TCAT (Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit) will again provide free bus service between downtown and Ithaca College on the evening of Ithaca's annual community fireworks display Thursday, July 2.

Last year, the first year the service was offered, over 1,500 passenger-trips kept the buses busy transporting 750 people to and from the display.

"We figure that we kept over 300 cars off the roads that night," said Rod Ghearing, general manager of TCAT. "This made the streets less crowded and safer for everyone."

TCAT will begin its shuttle service at 5:30 p.m., traveling from the shelter on Green Street to Ithaca College. Buses will pick up passengers along the route. The service will run every 10 minutes until the end of the sock-hop, which wraps up the evenings festivities.

Ghearing urges everyone to take advantage of the free service. "It allows a large number of people to get close to the display, without the hassle of getting stuck in traffic and hunting for a good parking space and walking to the events," he said.

For more information about the free shuttle service, call TCAT at 277-RIDE or e-mail tcat@cornell.edu.