CARTA Progresses to Next Phase of Public Transportation Study

CARTA Progresses to Next Phase of Public Transportation Study

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) and Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) have kickstarted the next phase of a much-anticipated public transportation study. Intending to enhance the efficiency of CARTA’s services and cater to the burgeoning passenger demands, the agencies are calling on the community to evaluate and provide feedback on their newly proposed transportation solutions.

The study originally commenced a year ago, with CARTA gathering information on riders’ primary concerns. Utilizing this data, the agencies have devised potential solutions that they believe could enhance Charleston’s public transportation system. Now, they are soliciting public preferences on these proposals before moving onto the identification and implementation of final solutions.

Addressing Growing Needs

With a surge in development and population migrations to the peninsula, the demand for effective and efficient public transit services has risen exponentially. “We’re seeing more development and growth creeping up the peninsula, so making sure that we’re serving the population, the workers who travel onto the peninsula, the folks who live there in the most efficient and best manner is really what we’re after,” stated BCDCOG Regional Strategist Daniel Brock.

During the pandemic, CARTA observed an uptick in the use of public transportation. As such, they aspire to uphold and accelerate this trend by improving critical areas such as coverage, frequency, infrastructure, and reliability of the public transportation system.

Public Involvement

CARTA and BCDCOG are prioritizing public involvement in this transformation initiative. From now till March 13, residents can participate in an online survey and voice their thoughts on the proposed solutions. Alternatively, they can directly communicate with team representatives stationed at various bus stops across the peninsula.

College of Charleston student and regular CARTA bus rider Anna Harvey commented on the current state of services, “I think it’s pretty good, it always gets me to class, but sometimes you’re waiting there for like 15 minutes, not really knowing when it’s going to come or if it’s going to come.”

Building a Better Charleston

Through this study, the agencies aim to construct a much more robust and comprehensive transit system that not only serves residents but also supports the millions of visitors frequenting Charleston’s downtown. As Daniel Brock relayed, “Downtown is thriving, the neck area is thriving, not just with our residents, but with workers who travel on and off the peninsula every day, and then the millions of visitors downtown. So, by having a viable, strong, comprehensive transit system on the peninsula, will only serve to make the region better and more viable.”