Posted on by Andy Brack
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The latest from CARTA

February 6, 2007 — Bruce Murdy introduced Howard Chapman as one of our Rotary’s own who, after three decades as the Director of Charleston Transportation, chose to move on to founding CARTA.

Howard began his talk by emphasizing a Kiplinger Principle [paraphrased], “any initiative that provides a tax break to both the Employer and the Employee is rare and will succeed.” After emphasizing CARTA is composed of eight different governments, he pointed to his cornerstone topic: CARTA Express launched on January 22, 2007 ( www.whydrive.net or call 843.724.7420). The origins of Express came from the Stakeholders:

  • Get us back to where you were before services were cut back

  • Give us smaller buses

  • Try new things

Suggestion number two resulted in 16 new, smaller buses that could get into neighborhoods the large buses could not reach. Suggestion number three yielded Express service from four outlying Charleston locations to select downtown locations in less than 30 minutes each way. Of note, managers in all four locations made business decisions to allow CARTA customers to park for free. Chapman emphasized: free parking; tax-free dollars; and a “rider-designed, smart times” timetable is more than enough reason to use CARTA. One MUSC employee was quoted as saying, “this is the one half-hour of the day that is mine.” Howard emphasized some very key points:

  • Thanks to the Post & Courier and Charleston River Dogs for helping get the Express “word out”

  • Thanks to the College of Charleston for providing “free-to-staff” CARTA transportation

  • CARTA: is “focused on continuing to provide consistent, reliable service”

  • 2006 surpassed 2005 riders by 35%

  • CARTA has 16 new physical locations to buy tickets (24/7 at www.ridecarta.com)

  • CARTA is adding advertising (2 major clients) starting next month

  • CARTA is adding 22 bus shelters in the next few months

CARTA may be an eight government entity, but they employ the best world-wide contractor in the country

. What’s next?

  • Market express

  • Reach out to tourists

  • Improve and streamline existing service

  • Implementing the first “5-Year Transit Action Plan”

Submitted by Bill Crowe, Keyway Committee