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Route 31 Frequency Doubled Effective Feb. 8

Route improvements are coming to Folly Road with MORE frequency & wait times cut in half!

Starting on Monday Feb. 8, wait times will be cut in half! The route will now run every 45 minutes, doubling the frequency on the route.

More frequency means:

  • Less waiting — headways reduced to 45 minutes!
  • Better connections
  • Less-crowded buses

More frequency means…..A BETTER RIDE…A BETTER EXPERIENCE!!

CLICK HERE to view new schedule.

For more info call 724-7420 (Option 1)

CARTA Launches “CARTA OnDemand” Service

Pilot program will offer door-to-door service for seniors and Tel-A-Ride customers making qualifying trips on the peninsula

NORTH CHARLESTON (Jan. 28, 2021) — The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) next week will launch CARTA OnDemand, a first-in-the-region partnership with transportation network companies Uber and UZURV.

The pilot program will offer door-to-door service for seniors age 55 and up and Tel-A-Ride customers making qualifying trips to or from the Medical District and/or WestEdge Publix on the peninsula. 

The service, which officially launches on Feb. 1, will operate from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Trips with both UZURV and Uber cost $4 each way and rides can be scheduled as much as 30 days in advance or with as little as 1-hour notice.

“The focus of CARTA OnDemand is on one thing: putting our riders first,” said CARTA Board of Directors Chairman Mike Seekings. “The enhanced level of service offered through this partnership with Uber and UZURV will make traveling easier for the most vulnerable transit users. Direct, on-demand access to necessities such as doctor appointments, the pharmacy and grocery store is an unprecedented step forward for public transit in our region, and it is something we hope to replicate in the future.”

CARTA OnDemand will be offered in addition to the existing Tel-A-Ride paratransit service. Riders in need of wheelchair accessibility will be required to use UZURV in order to access CARTA OnDemand. As part of its door-to-door offering, UZURV’s credentialed and certified drivers are able to assist riders to and from vehicles upon request.

The new service is available to seniors 55-plus for up to 20 trips per month to and from the Medical District and an additional 10 trips per month to or from the WestEdge Publix. All CARTA Tel-A-Ride customers are eligible for unlimited use of the service on the Peninsula. (The Tel-A-Ride service application is available here.)


Registration for CARTA OnDemand is now open for anyone 55 and older at RideCARTA.com/OnDemand or in person at the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, 5790 Casper Padgett Way in North Charleston. Current Tel-A-Ride customers are pre-qualified for the program. 

Registered users and Tel-A-Ride customers can book rides through the Uber app or by calling the CARTA OnDemand call center powered by UZURV at (843)-592-3505.

Cash is not accepted for the service; a debit or credit card is required.

Under the program, CARTA will subsidize the difference between the $4 rider fare and the total trip cost, up to $21. Customer service staff will inform riders whether or not trips meet eligibility requirements during the registration process. Tips are not included in the price of the ride and are given at the customer’s discretion.

Personal care attendants can be approved as part of the Tel-A-Ride application. If approved, PCAs would be part of the ride request through UZURV. When booking, Uber riders should note the additional passenger count. PCAs will not be charged.

Masks are required while using CARTA OnDemand.
For full details regarding the CARTA OnDemand pilot program, visit RideCARTA.com/OnDemand.

Free Covid-19 Testing Coming to CARTA Hubs

Transit system partners with DHEC, local governments to provide screening service

NORTH CHARLESTON (Jan. 26, 2021) — The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) will partner to offer Covid-19 testing at two of the transit system’s key hubs.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 1, mobile testing kiosks provided by DHEC will operate at the CARTA Mary Street stop, 63 Mary Street (adjacent to the City of Charleston parking garage), and the CARTA SuperStop, 3376 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston.

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Public Hearing Notice: Route 204

Route/Service Modifications-Route 204

The public is hereby advised that The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) will hold a public hearing to provide final information and public comments regarding the elimination of Route 204.  Interested parties are invited to attend the hearing and express their views. 

A new pilot on-demand program will be launched in February 2021 that will provide service to the area currently served by Rt. 204.

The Hearing will take place:

  • Date: February 16, 2021                   
  • Time: 10am – 11am
  • Location:

Virtual meeting – Due to the COVID risk, this meeting will be held virtually. 

  • Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86235283049
  • Meeting ID: 862 3528 3049 
  • Call in #: (929) 205-6099 (meeting ID number will be required) the day of the meeting to participate.

On location– For those who are unable to attend virtually, staff will also be on site at BCDCOG 5790 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston at the time listed above to provide information and answer questions in person.

Individuals can also submit comments and questions prior to the meeting to serviceplanning@bcdcog.com and include Rt. 204 in the subject line.

Visit RideCARTA.COM FOR MORE INFO OR PLEASE CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE (843) 724-7420 MENU OPTION 1 or (843) 529-0400

Public Meeting Notice: Rt. 204 Service Changes

The public is hereby advised that The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) will hold a public meeting to provide information regarding the elimination of Route 204 in early March due to underperformance/low ridership over an extended period of time. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information and to receive public comments. 

A new pilot on-demand program will be launched in February 2021 that will provide service to the area currently served by Rt. 204.   

The public is invited to the following meeting:

  • Date: January 28, 2021
  • Time: 10am – 12pm
  • Location: Charleston Visitor Center (Camden Room)

Virtual Meeting – Due to COVID risk, this meeting will be held virtually. Click the following link to attend virtually on the date and time listed above. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81887554427 or call in (929) 205-6099 Meeting ID: 818 8755 4427

On location – For those who are unable to attend virtually, staff will also be available on site at the location above to provide information and answer questions in person.

Visit RideCARTA.COM FOR MORE INFO OR PLEASE CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE — 724-7420 MENU OPTION 1

RFQ: Electric Bus Master Plan

As CARTA moves toward an all-electric fleet, there is an outstanding need for comprehensive planning that improves the overall performance of the network. These efforts include a need for research and development of plans to transition to an all-electric fleet. As such, CARTA is seeking qualified firms to lead the development of an Electric Bus Master Plan to support CARTA’s Fleet Modernization Project.

Download the RFQ document here.

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.

Plan Your Trip
Transit App

Download “Transit” and travel like a true Charlestonian.

Available in the App Store and on Google Play, “Transit” offers numerous features to help you easily navigate around Charleston.

Bus Route: See vehicle locations in real time, find nearby stops, and receive stop announcements.

Service Alerts: Keep on top of schedule changes, stop relocations and other unexpected surprises.

Favorites: Always take the same bus? Move it to the top of the list by adding it to your favorites.

Timetables: View the full schedule for a route and set alarms to remind you to leave.

Countdowns: Get real-time predictions based on data from the transit agency.

“Go”: Get step-by-step transit directions and notifications about when to leave for your trip and when to get off the bus.

Plan a trip!: Compare trips side by side with your preferred transport modes selected.

View Transit 101

Download TransitApp from Google Play Store
Download TransitApp from Apple Store
TransitApp