Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority
The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority is the mass transit provider for Chattanooga, Tennessee and its vicinity. CARTA operates 15 bus routes, paratransit services, and the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. CARTA also operates the Chattanooga Parking Authority, which manages public parking garages, lots, and on-street parking in the city.
History
Public transportation first appeared on the streets of Chattanooga on September 4, 1875, utilizing horse-drawn trollies. The two main routes followed Market Street and East Ninth Street. In 1889, the trolleys 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.In 1973, the City of Chattanooga purchased the assets of the former Southern Coach Lines and formed the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority. Since 1992, CARTA has operated a free downtown shuttle bus service, utilizing electric buses, which runs between the Chattanooga Choo-Choo and the Tennessee Aquarium.
Services
Bus routes
', CARTA operates 15 bus routes, including three classified as shuttles.;1. Alton Park
;2. North Shore Shuttle
;3. Enterprise South
;4. Eastgate/Hamilton Place
;9. East Lake
;10A. East Chattanooga-Avondale
;10C. East Chattanooga-Campbell St.
;10G. East Chattanooga-Glenwood
;13. Rossville
;14. Mocs Express '
;15. St. Elmo/Incline Shuttle
;16. Northgate
;21. Golden Gateway
;28. Amnicola Highway
;33. Downtown Shuttle
Incline Railway
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 GO
CARTA GO is an on-demand ride service connecting the neighborhoods of Cromwell, East Brainerd, Eastdale, and North Brainerd to the route 4 bus. The service uses software by Via Transportation for booking rides and costs the same as a fixed route bus.Fares
, base fare for fixed route buses is $1.50. Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, Medicare users, and students get discounted fares with a CARTA ID. Veterans and children under 6 ride for free. CARTA also offers 24-hour, 7-day, and 31-day passes. The CARTA Care-A-Van costs $2.50 for a one-way trip.In December 2024, CARTA started accepting fare payment from smartphones using the Token Transit app.