Cape Ann Transportation Authority

What Cape Ann Transportation Authority does

Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) is a regional public transit authority established under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 161(b), operating from its headquarters at 3 Pond Road, Gloucester, Massachusetts. Founded approximately 50 years ago (circa 1976), CATA provides fixed-route bus services, ADA paratransit, senior dial-a-ride, on-demand transportation, school trippers for Gloucester Public Schools, and seasonal summer shuttles across six Cape Ann communities: Gloucester, Rockport, Ipswich, Essex, Hamilton, and Manchester-by-the-Sea.

CATA's service portfolio includes 12 numbered fixed routes (e.g., Gloucester-Rockport, Magnolia, Essex, Beverly Commuter), Saturday Mall Shuttle, the CATA OnDemand app-based service available in Gloucester, Rockport, and Lanesville, Dial-a-Ride/ADA paratransit, and three seasonal services (Rockport Shuttle, Stage Fort Park Shuttle, Ipswich-Essex Explorer). All regular fixed-route, paratransit, and seasonal services operate fare-free through 2026 under a Massachusetts State Legislature funding initiative administered by MassDOT; only CATA OnDemand continues to collect fares. The authority integrates with MBTA Commuter Rail at Gloucester and Ipswich stations for multimodal connections.

CATA is a public government entity with an 8-person administrative staff and no parent company, private shareholders, or institutional investors. It is governed by an Advisory Board with public oversight, complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and is funded entirely through state appropriations. The authority's strategic posture is stable: defensive contraction in the Beverly Shuttle (ending June 30, 2026) is offset by modest on-demand service expansion and continued fare-free operations.

Name

Cape Ann Transportation Authority

Legal name

Cape Ann Transportation Authority

Website

https://canntran.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cape Ann Transportation Authority is a Massachusetts regional transit authority providing fare-free fixed-route bus, ADA paratransit, on-demand, and seasonal shuttle services to the six Cape Ann communities of Gloucester, Rockport, Ipswich, Essex, Hamilton, and Manchester-by-the-Sea, funded by state grants administered by MassDOT.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transit Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Transit Agencies (Bus, Rail, Metro, Paratransit) (BPAIALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community & Senior Transportation Shuttles (Dial-a-Ride, Non-ADA) (TLAFAJAI), Last-Mile On-Demand Feeder to Transit (First/Last-Mile Providers) (THAIAGAJ)

Keywords

• Public bus transit
• ADA paratransit services
• Dial-a-ride transportation
• Regional transit authority
• Fare-free bus service

Headquarters

HQ city

Gloucester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Transportation Services: CATA operates as a regional transit authority providing fixed-route bus services, paratransit (ADA), dial-a-ride, and seasonal shuttle services to the greater Cape Ann communities. Services are provided fare-free on regular routes through state funding.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) is a Massachusetts regional transit authority that operates fixed-route bus services (12 routes covering Gloucester, Rockport, Ipswich, Essex, Hamilton, and Manchester-by-the-Sea), CATA On Demand microtransit via a mobile app, ADA-compliant paratransit and senior Dial-a-Ride, school Tripper routes for Gloucester Public Schools, and seasonal summer shuttles. Regular routes are fare-free through 2026 under Massachusetts State Legislature grants administered by MassDOT; only CATA On Demand service collects fares.

Product overview

Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) operates a comprehensive public transportation system consisting of fixed-route bus services (Routes 1-12 plus Tripper school routes), on-demand services (CATA On Demand), and paratransit services (Dial-a-Ride/ADA). The system covers Cape Ann communities including Gloucester, Rockport, Ipswich, Essex, Hamilton, and Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. CATA operates under a fare-free model for all fixed-route services as of 2026, funded through Massachusetts state grants, while CATA On Demand continues to collect fares. Seasonal summer services include the Rockport Shuttle, Stage Fort Park Shuttle, and Ipswich-Essex Explorer. School trippers serve Gloucester Public Schools students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CATA On Demand: On-demand transportation service available in Rockport, Lanesville, and Gloucester areas.
• Dial-a-Ride
• Rockport Shuttle
• Stage Fort Park Shuttle
• Ipswich-Essex Explorer

Products and services

• Fixed Route Bus Services Traditional fixed-route bus services operating on published schedules across Cape Ann communities, including Routes #1 Gloucester-Rockport via Eastern Ave, #2 Gloucester Crossing/Business Express, #2A Blackburn Express, #3 Lanesville, #4 Gloucester-Rockport via Thatcher Road, #5 Gloucester-West Gloucester-Essex, #6 Magnolia, #7 Saturday Mall Shuttle, #9 Beverly Commuter, #10 Rockport Shuttle, #11 Stage Fort Park Shuttle, and #12 Ipswich/Essex Explorer.
• School Tripper Bus Service School-day public transportation service for Gloucester Public Schools students operating Monday through Friday on school days, with multiple Tripper routes (e.g., Washington St/Cherry St to GHS, Back Shore/Rocky Neck to GHS, Rockport/Lanesville/Washington St to GHS, Rocky Neck/Eastern Ave to GHS, Magnolia to GHS, Magnolia Ave/Atlantic St to GHS, Downtown Gloucester to GHS, Essex Ave to GHS). Routes are open to the general public.
• CATA On Demand Microtransit On-demand microtransit transportation service available in Gloucester, Rockport, and Lanesville. Users request rides through a dedicated mobile app for flexible, point-to-point travel. This is the only CATA service that continues to collect fares (not part of the fare-free initiative).
• Dial-a-Ride and ADA Paratransit Service Paratransit and demand-responsive transportation service for seniors and individuals with disabilities who cannot use fixed-route buses. Includes senior Dial-a-Ride, ADA-compliant paratransit services, Ipswich Medical Bus, and the Dialysis Bus, all fare-free through 2026.
• Rockport Shuttle (Seasonal) Seasonal shuttle service operating mid-May through mid-October from the Rockport Park N Ride lot (5 Blue Gate Lane) to Downtown Rockport every 20 minutes. Summer 2026 service starts Saturday, May 23.
• Stage Fort Park Shuttle (Seasonal) Seasonal trolley-bus service connecting the MBTA Commuter Rail station in Gloucester to Stage Fort Park, Rocky Neck, and Bass Rocks for summer recreation. Summer 2026 service starts Saturday, June 20.
• Ipswich-Essex Explorer (Seasonal) Seasonal service operating from the third weekend in June through Labor Day weekend, connecting the Ipswich MBTA Commuter Rail station to Crane Beach with select trips to Essex. Summer 2026 service starts Saturday, June 20.
• Beverly Shuttle (Route 8) Commuter shuttle service to Beverly operated by CATA on behalf of the City of Beverly; service is scheduled to end on June 30, 2026.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• City of BeverlyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Beverly partnered with CATA to operate the Beverly Shuttle (Route 8), which will end service on June 30, 2026.
• MBTA Commuter RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCATA routes connect with MBTA Commuter Rail service at Gloucester station, providing multimodal transportation options for Stage Fort Park Shuttle and Ipswich-Essex Explorer routes.
• Gloucester Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCATA provides public transportation services for students of Gloucester Public Schools, including routes to Gloucester High School (GHS) and O'Maley Middle School.
• Rockport ShuttleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Rockport Shuttle operates as a CATA summer service from the Rockport Park N Ride lot to Downtown Rockport, running mid-May through mid-October.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA): MGL 161(b) regional transit authority operating fixed route, paratransit, and demand-response service across southeastern Massachusetts communities. Comparable scale, funding model, and multi-modal service portfolio to CATA.
• Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA): Massachusetts regional transit authority operating fixed-route bus, paratransit, and on-demand services under MGL 161(b) — the same statutory framework as CATA. LRTA is even referenced in CATA's own social links, confirming a direct peer relationship within the Massachusetts RTA system.
• Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART): MGL 161(b) regional transit authority serving north-central Massachusetts with fixed route, paratransit, and commuter services. Same governance, funding, and service model as CATA, operating at comparable scale.
• Brockton Area Transit Authority (BAT): Massachusetts regional transit authority providing fixed-route bus, ADA paratransit, and demand-response services funded through MassDOT-administered state grants. Same statutory authority, similar service mix, and shared state-level funding pool as CATA.
• Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA): Regional transit authority serving a coastal Massachusetts region with strong seasonal tourism demand — directly analogous to Cape Ann's summer ridership spikes. Operates fixed route, paratransit, and seasonal shuttles under the same MGL 161(b) authority.
• Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA): Massachusetts regional transit authority operating fixed-route, paratransit, and seasonal services in western Massachusetts under the same MGL 161(b) framework as CATA. Closely comparable governance and funding model.
• Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA): Another MGL 161(b) regional transit authority serving a multi-town area in northeastern Massachusetts. Closely comparable in governance structure, funding model (MassDOT-administered state grants), and service mix (fixed route + paratransit + demand response).
• Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA): MGL 161(b) regional transit authority operating fixed-route bus, paratransit, and commuter services in the Worcester area. Comparable statutory and funding structure to CATA, with a similar multi-modal service portfolio.

Emerging players

• Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA): Seasonal transit authority serving another Massachusetts coastal/island community with strong tourism seasonality — directly analogous to CATA's Rockport Shuttle and Stage Fort Park Shuttle summer services. Comparable demand profile and operating constraints.

Regional players

• Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA): Larger statewide transit operator that CATA's seasonal shuttles and fixed routes connect to via Commuter Rail stations. While a different statutory entity (MGL 161(a)), MBTA's network and ridership directly shape CATA's feeder-service value proposition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/capeanntransit
• Facebookfacebook.com/capeanntransit
• Instagraminstagram.com/capeanntransit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canntran

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cape Ann Transportation Authority