The Office of Mobility and Accessible Transportation is an office in the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), created in March 2020 by the Tennessee Accessible Transportation and Mobility Act. Accessible public transportation is available in all 95 counties of Tennessee, but not every traveler has access to transportation when and where they need it. The mission of the Office is to provide resources and expertise for expanding and improving accessible transportation and mobility across the state. We are working to help make accessible transportation more widely available and easier to use so that more Tennesseans—especially seniors and individuals with disabilities—can get where they need to go.
The Office works with other state agencies and other divisions in TDOT to help ensure that the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities are included in transportation plans. One project we are working on now is a study to understand Intercity Bus needs in Tennessee.
Intercity Bus, sometimes called ICB, includes bus transportation between cities that:
- Is regularly scheduled
- Is open to the general public, so anyone can ride
- Has limited stops over fixed routes
- Connects two or more cities that are not close together
- Can carry baggage, like suitcases
- Can connect with other Intercity Bus services
Intercity Bus is different from public transportation provided inside one city, transportation provided in vans or personal cars, or other transportation services that can pick you up at your house. Examples of companies who provide Intercity Bus in Tennessee include:
- Delta Transportation
- FlixBus
- Greyhound
- Jefferson Lines
- Miller/Hoosier Ride
- PandaNYBus
- Tornado Bus
- Wanda Coach
Intercity Bus is an important resource for people who need to get from one city to another. Sometimes people want to use Intercity Bus, but can’t because stops are not accessible, the bus picks up or drops off too far away from public transit, or Intercity Bus is not available when or where they need to use it. People also sometimes find that Intercity Bus passes through their city or town without making a stop.
If you have ever used Intercity Bus, or want to use Intercity Bus in the future, TDOT has a survey open now where you can tell us about your Intercity Bus experiences and what you would like Intercity Bus to be like in Tennessee. Fill out the survey. If you have questions or need assistance completing the survey, please contact our office at TDOT.OMAT@tn.gov.
If you are interested in learning more about the Office of Mobility and Accessible Transportation, please visit our website. Our 2024 Mobility and Accessible Transportation Annual Report and Strategic Plan has recently been released and is available online.