The Coast Transit Authority is the primary provider of mass transportation in the Gulfport–Biloxi metropolitan area. Service was founded in 1974, after the Mississippi State Legislature passed a bill authorizing the creation of public transit for the region; the area's previous private bus operator, Municipal Transit Lines, had been devastated by Hurricane Camille

Hurricane Camille

Hurricane Camille was the third and strongest tropical cyclone and second hurricane during the 1969 Atlantic hurricane season. The second of three catastrophic Category 5 hurricanes to make landfall in the United States during the 20th century , which it did near the mouth of the Mississippi River...

, and the area was left with no public transportation for a 3 year period after the disaster. Originally known as the Mississippi Coast Transit Authority, the agency changed its name to Coast Area Transit in 1985, before arriving on its current moniker in 1992.

The agency operates nine regular routes over a three county area. Five park & ride lots are operated by the bureau to increase commuter ridership. The most travelled of these routes, The Beachcomber, uses replica trolleys instead of standard buses. In addition, the Casino Hopper shuttle connects gambling facilities on the Biloxi waterfront.

Routes

• 4 D’Iberville/St Martin
• 7 Ocean Springs
• 24 Kessler Express
• 26 Navy Base
• 31 Biloxi
• 34 Pass Rd
• 37 22nd Ave
• 38 Gulfport
• Beachcomber
• Casino Hopper