News & Announcements

HOP Schedule Update (Sept. 5, 2018):

• Monday – Thursday (Last trip leaves the HOP lot at 1 a.m.)
  • 6 a.m. – 12:15 a.m.: Two buses run (every 15 minutes)
  • Midnight – 1:30 a.m.: One bus runs (every 30 minutes)
• Friday and Saturday (Last trip leaves the HOP lot at 2 a.m.)
  • 6 a.m.-12:15 am.: Two buses run (every 15 minutes)
  • 12:00 a.m.-1:30 a.m.: One bus runs (every 30 minutes)
• Sunday (Last trip leaves the HOP lot at 1 a.m.)
  • 6 a.m.-1:30 a.m.: One bus runs (every 30 minutes)

CHARLESTON, S.C. (March 21, 2018) – The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) Board of Directors today announced that the transit system will launch the Hospitality on Peninsula (HOP) Park and Ride Lot and Shuttle on Sunday, April 15 at 999 Morrison Drive.The park-and-ride program is the first of its kind on the peninsula and was brought to fruition via a collaborative partnership with the City of Charleston, Charleston County, the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments.

The HOP is targeted at workers in the area’s booming hospitality and food-and-beverage industries – though it is open to all commuters – as way to mitigate downtown parking challenges. There will be approximately 170 spaces available in the lot.

“The HOP park-and-ride service is an important way we are addressing an obvious need of workers in downtown Charleston,” said CARTA board chairman and Charleston city councilman Mike Seekings. “This lot and shuttle, essentially a pilot program that has been developed from scratch, is the first step in a regional strategy to tackle a number of pressing transportation issues, namely parking and congestion.”

Key details regarding the lot and shuttle service include:

• Hours of Operation: The shuttle will operate from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily, with bus service every 15 minutes. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Cost: The cost to park in the lot is a flat fee of $5 all-day. Once a pass is purchased and displayed on a parked vehicle’s dashboard, commuters can board a HOP shuttle for free.
• Route: The HOP shuttle will exit 999 Morrison Drive, turn left onto Romney Street, left onto Meeting Street, left onto Broad Street and left onto East Bay Street as it returns to the lot. There will be eight HOP-specific stops on the route, each denoted by a white bus stop sign.
• Bus Transportation: CARTA will operate the shuttles and the lot itself. Commuters are encouraged to download the Transit app in order to track buses in real-time.
• Lot Features:
  • Parking attendant on location during all hours of operation
  • Enhanced lighting and security cameras
  • Holy Spokes bike share on site
  • Bike racks available

“We certainly would like to thank the City of Charleston, Charleston County, the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the BCDCOG for their collaboration on this project,” Seekings said. “We’re confident the service will be well-used and look forward to seeing it expand to other locations.”

In addition to the HOP service, Seekings said commuters are also encouraged to explore reduced after-hours fares in City-owned garages and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Government’s recently launched Lowcountry Go commuter services program that offers rideshare matches.

ALSO:

• Press Release PDF
• HOP Route Brochure
• HOP Logo

PARKING CHANGE: 
T-Mobile is set to open in the coming weeks and therefore we will have to adjust the parking in the area.  We will continue to park in the parking area next to Velocity Sports – shown on the map in yellow, however, starting on Monday (2/26/18) we will no longer be able to park in what we considered the “overflow area” which was the 2 extra rows beyond the Velocity building.  The new overflow area is shown on the map in purple.  Passengers should also expect heavier traffic flows in this area starting on Monday.

Please view map link below to view the details. 
The parking areas will be marked in advance and we will have staff on site in the mornings over the next few weeks to assist with making sure you know where it is okay to park and where not park.  The areas will be marked and in cases roped off to show where you are allowed to park and where not park.

IMPORTANT: Do not park in any of the areas shown on the map in red.  If you park in any of the areas shown on the map in red, your vehicle could be towed and CARTA will not be responsible.

Again, thank you for your patience.

Click: Park and Ride map-Effective 02/26/18

Public transportation helps to keep seniors active and independent in our communities.  To encourage seniors to learn and use the public transit systems, CARTA and Tricounty Link have several days where seniors are allowed to ride for free.  Seniors are classified as individuals 55 and over and simply show your ID to board on the dates below to ride for free.

• Sunday, February 18, 2018
• Saturday, May 2, 2018 – (National Senior Health and Fitness Day)
• Tuesday, August 21, 2018 – (National Senior Citizen Day)
• Sunday, December 9, 2018

Email us at www.cruze@ridecarta.com if you or a group would like travel training with CARTA or Tricounty Link staff.

*CARTA SYSTEM – If you are approved for TelARide you can ride all regular route service for FREE every day (Excludes Express).

To download a flyer with dates click Senior Ride Free Flyer

CARTA will make the following modifications that will go into effect on February 18, 2018 to increase efficiency on several routes.  Please click the links below to preview the routes and modifications.

• Express 2 – A 6:09pm Eastabound (Outbound) trip leaving Citadel Mall has been added to the schedule.  *When leaving from MUSC or CofC the trip time is approximately 6:30pm.  Click Express 2 to view schedule.
• Route 10 – Slight modifications made to schedule to improve on time performance.  Click Route 10 to view schedule.
• Route 40 – Route will now service East Cooper Hospital 2 times per day/7 days a week.  Click Route 40  to view schedule.
• Route 102 – Frequency increased, bus will now run every 60 minutes and will service the Superstop at the top of the hour.  Click Route 102 to view schedule
• Route 103 – In order to maximize efficiency, this route will now run as a loop.  Route will depart the Superstop at 20 after the hour. Service area will remain the same.  Click Route 103 to view schedule
• Route 203 – Slight modifications made to schedule to improve on-time performance.  Click Route 203 to view schedule

If you have additional questions, please call customer service at 843-724-7420 and choose option 1.

Due to maintenance work at the Charleston Visitor Center parking garage, the bus stop located on Mary Street (No. 52 Mary/Meeting) will be closed starting Monday, Feb. 5. Passengers will be required to use the Transit Mall stop (No. 43) until the area is reopened. The closure is anticipated to last 10 days.

CARTA is currently providing free service to area warming shelters along its regular routes during normal hours of operations.

Those wishing to be transported to a shelter should inform their bus operator of their intended destination. Drivers can advise regarding necessary transfers.

A full list of route maps and schedules is available at: https://www.ridecarta.com/maps-schedules/

On Saturday, January 13, 2018 several routes will be on detour due to road closures related to Marathons in the area.  Please click the link below to view detour details.  

Effective 1/13/18-Marathon Related Detours 

FY 2016 CARTA Final Report.compressed

Please click to view.

CARTA is resuming service, as possible, at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 7. Below are current service impacts, which are subject to change. Expect delays and possible early service suspension later in the day.

Route 10: Will be able to travel to HealthSouth and Trident Tech, in addition to all other stops.
Route 12: Will operate. Will not travel along Ashley Phosphate Road to Northwoods Mall. Buses will wait out time at the Festival Centre park-and-ride lot.
Route13/104: Will not able to go on Park Circle, Remount Road or N. Rhett. Buses will travel from Montague Avenue to Rivers Avenue to get to the Superstop.
Route 20: Will operate as normal.
Route 31: Will not go service Riverland Terrace. Driver will take Maybank Road to Riverland Drive. Spring Street t is also closed between Meeting Street and King Street. Drivers will go Meeting Street to Columbus Street to King to Spring and back on route.
Route 11: Will run as normal. Buses will be traveling slower around North Carolina Avenue and Mary Street.
Route 30/40: Route 30 portion (West Ashley) will run as normal. Route 40 (Mount Pleasant) will not use the northbound frontage road. Buses will take Johnnie Dodds to Bowman Road, then back on route.
Route 32: Still unable to travel on Henry Tecklenburg. Buses will go to Castlewood as planned. Will take Savage to Orleans to Paul Cantrell/ Glenn McConnell. Will bypass the hospital.
Route 33: Will run as normal, but at slower speeds downtown due to ice patches.
Route 42: Cancelled.
Route 210: Will operate as normal.
Route 211: Will not go to Waterfront Park. Will stay on East Bay Street.
Route 213: Will operate as normal.
Mary Street Hub: Is open. Riders are urged to be very cautious walking in the area.

CARTA will end all service at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6. Regularly scheduled service, including Tel-A-Ride, is intended to resume at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 7.

Any further updates will be available via media updates and CARTA social media channels.

CARTA SERVICE ENDS AT 8 P.M. JAN. 6; INTENDED TO RESUME AT 10 A.M. JAN 7