Cherokee Nation’s $10M Federal Transit Grant to Fund New KATS Facility

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — A $10 million federal transit grant awarded to the Cherokee Nation will fund construction of a new Ki Bois Area Transit System (KATS) facility in Tahlequah, expanding rural transportation capacity across 12 counties in northeast Oklahoma.

KATS, which has partnered with the Cherokee Nation for nearly two decades, provides public transit and Medicaid transportation services for residents who rely on rides to reach medical appointments, jobs, grocery stores, and other essential destinations.

“We cover 12 counties,” said transit director Charla Sloan. “We provide transportation for what a lot of people know as SoonerRide, or simply anyone who needs to get to the doctor, to work, or to pick up groceries. We do anything.”

Sloan said the grant comes at a critical time, as KATS has outgrown its current facility and has been operating out of temporary space. The new 200,000-square-foot transit center, planned for Airport Road and Main Street in Tahlequah’s Industrial Park, will include maintenance bays, training areas for drivers, and expanded administrative capacity.

“The idea is to have our own maintenance shop up here, which will save a lot of time and miles moving vehicles between locations,” Sloan said. “We also needed space where drivers can gather for training—right now, we simply don’t have it.”

KATS completed more than 115,000 rides across northeast Oklahoma last year through its partnership with the Cherokee Nation, serving many residents who lack access to reliable transportation.

The project aims to address long-standing gaps in rural transit infrastructure, an area where national investment has historically lagged behind urban systems. The new facility is expected to open in 2027. Renderings and site planning are now underway.