Please click here to view detour information.
CARTA Breaks Ground on First Permanent Park-and-Ride Lot
FOUR-ACRE FACILITY ON RIVERS AVENUE TO FEATURE BATHROOMS, BIKE RACKS, LIGHTING, FENCING AND MORE
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (March 6, 2019) – Today, the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) broke ground on a new four-acre Rivers Avenue park-and-ride lot in North Charleston.
The lot, technically located on Melnick Drive next to Texas Roadhouse, will feature 289 parking spaces, bathrooms, and bike racks. It will be fenced, lighted and monitored by cameras. It’s the first dedicated lot owned by the transit authority and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, which has managed CARTA since 2015.
“This is the region’s first true, permanent park-and-ride facility, and it’s another step forward for transit and alternative modes of transportation,” said CARTA board chairman Mike Seekings. “It’s going to be safe, clean and offer amenities that will please our longtime riders and hopefully attract many new ones.”
The current park-and-ride area, in a nearby shared lot, hosts hundreds of commuter vehicles daily. The bulk of passengers are MUSC and College of Charleston employees and students, in addition to other riders who work on the peninsula.
The lot is served by CARTA routes Express 1, Route 10 – the system’s busiest route – and Route 12 Upper Dorchester/Ashley Phosphate Road. TriCounty Link routes Commuter Solutions 1, Commuter Solutions 2 and B102 also service the lot.
Seekings also noted that the lot is available to carpool and vanpool riders. There is no cost to park.
The Rivers Avenue park-and-ride launched in 2007 and is the busiest of the system’s seven park-and-ride locations, which include two shared lots in Mount Pleasant, Summerville, West Ashley, James Island and another in North Charleston at Festival Centre.
“North Charleston is often on the forefront of transit and transportation in the region, and we’re happy to be home to the region’s first dedicated park-and-ride facility,” said North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey at today’s groundbreaking.
BCDCOG recently concluded a regional park-and-ride study that identified and conceptualized 22 new or “enhanced” permanent park-and-ride sites as part of the 10-year-plan.
CARTA Cuts Ribbon on First of Dozens of Solar-Powered Shelters
MARKS COMPLETION OF FIRST PHASE OF LARGE-SCALE AMENITY EFFORT
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Feb. 19, 2019) – Today, the Charleston Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) cut the ribbon on a new solar-powered shelter at the corner of Dorchester Road and Purcell Drive in North Charleston. The event marked the final installation in the first stage of a large-scale shelter and bench project for the transit system.
Funding for eight shelters and 12 benches along the Dorchester and Ashley Phosphate Road corridors was made available via a $100,000 allocation facilitated by CARTA board member and former North Charleston City Councilmember Ed Astle when he still served on Council. CARTA staff leveraged the funds to obtain federal grants.
“This area has long needed additional transit amenities, and I’m happy to play an instrumental role, along with CARTA staff, in helping to make that happen,” Astle said.
The perforated steel shelters are equipped with solar batteries that keep them illuminated at night. Their design allows for airflow on hot Lowcountry days.
“These shelters are located in the heart of our service area and will be used by riders going to work, visiting the doctor and making trips to get food,” said CARTA board chairman Mike Seekings. “Now those trips are going to be well-lit, a little easier and a lot more convenient.”
CARTA will continue with installations throughout its service area. More than 60 shelters and 40 benches will be installed as part of the program.
MLK Holiday Service Reminder
All routes will operate on a Holiday (Sunday) schedule on MLK Day – Monday January 21, 2019. Express buses will not operate.
Charleston Marathon Service Detours Effective 1/12/19
On Saturday, January 12, 2019 multiple routes will be on detour due to road closures related to Marathons in the area. Impacted routes include: Routes 10, 11, 13, 20, 30, 31, 33, 102, 104, 210, 211, and 213. Please click the link below to view detour details.
Jan. 6 Route Changes (Route 31 and Route 4)
On Sunday, Jan. 6, CARTA will make modifications to Route 31 Folly Road and Express Rt. 4Airport Express to increase efficiency.
In addition to the schedule modifications, boarding activities at Transit Mall downtown will be modified. Starting on 1/6/19 Transit Mall will become a “deboarding only” stop meaning passengers should only deboard the bus at Transit Mall.
Passengers who attempt to board at Transit Mall will be required to pay two fares in order to continue their trip past Meeting and Mary, which is the official beginning and end of the line.
A summary of changes the routes schedules can be found at ridecarta.com/2019RouteChanges.
Holiday Service Reminder
As a reminder, CARTA will operate on the following holiday schedule:
- Monday, 12/24/18 – (Sunday schedule)
- Tuesday, 12/25/18 – Sunday schedule and no DASH service
- Wednesday, 12/26/18 – Regular weekday schedule No Express service
- Tuesday, 1/1/19 – Sunday schedule and no DASH service
To view a full list of all CARTA observed holidays, please click: CARTA Holiday Service
Invitation to Bid Melnick Park and Ride Facility
Please click on the following link to view current Invitation to Bid Melnick Park and Ride Facility
CARTA, Affordabike Partner to Give Away 15 Refurbished Lost-and-Found Bikes
SYSTEM WANTS TO HELP RIDERS WITH THE FIRST-MILE/LAST-MILE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Many public transit trips begin with a walk or bike ride, and this holiday season the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) wants to help riders overcome what’s been dubbed the first-mile/last-mile problem – and also spread some Christmas cheer.
CARTA has again partnered with Affordabike to refurbish 15 lost-and-found bicycles and give them away to riders in order to help them navigate walks of more than a quarter mile to their stop or final destination. A quarter-mile is roughly the maximum distance most people find “comfortable” to walk to a stop.
Riders who could use two new wheels – or individuals who know someone who fits the bill – can submit requests/nominations through Dec. 17 by:
- Messaging the CARTA Facebook account
- Tagging @RideCARTA on Twitter
- Emailing memerson@ridecarta.com
All CARTA buses, except free DASH shuttles, are equipped with bike racks as part of the system’s no-cost and easy-to-use Rack and Ride program.
Recipients of the Christmas bike giveaway will be selected by CARTA staff. Bikes will be available for collection from the CARTA facility at 3664 Leeds Ave. in North Charleston Dec. 17-19.
CARTA to Provide Free Service to Warming Shelter Dec. 5
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) will provide free transportation this evening, Wednesday, Dec. 5, to the Charleston County warming shelter located at the 3765 Leeds Ave. in North Charleston.
Those seeking shelter in downtown Charleston should wait at a Route 10 Rivers Avenue or Route 11 Dorchester Road/Airport bus stop and inform the driver that they wish to travel to the shelter. Passengers will be transported to the North Charleston SuperStop at Rivers and Cosgrove avenues, where they will transfer to Route 103 Leeds Avenue, which serves the warming shelter located in the Coastal Pre-Release Center.
In North Charleston, riders seeking shelter should let drivers know their desired destination when boarding in order to be transported to the shelter.
