Town funded construction of the new structure

Charleston Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) and Town of James Island officials today cut the ribbon on the transit system’s newest shelter at the intersection of Camp Road and Folly Road.

The Town funded the $32,000 shelter, built on land provided by Walgreens. The structure was part of the Charleston County-led Camp Road at Folly Road Intersection Improvement Project.

“This is an excellent example of partnership among multiple government agencies and the private sector,” said CARTA board of directors chairman Mike Seekings. “The CARTA board thanks to the Town of James Island for funding the shelter, Walgreens for providing the necessary easement and Charleston County for their role in the project.”

“The Town recognizes the importance of public transit on James Island and placing a shelter at this important intersection made sense,” James Island Mayor Bill Woolsey said. “We also hope to find further ways to partner with CARTA in the future.”

The ribbon cutting comes ahead of a public meeting next week to discuss possible service changes on James Island that potentially include shorter headways and more trips per day. The meeting will be held from 3-7 p.m. on Oct. 29 at St. James Presbyterian Church, 1314 Secessionville Road.

Elsewhere in the system, CARTA is in the midst of constructing more than 60 shelters this fall.

Obstacle course at North Charleston Coliseum provided stern test.

Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) bus drivers today competed alongside notable Charlestonians in a variety of challenges at the transit system’s annual Bus “Roadeo.” The event, held at the North Charleston Coliseum, once again showcased the talent of CARTA drivers, both via their skills and the efforts of the non-pros.

This year’s winners are:

• Winner (40ft): Quincin Hamilton
• Winner (35ft): Sonya Jackson
• Winner (Paratransit): Maritza Simon
• Celebrity Winner: Matt Lee of the Lee Bros.

“Our drivers displayed their incredible bus operating skills, just like they do every day on the streets and highways of the Charleston region,” said CARTA board of directors chairman Mike Seekings. “We are proud of these truly talented individuals and thankful for the service they provide to the community.”

Obstacle stations included: Offset Street, Right/Left Turn, Right/Left Reverse, Passenger Pickup, the ominous-sounding Serpentine and crowd favorite Diminishing Clearance. CARTA drivers were competing for a berth in the statewide “Roadeo” in early 2019, while celebrities chased eternal glory.

• Head to the nearest CARTA bus stop
• Call (843) 202-7904 to request pick up and provide the stop number/location, or
• Tell the next CARTA bus driver and they will have Transportation send a bus.
• A CARTA Tel-A-Ride bus will then transport citizens to the shelter.

If there are no CARTA stops near you, head to the nearest Blue Hurricane pick up sign. Service will begin today at noon – 7 p.m. tonight and operate tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. only if weather and wind conditions allow. Visit http://bit.ly/2pLFyGl for more details.

CARTA Hurricane Matthew Information

Due to the threat of inclement weather from Hurricane Michael, along with King tides this week, expect possible delays and detours in service, especially in the downtown area starting on Wednesday 10/10/18.

Any changes in service will be posted here, please check back periodically for updates.

Obstacle course at North Charleston Coliseum to provide stern test

If you think driving in Charleston traffic is hard, try doing it in a 40-foot bus. That’s what a quartet of notable Charlestonians will be tasked with when they join Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) drivers in the transit system’s annual Bus “Roadeo” at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the North Charleston Coliseum.

This year’s celebrity drivers are:

• Matt Lee of the Lee Bros. (Defending Champion)

• Leyla Gulen, Anchor/Host, FOX 24

• Charlie James, Radio Host, WTMA

• Jamee Haley, Executive Director, Lowcountry Local First

“Our drivers are highly skilled and this is a chance for them to showcase their talent,” said CARTA board of directors chairman Mike Seekings. “At the same time, the notable residents illustrate what a true challenge it is to operate these vehicles in an open parking lot, much less the crowded streets and highways of Charleston.”

Obstacle stations include: Offset Street, Right/Left Turn, Right/Left Reverse, Passenger Pickup, the ominous-sounding Serpentine, and crowd favorite Diminishing Clearance.

CARTA drivers will be competing for a berth in the statewide “Roadeo” in early 2019. For the non-pros, eternal glory is up for grabs. The event is open to the media and the public. The first buses roll at 8 a.m. in the North Charleston Coliseum E parking lot. Celebrity competition kicks off at 10 a.m.

The following service impacts will occur due to special events and inclement weather throughout the Lowcountry region during the month of October:

• Hope for Healing Walk 2018 (Oct. 6, 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.): Start/Finish at Seacoast Church, 5505 N Rhett Ave, North Charleston with walk around the neighborhood (Routes 13 and 104).
• King Tides (Oct. 6-8, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.): Flooding in the usual areas (Routes 11 and 214).
• King Tides (Oct. 10-11, 7:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.): Flooding in the usual areas (Routes 11 and 214).
• North Charleston High School Homecoming Parade (Oct. 12, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.): Start/Finish at North Charleston High School with walk around Park Circle.
• 2nd Sunday on King St. (Oct. 14, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.): King St. closed off from Calhoun St. to Queen St. (Route 211).
• North Charleston Harvest Festival (Oct. 20, 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.): East Montague Ave. closed off from Jenkins Ave. to Virginia Ave. (Route 104).
• Coastal Carolina Fair (Oct. 25 – Nov. 4): Exchange Park Fairgrounds, 9850 US-78, Ladson, SC (Route 10).
• James Island Connector Run (Oct. 27, 7 a.m. – 12 p.m.): Calhoun St. closed off at Jonathon Lucas St. onto the James Island Connector (Routes 33 and 213).
• Making Strides of Charleston (Oct. 27, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.): Start/Finish at North Charleston Riverfront Park (Route 104).
• Riverland Terrace Halloween Party (Oct. 31, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): Wappoo Dr. closed, use Maybank Hwy. (Route 31).

Win Big While Helping the Environment and Reducing Traffic

Lowcountry residents who trade in driving alone for a more sustainable commute could win tasty prizes in October. That’s when the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) Lowcountry Go commuter services program is sponsoring the first-ever LowGoTober challenge. The event, which takes place Oct. 22-26, is aimed at encouraging commuters to try sustainable options for traveling to and from work by way of carpool, vanpool, transit, bike, walk, or telecommuting.

Participating in LowGoTober is easy:

• Register with Lowcountry Go by visiting lowcountrygo.com or downloading the Lowcountry Go app on Apple or Android devices.

• Track trips each day (up to two, one-way trips daily) for a chance to win daily prizes. All trips must be logged by 8 a.m. the following day to be entered in daily drawings.

• Keep an eye on the live leader board at ridelowgo.com. The top LowGoTober challengers will be chosen at the end of the week for bigger prizes!

“The LowcountryGo program connects real commuters with real solutions, and now there is extra incentive to get started on a smarter commute,” said BCDCOG executive director Ron Mitchum. “The goal of this event is not just to encourage sustainable commuting, but to also cut down on overall traffic. We invite all residents to take the LowGoTober challenge during the week of Oct. 22-26 to help reduce congestion and be entered for great prizes.”

Prizes on offer as of Oct. 1, with list to be updated throughout the month:

• Gift cards:
  • Xiao Bao Biscuit ($50)
  • Harris Teeter
  • Whole Foods
  • Triangle Restaurant
  • Ye Olde Fashioned
• CARTA 30-day passes
• Gas cards

Businesses interested in offering incentives and anyone looking for further information should contact BCDCOG mobility manager Vonie Gilreath at vonieg@bcdcog.com.

Effort Aligns With BCDCOG’s Push to Use Advanced Technology

CHARLESTON, S.C. (SEPT. 18, 2018) –​ The Charleston Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) has added a “live chat” feature to its website, providing an additional way for riders to connect with customer support online and in real-time. The new tool, which was recently soft-launched, has spurred a reduction in call volume and the use of static contact forms by riders.

“This feature is a key tool in improving the overall rider experience and providing an additional customer service outlet,” said CARTA board of directors chairman Mike Seekings. “Better technology is helping us lay the foundation for immediate and long-term transportation success in the Lowcountry.”

HOW IT WORKS:

• The live chat option automatically appears in the bottom right of specific web pages, where customers most likely have questions: Home, FAQs, Contact, Fares and Passes, etc.
• Customers click on the “Live Chat” button and enter name, phone and email (optional).
• Customers enter the queue and a customer service representative selects and begins the chat session.
• The Live Chat function is available during regular customer support hours, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. During off hours, the system allows riders to submit emails that representatives will respond to promptly.
• At end of every session, customers are offered a feedback survey.

CARTA mobile app partner, Transit, also released its highly anticipated 5.0 update with a refreshed homescreen and new features.

NEW FEATURES INCLUDE:

• Search Bar: Now located at the bottom of the screen for ease-of-use.
• Instant ETAs: The Transit app now predicts where riders are most likely heading next and provides an instant arrival time to make planning a trip easy.
• All-in-One Route Information: Tap any transit line on the home screen to see that route’s schedule, service alerts and map with vehicle locations and stop ETAs.

Transit is available for free download in the Google Play and the Apple App Store.

HURRICANE FLORENCE UPDATE 4
CARTA TO RESUME REGULAR SERVICE ON SUNDAY, SEPT. 16
INFORMATION ON ROUTES AND SCHEDULES AVAILABLE AT RIDECARTA.COM

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (SEPT. 15, 2018) – In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, CARTA will resume regularly scheduled service beginning Sunday, Sept. 16.

Riders can sign up for push alerts by downloading the Transit App on Apple or Android devices and selecting the routes for which they would like updates.

The latest CARTA news is available at RideCARTA.com and on CARTA social media channels, @ridecarta on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE SEPT. 13 AT CHARLESTON COUNTY’S DIRECTION

CARTA will suspend all operations at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12. Limited emergency evacuation services will resume on Thursday, Sept. 13, at Charleston County’s direction.

CARTA will operate an emergency circulator on the Charleston Peninsula throughout the day Wednesday. The 14-stop circulator, which can be viewed here, will offer pick-up hourly.

The emergency circulator will run in addition to regular service until 9 p.m. on Wednesday. Riders on the emergency circulator will be taken to the Charleston County Public Service Building. The county will provide transportation to regional emergency shelters based on occupancy. All riders are encouraged to call the Charleston County Emergency Public Information Line at (843) 746-3900 with any questions.

In addition to the emergency circulator and regular service, until 9 p.m., CARTA will also:

• Transport those with mobility impairments (disabilities) to an appropriate shelter.

• Transport individuals with pets who would like to evacuate to a pet-friendly shelter.

Contact the Charleston County Emergency Public Information Line at (843) 746-3900 and a vehicle will be dispatched to transport disabled residents and those with pets directly to pet- and special needs-friendly evacuation shelters.

• A map of the emergency route operated by CARTA and the pick-up points can be viewed at here.

  • CC-101: Bus stop at Meeting Street and Mary Street.

  • CC-102: Bus stop at Meeting Street and Johnson Street.

  • CC-103: Bus stop at Fishburne Street and Rutledge Avenue.

  • CC-104: Bus stop at King Street and Mt. Pleasant Street.

  • CC-105: Bus stop at Calhoun Street and Alexander Street.

  • CC-106: Bus stop at Beaufain Street and Market St. (Canterbury House).

  • CC-107: Bridgeview Village Apartments – 106 D. North Romney Street.

  • CC-108: Bus stop at Doscher Avenue and Peonie Street.

  • CC-109: Bus stop at Rutledge Avenue and Gordon Street.

  • CC-110: Bus stop at Rutledge Avenue and Cannon Street.

  • CC-111: Bus stop at Rutledge Avenue and Bennett Street.

  • CC-112: Bus stop at Broad Street and Logan Street.

  • CC-113: Bus stop at East Bay Street and Hassel Street.

  • CC-114: Bus stop at Morrison Drive and Romney Street.

The latest Hurricane Florence CARTA-related news can be found at ridecarta.com/Florence. Information will also be available on CARTA social media channels, @ridecarta on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.