Port Wentworth's bus service, a lifeline for many residents, will cease in December 2026 after Chatham County Commissioners voted 5-1 to deny the city's request to join the Chatham Area Transit (CAT) tax district, according to WTOC. This decision effectively severs crucial Port Wentworth bus routes, creating immediate and significant challenges for daily travel.
Port Wentworth sought to secure its bus service by joining the CAT tax district and paying its share. However, the city was denied entry due to pre-existing legal disputes between Chatham County and CAT.
Therefore, Port Wentworth residents face an immediate and significant disruption to their daily commutes, with the city likely needing to pursue costly independent transit solutions or face long-term mobility challenges.
Commuters Left Stranded by County's Decision
- Port Wentworth currently pays Chatham Area Transit about $420,000 annually through a service agreement, according to savannahagenda.
- Port Wentworth Mayor Tracy Saunders stated that the denial was due to ongoing legal disputes between the county and CAT, calling the city 'collateral damage', according to WTOC.
Despite Port Wentworth's substantial financial commitment to CAT, its residents are now left without a critical service. They become unintended victims of a larger political dispute, a stark example of how inter-governmental disagreements directly penalize citizens.
County's Long-Standing Disputes with CAT Cited
The Chatham County Commission approved its budget without funding for Chatham Area Transit (CAT) after 39 years of service, according to WTOC. This move followed a history of financial disagreements between the county and the transit authority.
Chatham County Commission Chairman Chester Ellis rejected Port Wentworth's request to join the CAT service and taxing district, according to savannahagenda. This rejection, coupled with the county's decision to reduce CAT's millage rate last year, according to savannahagenda, signals a deliberate strategy to reshape regional transit.
