A Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments Program
CARTA TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND FREE CONNECTION ACROSS THE NORTH BRIDGE FOR CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS
ROUTE 32 SERVICE ACROSS BRIDGE WILL DOUBLE IN FREQUENCY
NORTH CHARLESTON (September 22, 2021) – The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) received unanimous board approval for enhancements to Route 32 aimed at bridging the gap for cyclists and pedestrians seeking to cross the North Bridge.
The new initiative will begin October 3, 2021, and will provide free transportation between bus stops on either side of the bridge for both cyclists and pedestrians. In addition, the policy change will allow bicycles on the bus from one side of the bridge to the other for free. In the event that bicycle racks are full, this change allows bicycles to be brought on board the bus in-between stops.
“CARTA is committed to connecting the region by providing safe and reliable transportation to anyone who needs it,” said CARTA Board of Directors Chairman Mike Seekings. “This new offering will help bridge the safety gap that currently exists so that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic ability will be able to safely cross the North Bridge.”
As part of the effort, the service frequency for Route 32 will be doubled, cutting wait times in half. The enhanced service will begin on October 3, 2021, to align with the new accommodations for cyclists and pedestrians, and will occur every half-hour Monday through Saturday, and every hour on Sunday.
Route 32 provides hourly connections between North Charleston and West Ashley via North Bridge, with major stops being the North Charleston Superstop, Ashley Landing Mall, and Citadel Mall. Currently, North Bridge has no pedestrian or cycling amenities.
Data from the South Carolina Department of Transportation from 2014-2017 identified nine pedestrian/bicycle – motor vehicle collisions on the bridge. A further three pedestrian/bicycle – motor vehicle fatalities have occurred since 2018.
“Increasing the frequency of Route 32 and allowing bikes on the 32 bus as needed are important and appreciated steps toward a better, more accessible North Bridge crossing for all,” said Charleston Moves Executive Director Katie Zimmerman. “These improvements will offer more safe crossing opportunities to work, appointments, and visiting family.”
Efforts are underway to bring about needed structural changes to the bridge via the Better North Bridge project. The project is a collaborative effort between Charleston County, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, and Charleston Moves with the goal to bring about a permanent, standalone bike and pedestrian crossing to provide a safe and equitable connection between North Charleston and West Ashley. The project is currently in the study phase.
Full route details and bus tracking will be available in the Transit App, which can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. Riders can also view traffic conditions and municipal information for all area beaches via the Beach Reach app, also available for Apple and Google.
ABOUT CARTA
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority is a public transportation system dedicated to providing affordable transit in the Charleston community through local fixed routes, on-demand paratransit service and express commuter routes. For the latest on CARTA, visit ridecarta.com, like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter at @RideCARTA. All customers are encouraged to plan rides and track buses with the CARTA-endorsed Transit app.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Daniel Monroe, Account Supervisor
Rawle Murdy Associates
(843) 422-0682
dmonroe@rawlemurdy.com
Route Improvements
Double the frequency – Wait time cut in half!
Starting Sunday, October 3rd the route will operate:
• Every 30 minutes Monday – Saturday
• Every hour on Sunday
Click Route 32 North Bridge 10.03.21 to view the new schedule times.
Safe Crossings – Ride for Free to cross NorthBridge
• Bicyclist and pedestrians ride CARTA FREE to cross the North Bridge/Cosgrove Bridge.
• Bicyclists: Bikes are allowed on the bus if bike racks are full and as space permits.
• To utilize, passengers will board the bus and exit at the stops listed below ONLY:
o Stop ID 173: Cosgrove/Mott Ave.
o Stop ID 174: Cosgrove/Mott Ave.
o Stop ID 695: Sam Rittenburg Blvd/Poston Rd.
o Stop ID 696: Sam Rittenburg Blvd/Poston Rd.
