Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority
| Founded | 1973 by |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Service area | City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County and surrounding areas |
| Service type |
|
| Alliance | Lookout Mountain Incline Railway |
| Routes | 16 |
| Depots | 1 |
| Fleet | 105 |
| Annual ridership | apprx. 3 million |
| Fuel type | Electric Natural Gas Diesel |
| Executive Director | Lisa Maragnano |
| Website | www |
The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) is the mass transit provider for Chattanooga, Tennessee and its vicinity.
Public transportation first appeared on the streets of Chattanooga in 1875, utilizing horse-drawn trollies. The two main routes followed Market Street and Ninth Avenue (now Martin Luther King Boulevard). In 1889, the trollies were replaced with electric streetcars. With the advent of the internal combustion engine, buses began to appear more frequently. In 1941, Southern Coach Lines took over the public transit operations, and the last streetcar ran in 1946.
City control
In 1973, the City of Chattanooga purchased the assets of the former Southern Coach Lines, and formed the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority. CARTA now operates 16 bus routes, trimmed down from 30, as some routes have been consolidated or eliminated.
In addition, CARTA also operates a free downtown shuttle bus service, utilizing electric buses, which runs between the Chattanooga Choo-Choo (the former Terminal Station Hotel) at 14th and Market Streets and the Bijou Theatre on Broad and 3rd Streets. Public parking is available at both locations. CARTA owns and operates the historic Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, which ascends from the St. Elmo neighborhood to the town of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. CARTA also provides paratransit van services, called Care-A-Van.
List of routes
As of August 16, 2015[update][1]
- 1. Alton Park
- Chattanooga Choo-Choo, The Villages at Alton Park, Piney Woods, Wheeler Homes, Alton Park Health Center, Alton Park Recreation Center, Howard School of Academics & Technology, Eckerd, Bi-Lo
- 2. North Chattanooga
- North Market Street, North Shore Market, Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park, Spears Avenue, Cherokee Boulevard, CADAS, Johnson Mental Health Center, North Chattanooga Recreation Center
- 3. Enterprise South
- Hamilton County Board of Education, Amazon Fulfillment Center, Volkswagen Group of America
- 3E/ER. Enterprise South/Eastgate & East Ridge
- Eastgate Town Center, Camp Jordan Arena, Hamilton County Board of Education, Amazon Fulfillment Center, Volkswagen Group of America
- 3N. Enterprise South/Northgate
- Northgate Mall, Stockdale's, Hamilton County Board of Education, Amazon Fulfillment Center, Volkswagen Group of America
- 3O. Enterprise South/Ooltewah
- Walmart (Ooltewah), Bi-Lo (Ooltewah), Hamilton County Board of Education, Amazon Fulfillment Center, Volkswagen Group of America
- 4. Eastgate/Hamilton Place
- UT-Chattanooga, UTC Place, Client Services Building/Human Services, Tennessee Temple University, Brainerd Road, Eastgate Mall, Hamilton Place Mall, Walmart, Lee Highway, Parkridge Hospital, Warner Park
- 5. North Brainerd "Dial-a-Ride" Route
- Eastgate Town Center, Brainerd High School, North Brainerd Community, Eastwood Manor, Dalewood Middle School, Woodmoore School, Foxwood Plaza, Wilson Air Center
- 6. East Brainerd "Dial-a-Ride" Route
- Hamilton Place Mall, East Brainerd Road, Gunbarrel Road, Gunbarrel Pointe, Memorial Atrium, Erlanger East, McCutcheon Road, Chattanooga State East Campus, Health Center at Standifer Place, Rainbow Creek Apartments, U.S. Express, Social Security Office
- 7. Chattanooga Housing Authority
- UTC, Erlanger, Fortwood Center, CARTA, Engel Stadium, Warner Park, Alexian Brothers, Chattanooga Housing Authority located on Holtzclaw Avenue at Citico
- 8. Eastdale (Weekdays/Saturdays)
- Battery Heights, Tunnel Boulevard, Signal Centers, Greenwood Road, Foxwood Plaza
- 9. East Lake
- Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Main Street, Dodds Avenue, Goodwill Industries, East Side Community Center, East Lake Courts, East Lake Academy of Fine Arts
- 10A. East Chattanooga-Avondale
- UT-Chattanooga, Avondale, Dodson Avenue Health Center, Erlanger Medical Center, Hamilton County Health Department, Hardy Elementary School, Warner Park
- 10C. East Chattanooga-Campbell St.
- UT-Chattanooga, Glenwood, Erlanger Medical Center, Hamilton County Health Department, Memorial Hospital, Parkwood Nursing Home, Campbell Street, Highway 58, Warner Park
- 10G. East Chattanooga-Glenwood
- UT-Chattanooga, Glenwood, Erlanger Medical Center, Hamilton County Health Department, Memorial Hospital, Parkwood Nursing Home, Parkridge Medical Center, Warner Park
- 13. Rossville
- East Lake Courts, 23rd Street, Chattanooga Community Kitchen, Senior Neighbors, Whiteside Faith Manor
- 14. "Mocs Express" (free shuttle for UT-Chattanooga students, faculty and staff.)
- UTC Campus, UTC Place, Engel Stadium, Downtown Chattanooga
- 15. St. Elmo
- St. Elmo Ave and Broad Street
- 16. Northgate
- Northgate Mall, Hixson Pike, Riverview, Highland Plaza, Lowe's, Kmart, Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Stockdale's
- 19. Cromwell Road
- Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, UT-Chattanooga, Erlanger Medical Center, Eastwood Manor, Cromwell Hills, Waterford Place, Main Postal Facility, Farley's & Sathers Candy Company, Wrigley, CARTA, Shepherd Road, Shallowford Road, Airport Road, Greyhound Bus Station, Chattanooga Housing Authority
- 21. Golden Gateway
- Boynton Terrace, College Hill Courts, Chattanooga Convention Center, Jaycee Towers Apartments, Overlook Apartments, Finley Stadium
- 28. Amnicola Highway
- Chattanooga State Community College, Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Police Services Center
Fares
As of November 17, 2015[update], fares rates for their respectable services are:[2]
Bus -
- Adult: $1.50
- Child (5 & under): FREE with paying passenger
- Senior Citizens (Ages 65+): $0.75 (CARTA Special Fare I.D. Card Required+)
- Persons with Disability: $0.75 (CARTA Special Fare I.D. Card Required+)
- Students: $0.75 (CARTA Student Bye Pass Card Required for students in Grades 6-12)
+Medicare card is accepted as proof of eligibility for the CARTA Special Fare ID Card.
CARTA Care-A-Van -
- One way: $2.50
- Round Trip: $5.00
Specials -
- 24 Hour Unlimited Ride Pass: $4.00
- 31 Day Unlimited Ride Pass: $50.00