Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority
A CARTA bus, on the route Express 3, in front of Citadel Square Baptist Church. | |
| 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 | 17 Fixed routes 3 Express routes 3 Free shuttle routes (DASH) |
| Hubs | Charleston Visitors Center/Mary Street North Charleston Superstop Citadel Mall Tanger Outlets Charleston |
| Daily ridership | 9,700 (weekdays, Q4 2025) |
| Annual ridership | 2,513,400 (2025) |
| Fuel type | diesel, electric |
| Operator | RATP Dev |
| Website | ridecarta |
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) provides public transportation within parts of Charleston and Dorchester counties in South Carolina, including the municipalities of Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, James Island, and the Isle of Palms. CARTA presently contracts with RATP Dev for staffing and managing the bus drivers in addition to maintaining and scheduling the buses. In 2025, the system had a ridership of 2,513,400, or about 9,700 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2025.
CARTA began service in 1997 and operates seven days a week. 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.