carta

CARTA Brings Free Shuttle From Mount Pleasant to Isle of Palms

With recent changes to the parking regulations along Isle of Palms, a new shuttle service is offering a free and easy way to get to the beach.

CARTA is now offering a free beach shuttle service from Mount Pleasant to Isle of Palms. The shuttle will run on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm from now until October 18th.

The shuttle service departs every hour from the Charleston County East Cooper Service Center, stopping at both 14th Ave. at Ocean Blvd. and Palm Blvd. at 28th Ave.

While this is a great way for people to enjoy our beautiful beaches and current fall weather, there are some rules and regulations that shuttle users need to be aware of. Most notably, you are required to wear a mask or face covering at all times while you are on the shuttle. There’s also a limit on the type and number of items you are allowed to bring with you aboard the shuttle.

Download the app to see where the shuttle is at all times and effectively plan your next beach trip.

Featured

These Charleston Transportation Solutions Are Exactly What You Need

Featured Image Credit: NeONBRAND on Unsplash

In the wake of new parking regulations in Charleston, the city has come up with solutions for frustrated employees that work downtown. The Greater Charleston Restaurant Association (GCRA) and Charleston Area Hospitality Association (CAHA) are encouraging hospitality employees to find other ways to get to work. So if you’re regularly trying to commute downtown, check out some of these Charleston transportation ideas.

If you’re dead set on driving your own car downtown, there are four garages with discounted rates. The Visitor Center Garage on Mary Street and the Queen Street Garage will have a $7.00 flat rate after 3:00 PM and a $5.00 flat rate after 5:00 PM. The city will prorate if you parked before those times. The East Bay Garage on Prioleau Street and the Majestic Square Garage on King Street will have a $5.00 flat rate after 5:00 PM and will prorate if you parked before 5:00 PM.

If public transportation is more your speed, the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) is improving its services. They’ve launched an app that shows the real-time movement of their vehicles. A park-and-ride lot and shuttle service, operated by CARTA in partnership with the city of Charleston and Charleston county is expected to launch within the next month.

Ridesharing is also a popular option. Both Lyft and Uber have ridesharing services. Lyft Line and uberPool will give you a regular ride and reduce your commuting costs.

Another ridesharing opportunity comes in the form of Lowcounty Go, or Low Go. This commuter services program is an innovation in Charleston transportation. The service connects real people with real commuter solutions to reduce both costs and traffic congestion. People can register and connect with fellow commuters to share in the cost.

So, don’t let rising meter rates get you down. There are plenty of Charleston transportation tools for you to make your commute with less money and hassle.

News

CARTA Introduces A Real-Time Transportation App

Featured Image Credit: Wikipedia

It’s just what we’ve all been waiting for! An easier way to travel around Charleston.

CARTA has been working on a mobile app to provide riders a helpful tool to navigate public transportation. This app will allow people to see when the next bus will arrive, time updates, and track their route. The application also keeps up with delays which can be super helpful when there is an accident or construction.

The Board of Directors Chairman, Mike Seekings, wants to provide the rider with a digital experience to make CARTA more appealing. He stated the app would be one of the first steps toward becoming more digital and hinted that there are more to come. The CARTA website will be updated soon with a new online payment system – TECHNOLOGY!

CARTA has partnered with Transit to make the app possible. The app ‘Transit’ is free to download on the Apple Store and Google Pay. The application also incorporates Uber in which it tells you where the nearest one is and allows people to request one through the app.

Non-app users or people who don’t have smartphones can now call or text (843)202-4410 and receive two arrival times for their stop number.

This public transportation system is an exciting new asset to Charleston. Hopefully, it helps with traffic/parking and people utilize all the components it offers. The app is up and running ready to take on Chucktown!