Fall 2012 report CARTA Board & Community, October 17, 2012
The Full Report can be downloaded in PDF format. https://docs.google.com/open?id=0ByXEuvB49CMSWk9WaFRBZ0RtQm8 It includes detailed reports on the performance of the 40 & 401 bus routes.
CARTA provides service to the Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island with the #402 Island Flex
Over the past six months the over 100 people involved with our organization continued to work to raise awareness and ridership East of the Cooper. Major transit canvass efforts have been conducted at the East Cooper Medical Complex near Bowman Road and the new Mount Pleasant Hospital near Wando HS. At both medical complexes we had face to face conversations with over 50 nurses, receptionists and medical professionals. Unfortunately the disruptions of road construction have depressed ridership an estimated 3000 trips per month, which need to be recovered.
We’ve attended and spoke at Mount Pleasant Town Council and three public planning meetings regarding road planning, emphasizing the importance of transit enabled roadways. We’ve spoken to the sustainability committee and admissions office at the College of Charleston and provided materials on East Cooper Transit Services and DASH. We’ve had three reports published in the Moultrie news and been featured in two television reports.
We’ve spoken to over 1000 members of the public about transit. We’ve also begun a program of talking to new employers in Mount Pleasant before they open about transit services which can make their businesses more profitable to increase the likelihood that riders will be hired. Our website has had over 3000 visits with activity focused on route information.
In all of these efforts, we’ve distributed specialized transit materials focused on that precise location, the nearby stops and the relevant CARTA and Tri County Link routes such as those included in this packet as well as standard CARTA and Tri County Link printed bus schedules.
Hungryneck Straphangers has identified two major goals for the next six months.
- Work to increase the likelihood that safe, accessible bus stops are in place along both sides of Highway 17 between Wando High School and the Ravenel Bridge, including benches and shelters at major, heavily used stops. These stops should be near places where pedestrians, including those who are elderly or partially disabled can cross the road in reasonable safety. This is what was promised with this road project was funded by taxpayer approved referendum and when the design was approved. We want the road to be functional for Transit Riders and Pedestrians before the work is done, the concrete is hard and the money is gone.
- Support public input in making the best possible decision about the new route system and do what we can to make sure the new routes are used and that operations by CARTA are on time, on schedule and on the planned routes by continuing our efforts at community engagement and education in cooperation with the schools, non profit groups, churches and businesses which have become our partners in transit over the past year and a half.
