CARTA is funded through a combination of local, state and federal sources, in addition to fare and advertising revenue. As a BCDCOG program, we have created a strategic plan to make public transit a success in the Lowcountry. We are working to improve our system, including rider services and amenities. Below are the purchases for CARTA projects and improvements made in 2018.
May 5th Route Changes (Rt. 13 and Rt. 31)
On Sunday, May 5, 2019 CARTA will make modifications to Route 13 Remount Rd. and Route 31 Folly Rd. to increase efficiency.
Route 13 Remount Road
- Daily timepoints are adjusted to improve efficiency. Passengers should review the full schedule to view changes and impacts to their daily commute.
- The route will now service Casper Padgett Way on the inbound trip.
- Click Route 13 Remount Road_050519 to view the new schedule.
Route 31 Folly Road
- The schedule is modified to better accommodate for increased traffic and observed traffic conditions in the area. Passengers should review the full schedule to view changes and impacts to their daily commute.
- Click Route 31 Folly Road_050519 to view the new schedule.
A summary of changes the routes schedules can also be found at ridecarta.com/2019RouteChanges.
School Students Can Now Ride CARTA for Free
SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN NOW RIDE CARTA FOR FREE
FREE FARE PROGRAM INTRODUCES LOWCOUNTRY YOUTH TO TRANSIT
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) has launched a new Free Student Fare pilot program that allows students in the system’s service area ages 6 and older to ride CARTA for free. The new program is available to both public and private school students and applies to all CARTA services.
“The Free Student Fare pilot program is a win-win and accomplishes several important things,” said CARTA Board of Directors Chairman Mike Seekings. “First, it familiarizes a new generation with transit in the Lowcountry. Second, it reduces barriers to mobility for students who may otherwise have no transportation. After-school jobs, the public library and opportunities for recreation are all now within reach at no cost. Finally, riding the bus is a safer option than putting teens behind the wheel on our congested highways.”
The program is currently slated to run through August on a pilot basis and will be monitored for possible extension. Students will not be required to show ID in order to board at this time.
CARTA buses can be tracked in real time by downloading the Transit App. Trips can be planned and details on CARTA routes and services can be found at RideCARTA.com. Questions regarding the program should be directed to CARTA marketing and communications manager Michelle Emerson, who can be reached at memerson@bcdcog.com or (843) 529-0333.
2019 Bridge Run Service Impacts
CARTA Airport Express Route 4 Services (Public Transit)
- Airport Express Rt. 4 will be running normal route service and will be available and accessible for Bridge Runners to travel from Downtown Charleston Meeting Street at bus stop # 461 to the Expo in North Charleston to pick up race packets.
- The bus stop at the Downtown Visitor Center has changed. The stop is no longer located in the Visitor Center bus shed. Passengers will now use the bus stop located on Meeting Street across from the Charleston Museum (Stop #461).
Route Service Thursday April 4th & Friday April 5th
On Thursday, April 4th and Friday April 5th due to Bridge Run traffic combined with the Volvo Car Open and Flowertown Festival visitors; expect possible delays due to anticipated high volumes of traffic.
All buses including Express buses will be running on regular schedule but will be affected by the high volumes of traffic.
Any extreme delays may affect the Bus Tracker and Text or Call for Next Bus functions. Please call customer service for route information if your route is severely delayed at 843-724-7420.
Route Service Day of Bridge Run – Saturday April 6, 2019
On Saturday, April 6, 2019 all routes that travel into the downtown area will be affected by road closures, detours and high volumes of traffic, expect possible delays.
- DASH route 211 will not start until the race is completed. DASH 210 and 213 will run on a detour.
- Routes 4, 7, 10, 11, 20, 30, 31, 33, 40, and 41 will all have detours. Click CARTA 2019 Bridge Run Service Impacts to view all detours and stops that will be missed during the detours along with alternate stops to use until service returns to regular service after the streets are reopened.
Mt. Pleasant Service:
In order to be as efficient as possible to transport our passengers around Mt. Pleasant and to Downtown while the bridge is closed during the Bridge Run, Routes 40 and 41 will run as follows on Saturday morning 4/6/19:
- 40 has three vehicles dedicated to it. One bus will circulate only in the Mt. Pleasant area. Using Towne Center as a transfer point, passengers can transfer to the other two Rt. 40 buses that will travel back and forth to the Downtown area via I526 until the completion of the race.
- 41 will run only in Mt. Pleasant on a detour until the race is completed. It will also stop at Towne Center as a transfer point to the Rt. 40 that will be traveling downtown.
Expect some delays on these routes until the bridge has reopened and service returns to normal.
Click CARTA 2019 Bridge Run Service Impacts to view detours and missing stops for Saturday service
Bus Tracker and Text or Call for Next Bus features:
Saturday morning and early afternoon the Bus Tracker and Text or Call for next bus features will not be working for impacted routes that will be detouring including:
- DASH routes 210,211,213
- Routes 4, 7, 10,11,20,30,31,33, 40,41
The functions should return to normal after routes get back on regular schedule when all streets are reopened at the conclusion of the race.
Service Alert – Route 210 Detours Effective Tuesday, 03/19/19
Please click here to view detour information.
CARTA Breaks Ground on First Permanent Park-and-Ride Lot
FOUR-ACRE FACILITY ON RIVERS AVENUE TO FEATURE BATHROOMS, BIKE RACKS, LIGHTING, FENCING AND MORE
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (March 6, 2019) – Today, the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) broke ground on a new four-acre Rivers Avenue park-and-ride lot in North Charleston.
The lot, technically located on Melnick Drive next to Texas Roadhouse, will feature 289 parking spaces, bathrooms, and bike racks. It will be fenced, lighted and monitored by cameras. It’s the first dedicated lot owned by the transit authority and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, which has managed CARTA since 2015.
“This is the region’s first true, permanent park-and-ride facility, and it’s another step forward for transit and alternative modes of transportation,” said CARTA board chairman Mike Seekings. “It’s going to be safe, clean and offer amenities that will please our longtime riders and hopefully attract many new ones.”
The current park-and-ride area, in a nearby shared lot, hosts hundreds of commuter vehicles daily. The bulk of passengers are MUSC and College of Charleston employees and students, in addition to other riders who work on the peninsula.
The lot is served by CARTA routes Express 1, Route 10 – the system’s busiest route – and Route 12 Upper Dorchester/Ashley Phosphate Road. TriCounty Link routes Commuter Solutions 1, Commuter Solutions 2 and B102 also service the lot.
Seekings also noted that the lot is available to carpool and vanpool riders. There is no cost to park.
The Rivers Avenue park-and-ride launched in 2007 and is the busiest of the system’s seven park-and-ride locations, which include two shared lots in Mount Pleasant, Summerville, West Ashley, James Island and another in North Charleston at Festival Centre.
“North Charleston is often on the forefront of transit and transportation in the region, and we’re happy to be home to the region’s first dedicated park-and-ride facility,” said North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey at today’s groundbreaking.
BCDCOG recently concluded a regional park-and-ride study that identified and conceptualized 22 new or “enhanced” permanent park-and-ride sites as part of the 10-year-plan.
CARTA Cuts Ribbon on First of Dozens of Solar-Powered Shelters
MARKS COMPLETION OF FIRST PHASE OF LARGE-SCALE AMENITY EFFORT
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Feb. 19, 2019) – Today, the Charleston Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) cut the ribbon on a new solar-powered shelter at the corner of Dorchester Road and Purcell Drive in North Charleston. The event marked the final installation in the first stage of a large-scale shelter and bench project for the transit system.
Funding for eight shelters and 12 benches along the Dorchester and Ashley Phosphate Road corridors was made available via a $100,000 allocation facilitated by CARTA board member and former North Charleston City Councilmember Ed Astle when he still served on Council. CARTA staff leveraged the funds to obtain federal grants.
“This area has long needed additional transit amenities, and I’m happy to play an instrumental role, along with CARTA staff, in helping to make that happen,” Astle said.
The perforated steel shelters are equipped with solar batteries that keep them illuminated at night. Their design allows for airflow on hot Lowcountry days.
“These shelters are located in the heart of our service area and will be used by riders going to work, visiting the doctor and making trips to get food,” said CARTA board chairman Mike Seekings. “Now those trips are going to be well-lit, a little easier and a lot more convenient.”
CARTA will continue with installations throughout its service area. More than 60 shelters and 40 benches will be installed as part of the program.
MLK Holiday Service Reminder
All routes will operate on a Holiday (Sunday) schedule on MLK Day – Monday January 21, 2019. Express buses will not operate.
Charleston Marathon Service Detours Effective 1/12/19
On Saturday, January 12, 2019 multiple routes will be on detour due to road closures related to Marathons in the area. Impacted routes include: Routes 10, 11, 13, 20, 30, 31, 33, 102, 104, 210, 211, and 213. Please click the link below to view detour details.
Jan. 6 Route Changes (Route 31 and Route 4)
On Sunday, Jan. 6, CARTA will make modifications to Route 31 Folly Road and Express Rt. 4Airport Express to increase efficiency.
In addition to the schedule modifications, boarding activities at Transit Mall downtown will be modified. Starting on 1/6/19 Transit Mall will become a “deboarding only” stop meaning passengers should only deboard the bus at Transit Mall.
Passengers who attempt to board at Transit Mall will be required to pay two fares in order to continue their trip past Meeting and Mary, which is the official beginning and end of the line.
A summary of changes the routes schedules can be found at ridecarta.com/2019RouteChanges.
