving the way to a smoother ride in and around Knoxville.