News & Announcements

On Friday 6/01/18, we were informed by Velocity that they will need at least 2 additional rows for the expected summer season, therefore starting immediately we will need most of our passengers to park in the overflow area (purple area).
The specific area CARTA passengers will no longer be able to park includes the first 6 rows of the current CARTA area near Rivers Ave. As you can see from the map below, you should be able to continue to park on the row where the old ATM was located.  Please refer to the map below to see the exact area.

We will have sandwich boards and caution tape or rope designating where to park and where not to park.  Please pay attention to signage in the coming weeks and DO NOT AT ANY TIME park in any spaces around the Velocity building or in the T-Mobile areas we have been communicating to you shown in red on the map below; please only park in the yellow or purple areas shown on the map below.  Please review the map carefully and pay attention to signage in the parking lot.

Currently we have space in the overflow (purple area), however if we start to run low on spaces we have additional overflow parking available and staff will provide that information when and if this issue occurs.  Staff will continue to be on site periodically each week to monitor and assist with the parking situation.

We hope this is the last adjustment to the Velocity area, however we should anticipate possible additional adjustments to the current parking area before our area is completed later this summer or fall.  This process has taken much longer and is more complicated than anyone anticipated.  We apologize for this ever-changing situation and we thank you for your continued patience as we continue to try to work with all our neighbors until our area is ready for use.

Please know we are trying our best not to cause disruptions to your daily routine while at the same time continuing to provide a place for everyone to park.  Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) will resume regular service east of the Cooper River on Monday, June 4. Additional weekday service, funded by SCDOT, had been provided during the Wando Bridge closure.

Further details can be found at: ridecarta.com/maps-schedules

• All routes will run on a Sunday schedule on Memorial Day, Monday May 28, 2018
• All Express service except NASH Express 4 will not operate on Monday.  Route 41 also does not operate on Sundays, so it will not operate on Memorial Day.  HOP will run on a regular schedule as it does on Sundays
• Please call customer service if you have any additional questions or concerns at 843-724-7420
• Click Holiday Schedule to view all CARTA observed holidays (scroll down through the FAQ page)

CARTA helps Seniors maintain mobility and independence.  Seniors (55+) ride for free on all CARTA routes this Saturday, May 26, 2018.  Click CARTA Senior Days to view all Senior free ride days.

CARTA will amend routes and provide extra service during the Wando Bridge closure. The changes include servicing water taxi locations and offering extra park-and-ride locations east of the Cooper River

Some east-west routes have been separated to limit impacts on other parts of the system. All changes will go into effect Monday, May 21. Full details are available at www.ridecarta.com/wandobridgeupdates.

Adopt-A-Stop

CARTA CLEAN COMMUNITIES

Adopt-A-Stop is currently a very successful program operated in the City of Charleston area through a partnership between Keep Charleston Beautiful and CARTA.  It is a bus stop sponsorship program where businesses, organizations and individuals are invited to adopt unsheltered CARTA bus stops.

Starting on May 29, 2018 – Thanks to funding through a grant from Palmetto Pride, this program will be expanded to include the entire CARTA service area.  This gives any organization or individual the opportunity to adopt a stop at any of the hundreds of CARTA bus stops throughout the service area.

The goal of the program is to create litter free bus stops throughout the CARTA service area. The program relies on volunteer involvement from residential and community businesses, organizations, and individuals. Adoption opportunities are for bus stop locations that do not currently have shelters, as those are maintained by CARTA.  CARTA will provide one Adopt-A-Stop sign identifying the adopting organization, company, family, individual, or group.

How it Works

Volunteers throughout the CARTA service area can apply to adopt an unsheltered bus stop.  Once approved a can will be placed at the designated stop and volunteers will be provided with supplies.

Volunteers agree to service the can and pick up litter at the stop once a week for 1 year.

Volunteers are asked to submit a simple clean up report form at the end of each month.  Volunteers will receive recognition at the stop they have chosen to adopt “This stop has been adopted by ABC group”.

This is an easy way to give back and improve the communities we all live and work in.

*Stops that fall in City of Charleston area will follow same criteria but will simply be managed by our partner Keep Charleston Beautiful.

FAQ’s

Any nonprofit, or profit-making, nonpartisan organization or group may become a sponsor of a CARTA bus stop.  This includes groups, individuals, private companies, public agencies, churches, schools, school groups, civic organizations/groups, etc.   Staff will review each registration to determine if the group or individual is approved to adopt the stop.  CARTA reserves the right to decline groups or individuals for a variety of reasons including best business practices.

How long is the contract?  One year with a minimum of 1 visit per week. Volunteers are welcomed to visit more if needed.

Are there any rules or regulations?  Volunteers agree to empty the trash can and pick up litter around the designated bus stop once a week for the length of the adoption term.  Volunteers are asked not to plant flowers, paint or alter the bus stop in any way.

Can I choose my bus stop?

You may choose any CARTA bus stop without a shelter.  We will inform you if your requested bus stop is available.  If that bus stop is not available we will provide other options.

Can I paint the trash can?

CARTA will provide you with a trash can.  If you would like to paint your can that is possible.  Your design must be pre-approved by CARTA staff and should illustrate the theme “A beautiful Charleston” and is not used for advertisement, promotion or self-promotional purposes.

Why Adopt A Stop?

The Adopt A Stop program is a great way to give back and get involved in the community.  Adopting a bus stop helps make the community more beautiful while protecting the environment.  Everyone benefits from this program-property owner, businesses, visitors and transit riders.  As an added bonus you will be recognized by CARTA at that stop.

In return for adopting a stop and volunteering your time to monitor and maintain it, you can have your name displayed on a special Adopt-A-Stop sign located at your adopted stop.

Plus, IT’S FREE TO ADOPT!  There is no charge to participate in Adopt-A-Stop.

Click Adopt A Stop Charleston for an application, complete it and return it to cruze@ridecarta.com or mail it to CARTA 1362 McMillan Ave. Suite 100 North Charleston, SC 29405

CARTA will make the following modifications that will go into effect on Sunday, May 6, 2018 to increase efficiency on several routes.  Please click the links below to preview the routes and modifications.

• Express 1 – An additional trip will be added to schedule southbound schedule.  Last southbound trip (to Downtown) will now be at 6:49 pm Click Express 1 to view new schedule.

• Express 3 – Slight schedule adjustments to improve efficiency & on time performance.  Please review departure times, most have changed. Click Express 3 to view new schedule.
  • Note: MUSC – Last departure from Calhoun St. and Jonathan Lucas St. will now be at 7:30 pm.  The 4:26 pm trip will now depart at 4:46 pm.
  • Note: CofC – Last departure from Calhoun and St. Phillips will be 7:24 pm.  The 4:20 pm will now depart at 4:40 pm.

• Route 10 – Slight modifications made to Sunday schedule only to improve he efficiency and on time performance of the route.  Click Route 10 to view new schedule.

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

Starting on Monday, April 30^th we will no longer be able to park in the front of our current parking area near Rivers Ave. and we will need more cars to park in the overflow area (purple area).  It is important that we begin this process immediately to ensure that Velocity has ample space as the end of the school year draws near and we move into their busier season.

The specific area includes the first 3-5 rows of the current CARTA area near Rivers Ave. Please refer to the map below to see the exact area.

We will also have tape or rope and signs designating where to park and where not to park.  Please pay attention to signage in the coming weeks and DO NOT AT ANY TIME park in any spaces around the Velocity building or in the T-Mobile areas we have been communicating to you shown in red on the map below; please only park in the yellow or purple areas shown on the map below.  Both businesses have informed us that they will tow vehicles that are parked outside of the designated areas, so please review the map carefully and pay attention to signage in the parking lot.

Currently we have plenty of space in the overflow (purple area), however if we start to run low on spaces we have additional overflow parking available and staff will provide that information when and if this issues occurs.  Staff will continue to be on site periodically each week to monitor and assist with the parking situation.

Recently portions of our land have been cleared in preparation for the next step in turning the space into our future home; you should begin to see more activity in the coming weeks.

We can also anticipate additional adjustments to the current parking area before our area is completed late this summer.

This process has taken longer and is more complicated than anyone anticipated.  We apologize for this ever-changing situation and we thank you for your continued patience as we continue to try to work with all our neighbors until our area is ready for use.

Please know we are trying our best not to cause disruptions to your daily routine while at the same time continuing to provide a place for everyone to park.  Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

*May 2018 correction-In the original image, one row was left in the yellow area that should have been in the no parking area.

Watch the April 2018 CARTA Board of Directors of meeting live on the Charleston County Ustream channel.