Paducah Area Transit System

What Paducah Area Transit System does

Paducah Area Transit System (PATS) is a federally-funded public transit authority headquartered at 850 Harrison Street in Paducah, Kentucky. It operates as a government entity (also referenced in legal documents as the Paducah Transit Authority) providing public transportation across the city of Paducah and four surrounding counties: Ballard, Marshall, McCracken, and Northern Graves. PATS runs four color-coded fixed bus routes (Blue, Red, Yellow, Green) Monday through Saturday between approximately 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, charging a standard $1.00 fare with reduced rates for seniors, students, and children.

The organization's product portfolio spans fixed-route service, scheduled door-to-door demand response (Dial-A-Ride), ADA-compliant paratransit, Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation, intercity feeder service, airport shuttle, and private-event trolley and cutaway bus rentals. The technology backbone is the TripSpark MyRide platform, delivered as a mobile application and web portal at pats.mytransit.live, providing real-time vehicle location, trip planning, departure times, and an SMS-based departure-time service. Fleet operations support wheelchair accommodation across demand-response and ADA channels.

PATS generates revenue through a mix of transaction-based fares, mileage-based Dial-A-Ride charges, advertising on vehicle wraps, and rental fees for trolleys and cutaways. Funding is supplemented by federal transit grants (IIJA, FAST Act) administered through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, subject to Title VI, ADA, and DBE compliance. Customer segments include the general public, Medicaid members (via the AACS/GRITS broker), ADA-eligible individuals, seniors and mobility-limited riders, and travelers using airport and intercity connections. Distribution combines direct phone/online reservations with self-serve app and SMS channels, complemented by partnerships with regional transit authorities, Barkley Regional Airport, and community organizations.

Name

Paducah Area Transit System

Legal name

Paducah Area Transit System

Website

https://paducahtransit.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Paducah Area Transit System (PATS) is a government public transit authority that provides fixed-route bus service, ADA paratransit, Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation, airport shuttles, intercity service, and trolley rentals to residents and visitors of Paducah, Kentucky and four surrounding counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transportation Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991), Urban Transit Systems (4851)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Municipal/Transit-Agency Microtransit (First/Last-Mile Feeders) (TLAFAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

ADA/Accessible Paratransit (Complementary to Fixed-Route Transit) (THAIAHAA), Senior & Assisted-Living Demand-Responsive Transport (THAIAHAE), Airport/Seaport Shuttle & Landside Connector Services (TLAFAJAE)

Keywords

• Public transit services
• Fixed route bus
• Paratransit services
• Demand response transportation
• Non-emergency medical transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Paducah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Fixed Route Bus Fares: Revenue from fixed route bus rides at $1.00 per ride standard fare, with reduced fares for seniors, students, and children. Additional revenue from monthly passes ($30) and coupon books.
2. Scheduled Services: Dial-A-Ride service at $1.75 per mile ($3.50 minimum), ADA paratransit at $2.00 per stop, and intercity service at $20 one-way.
3. Transit Advertising: Bus wrap advertising on fixed route buses ($17,000 first year, $7,000 second year), paratransit/cutaway buses ($10,300 first year, $6,000 second year), and vans/SUVs ($4,000 first year, $3,500 second year).
4. Trolley Rentals: Trolley rental at $300 for 2-hour minimum, $100 per additional hour. Each trolley seats up to 30 passengers. Cutaway (smaller buses) also available for rent.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Paducah Area Transit System (PATS) is a federally funded public transit authority that operates fixed-route bus service on four color-coded lines across the city of Paducah, KY and provides scheduled, door-to-door transportation services (Dial-A-Ride, ADA paratransit, and Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation) to residents and visitors across four western Kentucky counties. The agency also runs trolley rentals for private events, an airport shuttle to Barkley Regional Airport, and intercity feeder service to Greyhound and PATS terminals, with real-time tracking enabled through the third-party TripSpark MyRide app.

Product overview

Paducah Area Transit System (PATS) is a public transit authority providing multiple transportation services in Paducah, KY and surrounding counties. The core offering is a Fixed Route Bus Service with four color-coded lines (Blue, Yellow, Red, Green) for general public transit. Supporting this are specialized scheduled services including Dial-A-Ride (personalized door-to-door service), ADA Paratransit Service (ADA-compliant paratransit for persons with disabilities), and Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation. Additional services include Trolley Rentals for private events, Airport Service to Barkley Regional Airport, and Intercity Bus Service connecting three counties. The MyRide App and MyRide Text service provide real-time bus tracking and trip planning functionality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fixed Route Bus Service Fixed route bus service operating four color-coded lines (Blue, Red, Yellow, Green) across Paducah, KY, with buses departing hourly from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday-Friday and 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturday. Fare is $1.00 per ride with discounted rates for seniors, students, and children; designed for general public commuters and intra-city mobility.
• Dial-A-Ride Scheduled, door-to-door personalized transportation service available 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday-Saturday, at $1.75 per mile with a $3.50 minimum. Includes wheelchair assistance and requires 24-hour advance reservation; intended for seniors and mobility-limited individuals who cannot use fixed-route service.
• ADA Paratransit Service Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant door-to-door paratransit service for individuals with disabilities and seniors within ¾ mile of fixed routes, operating Monday-Saturday 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM at $2.00 per stop. McCracken County residents outside city limits pay $1.75/mile. Reservations required 24 hours in advance.
• Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Non-emergency medical transportation for Medicaid members requiring 72-hour advance reservation through Audubon Area Community Services Inc. (AACS/GRITS), covering transport to Medicaid-covered medical services. Includes specialty care referrals from primary care physicians; pharmacy trips not covered.
• Trolley Rentals Private trolley rental service for events and group outings, charging $300 for a 2-hour minimum with $100 per additional hour, accommodating up to 30 passengers per trolley. Cutaway smaller buses also available for rent; payment due two weeks before reservation.
• Airport Service Flat-rate transportation between Barkley Regional Airport and area hotels/motels near I-24 Exit 4 (Kentucky Oaks Mall area) and I-24 Exit 3 (Cairo Rd) for $10, including service to Harrah's Metropolis Casino. 24-hour advance reservation required.
• Intercity Bus Service Intercity feeder service connecting Ballard, Marshall, and McCracken counties to Barkley Regional Airport, Greyhound Terminal, and PATS terminal at $20 one-way, operating Monday-Saturday 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM with 24-hour advance reservation.
• Transit Advertising Out-of-home advertising placements on PATS vehicles with annual subscription pricing: bus wraps on fixed-route buses ($17,000 first year, $7,000 second year), paratransit/cutaway buses ($10,300 first year, $6,000 second year), and vans/SUVs ($4,000 first year, $3,500 second year). Targets local and regional advertisers seeking high-visibility transit media.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kentucky Public Transit AssociationminorOthersPATS is a member of the Kentucky Public Transit Association, a professional organization supporting public transit agencies throughout Kentucky.
• Kentucky Transportation CabinetcoreOthersKYTC/Office of Transportation Delivery is the recipient of federal transit funds and has established a DBE program. PATS operates under these federal transit funding programs including Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and FAST Act.
• AACS/GRITS (Audubon Area Community Services Inc.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedicaid broker for the region that handles scheduling for PATS Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation services. Contact: 1-844-575-9676. Operating hours 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM CST Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM CST Saturday.
• Fulton County Transit AuthorityminorOthersRegional partner agency for Fulton County residents needing intercity transportation. Contacted for residents of Fulton County and adjacent areas needing service.
• Murray-Calloway Transit AuthorityminorOthersRegional partner agency for Calloway County residents. Contacted for residents needing intercity transportation to/from Calloway County.
• Barkley Regional AirportcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPATS provides airport shuttle service between Barkley Regional Airport and area hotels/motels at a flat $10 rate, and intercity service from the airport to Greyhound terminal and PATS terminal.
• Easter SealsminorOthersPartner organization providing disability services. Listed as a community partner on PATS website.
• Purchase Area Regional Transit (PART)minorOthersRegional transit partner in the Purchase area of western Kentucky.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Purchase Area Regional Transit (PART): Regional transit operator serving the Purchase Area Development District in western Kentucky. PART is a documented PATS partner agency and operates an analogous mix of fixed-route, paratransit, and intercity service funded through Kentucky's FTA passthrough programs.
• LexTran (Lexington Transit Authority): Kentucky's second-largest public transit agency operating fixed-route bus service in Lexington. Like PATS, LexTran is a government transit authority with Title VI/ADA/DBE compliance, FTA funding, and a mix of fixed-route plus paratransit services, but at significantly larger scale.
• Murray-Calloway Transit Authority: Western Kentucky public transit authority operating fixed-route and demand-response service in the Murray-Calloway County area. PATS lists MCTA as a regional partner agency for intercity transportation, and both operate small-metro Kentucky transit systems with similar service mixes, funding sources, and federal compliance requirements.
• Fulton County Transit Authority: Western Kentucky public transit operator serving Fulton County residents with intercity connections. Listed as a PATS regional partner, FCTA runs a comparable rural/small-metro transit model with FTA funding dependence and demand-response service for low-density populations.

Peers

• Transit Authority of River City (TARC):

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Paducah-Area-Transit-System-59922606916

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paducah Area Transit System