The [[Sequester (2013)|2013 Federal sequester]] did not result in the closure of the airport's [[control tower]]. The U.S. Department of Transportation restored the funding needed to support the continued operation of the Ithaca airport control tower.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.aaae.org/?e=showFile&l=TDDZKA | title = FAA Contract Tower Closure List | publisher = [[American Association of Airport Executives]] | date = March 22, 2013 | access-date = March 23, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150419054745/http://www.aaae.org/?e=showFile&l=TDDZKA | archive-date = April 19, 2015 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2013/03/22/faa-tower-closures/2009371/ | title = FAA: 149 control towers to close at small airports | work = [[USA Today]] | date = March 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://tompkinscountyny.gov/news/ithaca-airport-tower-remain-open | title = Ithaca Airport Tower to Remain Open | publisher = [[Tompkins County|Tompkins County Government]] | date = May 10, 2013 | access-date = October 11, 2014 | archive-date = October 19, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141019145150/http://tompkinscountyny.gov/news/ithaca-airport-tower-remain-open | url-status = dead }}</ref>

[[Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit|TCAT]] Route 32 travels to [[Cornell University]] and downtown Ithaca (Ithaca Commons) seven days a week.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tcatbus.com/route32w/|title=Route 32 &#124; Winter & Spring}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Buses operate hourly, or more frequently, from morning until early evening. Regular one-way fare is $1.50; reduced fare of 75¢ applies to seniors age 60 and up, youths age 6–17, and persons with disabilities. Fares may be paid with a TCAT card, or with U.S. currency and/or coins; no change is given by the driver. Free transfers are available for connections to Ithaca College, and other parts of Ithaca/Tompkins County served by TCAT.