Pretzel City Area Transit

03/18/2026

March 18 is Transit Employee Appreciation Day! The City would like to highlight and thank Pretzel City Area Transit and its drivers who work in the heat, cold, and dangerous conditions to ensure our community stays connected. Thank you for all you do!

03/18/2026

Today we’re celebrating National Transit Employee Appreciation Day! 🚍💙

Our team is the heart of everything we do. From our drivers to our dispatchers and support staff, they show up every day with dedication, patience, and care, making sure our riders get where they need to go safely and reliably.

Rain, snow, early mornings, and late nights—they keep Stephenson County moving, and we couldn’t do it without them!

Please join us in thanking our incredible team for all they do! 👏

03/16/2026

❄️ Weather Closure Notice ❄️

Due to the anticipated winter weather and for the safety of our passengers and drivers, Pretzel City Area Transit will be CLOSED tomorrow.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding as we prioritize everyone’s safety during hazardous travel conditions.

Thank you for your patience, and please stay safe!

03/13/2026

With wind gusts reaching up to 60 mph in our area today, drivers with Pretzel City Area Transit will be taking things a little slower than usual to keep everyone safe.

You may experience some minor delays, and we appreciate your patience as our team navigates the windy conditions. Safety is always our top priority!

Thank you for riding with us and please hang on to your hats out there! 💨

02/24/2026

Pretzel City Area Transit provided 45,588 rides in all of 2025! Shoutout to all the drivers, organizers, and of course the residents taking advantage of the service!

47% of the rides were employment related, 21% medical, 13% shopping, and 6% education. To view more stats from the City's 2025 Annual Report, read our latest newsletter at bit.ly/Feb2026News

02/14/2026

🚨 Possible Scam Awareness Notice 🚨

Pretzel City Area Transit has been made aware of a report involving a possible scam where an individual received a message from someone claiming to be connected to local transportation services and referencing the City’s transportation department.

At this time, we have not been able to verify the details of this message, but we want to encourage our community to remain cautious.

Please remember:

✔ PCAT and City of Freeport will not request sensitive personal or financial information through unsolicited texts or messages.
✔ If you receive a message claiming to be from local transit or City transportation department and are unsure if it is legitimate, please contact PCAT directly using our official phone number or website.
✔ If you receive suspicious communication, we encourage you to report it to us so we can help alert the community.

Our priority is keeping riders and residents informed and safe. Please do not hesitate to contact us in the event of any suspicious activity.

02/02/2026

Take the survey at : bit.ly/3YXVPsB

01/22/2026

12/19/2025

We’re excited to partner with the Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois as a PCAT ride voucher purchase location! 🚍🤝

We’re grateful to work alongside organizations that share our commitment to accessibility, independence, and keeping our community connected. Thank you to the Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois for helping us expand access and better serve our riders!

We at the Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois are beyond excited to partner with Pretzel City Area Transit as a ride voucher purchase location!

Did you know: Pretzel City Area Transit (PCAT) is on the go – providing transit services for all residents of Stephenson County. Whether old or young, fast or slow, PCAT is the answer to keep you moving. Through a partnership with the Senior Resource Center, the city of Freeport provides small bus and/or van transportation throughout all of Stephenson County. With a fleet of 14 comfortable vehicles and 25 courteous drivers, PCAT provides over 83,000 rides per year.

With extremely limited options of public transportation in Freeport and the surrounding communities, PCAT is truly the only answer for your travel needs. Whether it’s a quick trip to the store, a scheduled doctor’s appointment or a ride to a special event, PCAT is the solution for all your driving needs.

12/16/2025

The power is back up.

Thank you for your patience.

12/16/2025

The power is down at Pretzel City Area Transit as of around 12:25 today.

That means the phones are down as well.

We will be back up as soon as possible.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.