Чарльстон аймақтық көлік жүйесі: тарихы мен қазіргі жағдайы

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 , the system had a ridership of , or about per weekday as of
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.

As with many communities across the United States, the Charleston region was served by streetcars and buses that were operated by electric companies. The bus system in Charleston was operated by SCE&G until 1997. In 1978, the popular Downtown Area Shuttle or DASH service began with the help of a federal grant. DASH service continues to this day. During the 1980s, mass transit options in Charleston were reduced. An effort to create a regional transportation authority that would operate public transportation were defeated by voters in a referendum. In 1997, after learning that SCE&G intended to cease operating buses, the City of Charleston, the City of North Charleston, the Town of Mt. Pleasant and Charleston County joined together to create the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA). Despite budgetary setbacks, CARTA ridership continues to increase and become more popular. In 2013, CARTA reported its busiest year of operations, with nearly five million riders for 2012 and a weekday average of over 15,000 riders. DASH service accounted for nearly 1.2 million rides in 2012. In late 2013, CARTA inaugurated its North Area Shuttle service (NASH) as a free circulator route to serve the North Charleston area, however this service was suspended in June 2014 due to low ridership. In February 2014, the NASH Express service was launched, creating an express route between Charleston International Airport and downtown Charleston.

If passengers are unable to get to a bus, Tel A Ride comes to them within a defined Tel A Ride Service area. Curbside service is available for those who meet the requirements for the Americans with Disabilities Act. Smaller “neighborhood” buses are used for the CARTA Tel A Ride service offering both single door entry and wheelchair accessibility. Tel A Ride fares are $4.00 per trip.

CARTA@Night was implemented to take passengers to any stop within four designated “zones” after most regular bus service has ended. This service was discontinued in December 2010 due to budget problems. CARTA@Night routes were serviced by the large passenger buses (found during the day on the #Fixed Route Services) and the smaller “neighborhood” buses (used daily for #CARTA Tel A Ride service operation). CARTA at Night was $2.00 and free with CARTA Express Monthly Gold Pass; all other pass holders were required to pay a $0.75 up charge. Route 105, also known as the North Area Shuttle (or NASH) service connected visitors with attractions in North Charleston, including the "old town", the Tanger Outlet Center, the North Charleston Visitors Center, and the North Convention Center Complex, which includes the North Charleston Coliseum and the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. The service was cancelled in June 2014 due to low ridership.

After more than 15 years of planning, ground broke on the North Charleston Intermodal Transportation Center on September 5, 2007. The site will eventually serve as a transportation hub for amtrak passenger trains, commuter rail, Greyhound buses, CARTA buses, area taxis and shuttles used by the Charleston International Airport. The facility will be located at the intersection of Montague Avenue and Seiberling Road in North Charleston and in close proximity to the airport, the coliseum and convention center and Tanger Outlet.