Individuals over the age of 55 will be able to access Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) and TriCounty Link services for free on Saturday, December 12,2020. The perk is part of both systems’ quarterly Senior Series, which encourages seniors to ride transit free of charge. This is the final free ride of 2020 for seniors, 2021 dates will be announced soon.
(more…)Free Warming Shelter Service Nov. 30, Dec. 1
CARTA will provide complimentary transportation within its service area to the Arthur W. Christopher Recreation Center warming shelter located at 265 Fishburne Street on Monday, Nov. 30 and Tuesday, Dec. 1.
- When boarding, riders should inform drivers they would like to go to the warming shelter.
- Riders will be taken to the Mary Street transit hub (if boarding a route that services Mary Street) or to a connection point with a route that services Mary Street.
- From Mary Street, Route 213 Lockwood/Calhoun will transport riders to the shelter.
- The last departure from Mary Street will occur at 9:20 p.m. each night.
CARTA Approves Free Student Fare Program
The Charleston Area Transportation Authority (CARTA) Board of Directors voted last week to implement a permanent policy allowing students in grades K-12 to ride at no cost as part of the system’s Free Student Fare initiative.
The fare structure had previously been in place as a pilot program since early 2019 and has seen monthly ridership surpass 7,000.
“The Free Student Fare initiative permanently eliminates a mobility barrier for students, sets the stage for the next generation of transit ridership and offers relief to parents whose children ride CARTA,” said CARTA Board of Directors Chairman Mike Seekings. “Getting to school, recreational activities or a part-time job is easier than ever for students and making those connections for free today allows kids to get comfortable with public transit.”
The Free Student Fare program is available to all public and private school students and applies to all CARTA services. Children under 5 also ride for free. Student IDs are recommended when boarding.
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.
Free Service on Election Day, Nov. 3
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority will offer fare-free service on all of its routes on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. The authority’s board approved the measure at its monthly board meeting on Tuesday.
(more…)HOP Shuttle Gets Extended Hours
The HOP shuttle now features extended service hours! Enjoy your peninsula travel to work, school and fun now from 6 a.m. to 10:26 p.m. daily.
Find HOP route information and more on the HOP Shuttle route information page.
CARTA Announces Shuttle Service to IOP
September 16, 2020
New Beach Shuttle to Initially Run Through Oct. 18
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) Board of Directors voted today to approve shuttle service to the Isle of Palms.
The pilot CARTA Beach Shuttle will be free of charge to riders and run on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Service will begin this Saturday and end Sunday, Oct. 18.
“The CARTA Beach Shuttle is an opportunity to provide an additional connection to our region’s beaches,” said CARTA Board of Directors Chairman Mike Seekings. “Over the next month, we’ll observe how the route functions and use what we learn to map out a long-term strategy that will provide benefit to residents throughout the region.”
The CARTA Beach Shuttle will depart hourly from the Charleston County East Cooper Service Center in Mount Pleasant at 1189 Sweetgrass Basket Parkway, then stop at 14th Ave. at Ocean Blvd. and Palm Blvd at 28th Ave. on the Isle of Palms before making its way back to Mount Pleasant.
Route information and bus tracking will be available in the Transit App, which can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
“By partnering with the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments and CARTA, the City of Isle of Palms is leveraging organizations that have already begun collaborating with multiple entities to put in place a quality transportation solution in a timely manner,” said Isle of Palms City Councilman Phillip Pounds. “Our hope is to bring a solution to the Lowcountry that allows all to enjoy the beaches without creating the parking and congestion issues on the island that we have seen in the past.”
Shuttle Policies
- Masks or face coverings required at all times while on board.
- Riders are allowed to bring a maximum of four regular shopping bags or small packages or parcels. Riders must be able to carry items on and off the vehicle safely and be able to control all items during the operation of the vehicle.
- Items must not obstruct the aisle, interfere with the operation of the vehicle or prevent seats from being used by other passengers.
- Packages must be able to be held by riders or stowed safely under the seat.
- Large items (umbrellas, surfboards, beach wagons, etc.) are not permitted at this time. Umbrellas and chairs are available to rent on the beach. Chairs are allowed as long as they adhere to regulations listed above.
Peninsula Service Suspended Aug. 29
Effective as of 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, all service on the peninsula is suspended for the night and will resume as scheduled on Sunday, Aug. 30.
Several routes that travel through the downtown area will be modified as of 7pm:
Routes 7, 20, 210, 211 and 213 are suspended and will not run after 7pm.
Routes 30, 31, 33, and 41 will run to Meeting and Mary St.
Routes 30, 31 and 33 will travel via Spring St. to Meeting and Mary St. (Calhoun stops will be missed).
Routes 10 and 11 run a normal to Meeting and Mary. The route may experience some delays or detours.
All routes traveling near the peninsula area may still experience delays and detours. Please check back for potential changes that may occur. Routes will return to regular schedule on Sunday, August 30th.
Inclement Weather Detours Aug. 5, 2020
Routes 10 and 12 detouring due to flooding in North Charleston area
Routes 10 and 12
08.05/2020 1:30pm Routes 10 and 12 are detouring due to flooding in the area of Rivers Ave. and Otranto Rd. The bus stop on Otranto Rd. (Stop ID 382) will not be accessible. Passengers should use the stops near the library (Stop ID 369/Stop ID 91) until the routes are able to return to the regular schedules.
Route 12
Route 12 is detouring at Northwoods Blvd. due to flooding in the area. All stops along Northwoods Blvd. and at Northwoods Mall (Stop ID’s 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 381, 402, 403, 404, 405) will be missed.
The route will travel the following route until it is able to return to regular the schedule:
*(Northbound) Down Ashley Phosphate to Rivers Ave. * (Southbound) Down Rivers to Ashley Phosphate
Tropical Storm Isaias Update 4
Winds have decreased, Route 40 has resumed regular service.
Tropical Storm Isaias Update 3
Due to high winds, the Route 40 will be suspended until further notice.
Tropical Storm Isaias Update 2
As of 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, CARTA officials continue to monitor Tropical Storm Isaias. The authority will act in accordance with Charleston County’s High Wind Bridge Procedures and is anticipating the discontinuation of service across bridges at some point this evening. Notice will be given when that decision is made. Also, be advised flooding is expected in the service area, which could lead to significant detouring and delays. Please limit all travel to essential trips only.
Hurricane Isaias Update 1
As of 6 p.m. on Friday, July 31, all CARTA service is planned to run as scheduled. Check back periodically throughout the weekend for potential service updates and follow @RideCARTA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest. Alerts will also be available via the Transit app and Google Transit.
Reminder: Wear masks, wash hands, stay home if sick
As CARTA continues to closely monitor the ongoing situation related to COVID-19, the safety of our passengers, employees and community members remains our top priority.
All enhanced protocols, such as requiring a mask when riding, are intended to help keep passengers and staff safe as we move through the pandemic. With that in mind, please note:
- If you feel sick, stay home and do not ride the bus.
- Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face.
- Cover your mouth with tissue or cough/sneeze into your bent elbow – not into your hands.
- Maintain as much distance as possible between yourself and other passengers and bus operators.
Also, be reminded that free masks and hand sanitizer are available on all vehicles.
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
