Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority
A NASH bus at an event in North Charleston | |
| Founded | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 3664 Leeds Avenue North Charleston, SC 29405 |
| Service area | Charleston County Dorchester County |
| Service type | bus service, dial-a-bus, express bus service |
| Routes | 4 express routes 17 fixed routes 4 free shuttle routes |
| Hubs | Charleston Visitors Center North Charleston Intermodal Transportation Center |
| Daily ridership | 6,700 (weekdays, Q1 2025) |
| Annual ridership | 2,349,900 (2024) |
| Fuel type | diesel, electric |
| Operator | Transdev |
| Website | ridecarta |
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The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) provides area residents and visitors public transportation within parts of Charleston and Dorchester counties in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, including the cities of Charleston, North Charleston and the surrounding communities of Mount Pleasant, Summerville, James Island, Sullivan's Island, and the Isle of Palms. CARTA presently contracts with Transdev for staffing and managing the bus drivers in addition to maintaining and scheduling the buses. In 2024, the system had a ridership of 2,349,900, or about 6,700 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2025.
CARTA began service in 1997 and operates seven days a week on each day of the year. In addition to its regular fixed routes, CARTA offers express commuter service on weekdays, a free area shuttle service in downtown Charleston, and Tel-A-Ride services for eligible residents.