Archive for the ‘press releases’ Category

Students from the University School of the Lowcountry in Mt. Pleasant Address the CARTA Board, Sept. 2011

Thanks to everyone who contributed to our effort to oppose the CARTA Cuts this month.  We had a good visit to yesterday’s board meeting and were encourage to see the attitude of the board moving in a new direction.   More members of the pubic spoke during the public comment period yesterday than at any CARTA board meeting in the past.  While the message got garbled here and there, more people are riding transit in Charleston than ever before and revenues are higher than they have ever been while the cost per rider trip is down.   Not every figure is hitting every projection, but they’re all continuing to get better.  We learned that the system will go from using schedule data to plan bus trips to real time GPS data transmitted from the buses themselves this summer.  You can use Google to plan your trips now on the CARTA website, Google maps, Iphones, Android Devices and Ipads.  This summer you be able to get an estimated arrival time for your bus based on where it actually is and how fast it is moving.

Here is the PDF Continue the Progress Handout distributed at the meeting.

Logo for the Don't X Transit National Effort

We’re also now actively involved in the national effort to improve transit with advocacy on the Federal level, where we’re joining communities across the US.  www.supporttransit.org  Representatives of the national organization attended part of yesterday’s meeting.

Two routes were combined, but it doesn’t appear more route cancellations are ahead.  That could change.  Most of the capacity of those routes will be redeployed to improve performance where buses are now running standing room only.

Here is the report as it appeared on WCBD Channel 2.

There was also a report on WCIV Channel 4 and two articles in the Post and Courier.  http://www2.counton2.com/news/2012/may/16/carta-bus-riders-concerned-about-talk-rate-hike-an-ar-3805290/

The most important thing we’ve done this month is reinforce the CARTA Board’s commitment to building a better system.  They’re under relentless pressure to slash service from people who don’t care about what happens to people who need transit to get to work.  We can’t expect public officials to stand up for this system unless we do.

Our efforts will continue.  Here is what you can do.

• Sign our petition online or in person to oppose further CARTA service cuts.
• Contact your federal, state, county and municipal representatives and ask them to commit to a plan for improved public transit.
• Check our calendar on the Hungryneck Straphangers website (see the menu bar above or our Facebook Page for the dates and locations of their meetings.
• Join our “Cling for CARTA” effort.  Put a “Don’t X Transit” window cling at your home, organization or business and put an image of it on the Hungryneck Straphangers Facebook Page
• Ride the bus.  Talk to your neighbors and other riders about the importance of improving transit with a target of reaching an annual ridership of 7.5 million by 2018.
• Contact us if you have ideas or questions wjhamilton29464@gmail.com or (843) 870-5299.

Transit advocates demonstrate against planned CARTA service cuts on May 1, 2012 in Charleston, SC

Transit riders have made it clear:

1.  Build on the success of increasing ridership (up 15% to 425 thousand in March 2012) and farebox revenue (Up 8%)
2. Stop the cuts
3. Adopt a long term plan for CARTA to build a dependable, basic bus transit system for our region, with night and weekend service, and safe, comfortable and accessible stops.

Please join us at the CARTA Board Meeting on Wednesday, May 16 at 2 pm at the Lonnie Hamilton County Office Building 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston, SC 29405 (Transit directions below) to be heard during the public comment period.  Speakers usually have 2 minutes.  If you can’t be there, sign our online petition now which will be presented to the board members then.  For those riders present at the meeting, we’ll have T-shirts for you to wear to show your support for basic, functional bus transit for the Charleston area.  If you aren’t comfortable speaking in public, you can hand in written comments or just wear a shirt and raise your hand in a show of support.

Unless we act now, together for a better system which serves everyone, we’ll end up fighting each other over pieces of the system this summer, the long term strategy of opponents of public transit where riders lose.

• Sign up to attend the Wed. April 16 Board meeting on Facebook
• Sign the online petition to show your support
• Contact the organizers for more information 870-5299 or wjhamilton29464@gmail.com
• We have signs and window clings available for businesses who want to show their support for public transit.
• Join our facebook group and let your views be known.

Students from the University School of the Lowcountry in Mt. Pleasant Address the CARTA Board

Bus directions to the CARTA Board Meeting

The CARTA #103 runs on Leeds Ave and the nearest stop is 0.3 miles from the Lonnie Hamilton Building.  Some of the possible trips indicated here stop on Rivers Ave., which is a 1.1 mile walk to the Lonnie Hamilton Building.  It is side walked the entire distance.  If you get there early, there are places to rest inside the building.  All persons entering the building will be subject to security scanning.  Auto parking at the Lonnie Hamilton Building, in a lot costing millions of dollars is free.

• East Cooper- Wando High School
• Downtown- Mary Street
• West Ashley- Citadel Mall
• North Charleston- Northwoods Mall

Background Information on the plan and cuts

• Younger Americans are driving less, Taking Transit More- http://www.uspirg.org/reports/usp/transportation-and-new-generation
• Continue the Progress Proposal from East Cooper CARTA Riders https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=10aqryEpXpgNjXKQTVBwQlFtoJrjicHLbiY2hhR2ImlI
• Much misinformation about pay for bus drivers has been circulating.  Starting pay for a CARTA Bus Driver is $9.81 per hour and increases with seniority to $17.86 and hour after over a decade of service.  Many drivers get only one day of vacation and two days of sick leave per year.  Many work “split shifts” driving during the morning, taking a forced 2-4 hour time off the clock and then driving again in the evening.  Others are required to work overtime.  Bus drives must pass tests, have a CDV license and a clean criminal record
• The Low country is a dangerous place for the long walks to bus stops reducing the number of routes would necessitate for riders.  Many bus stops lack safe sidewalks and street lighting to make the trip to and from the bus one a rider can survive.  Planned lack of night transit service for the next five years endangers riders and pedestrians.  Here is a map of the pedestrian fatalities in and around Charleston.  While pedestrian fatalities have been falling across the US, they’ve been rising in SC.  http://www.thestate.com/2011/12/07/2071370/pedestrian-deaths-up-sharply-in.html  WCIV reports two deaths, a motorist hitting a pedestrian and the motorist (who lost his license) being killed on a bicycle on the same road six months later.  http://www.abcnews4.com/story/18310087/ccso-deceased-bicyclist-was-charged-with-felony-after-dui-death
• Proposed CARTA Five Year Plan http://www.ridecarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Agenda_Board_2012_0418_Part-3-of-4.pdf
• April 2012 CARTA Ridership and Financial Report http://www.ridecarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Agenda_Board_2012_0418_Part-2-of-41.pdf

Transit advocates demonstrate against planned CARTA service cuts on May 1, 2012 in Charleston, SCPublic Transit Advocates from the Hungryneck Straphangers and other groups will conduct a demonstration and public information outreach efforts in May to stop the planned CARTA service cuts.

May is the time to stand up in support of functional public transit in the Charleston area and against the planned 5% cut in CARTA services.  Links are to facebook signups.   You can sign the onlne petition to stop the cuts now.

• Attend the Tuesday, May 8, City of Charleston Council meeting at City Hall at 80 Broad Street at 5 pm to present letters, signed petitions and speak during the public comment period.  Public comment is generally held later in the meeting, so don’t worry about getting there late.  Transit Directions from N. Charleston to Charleston City Hall.
• Listen to Morning Buzz on WTMA AM 1250 at 8 am for discussion segment on Fighting the CARTA cuts.
• Demonstrate at Superstop on Wednesday, May9, hand out information and collect petition signatures at the bus stops around the intersection of Rivers and Cosgrove Avenues in North Charleston, SC from 3 pm to 5:30.  This is the system’s busiest stop and we’re sure to reach hundreds of people.  Transit Directions to Superstop from Downtown for that day and time.
• Plan to attend the Wednesday, May 16 CARTA Board Meeting at 2 pm at the Lonnie Hamilton County Office Building to present petitions and letters and well as to speak during the public comment period.

Full details and links to facebook signups with access to Google Transit Trip Planning for each time and location can be found at www.eastccrider.com or be obtained by calling (843) 870-5299.

This demonstrations are planned to raise community awareness about planned 5% service cuts to the CARTA system, which has achieved record ridership of over 425,895 riders as of March 2012 (an increase of 15.84% over first quarter 2011), reflecting the growing need for functional public transit to serve people working in the region’s hospitality and medical industries where wages are often not high enough to support ownership and operation of an automobile.  A report released in March proposes cutting routes and service to reduce costs.  CARTA is already one of the most efficient transit systems in the US and charges some of the highest fares in the Southeast, recovering on of the nation’s highest percentages of the cost of operation from the farebox. 34.57% .  The system made major cuts in service in 2010 and smaller ones a year later, including loss of night bus service essential to allowing restaurant and medical workers to return home after work.

Information and reports on the first demonstration, held May 1 can be found at http://busec.org/fighting-the-carta-cuts-consolidating-resistance/

“It’s time for the Charleston region to accept the reality that our cost of living, geography and economy require us to have a functional public transit system to serve the needs of workers, students and tourists.  If we have a quarter of a billion dollars for an Expressway on Johns Island, 12 million dollars to renovate a WWII destroyer and 150 million dollars for airport improvements, it is well within our region’s capacity to find the modest amount of funds to provide reliable bus service for those who need it to make the service sector of our local economy work for everyone.”  According to William Hamilton, coordinator of the Hungryneck Straphangers, an independent public transit advocacy group from East of the Cooper.

Background Information & Documents

• Younger Americans are driving less, Taking Transit More- http://www.uspirg.org/reports/usp/transportation-and-new-generation
• Continue the Progress Proposal from East Cooper CARTA Riders https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=10aqryEpXpgNjXKQTVBwQlFtoJrjicHLbiY2hhR2ImlI
• Much misinformation about pay for bus drivers has been circulating.  Starting pay for a CARTA Bus Driver is $9.81 per hour and increases with seniority to $17.86 and hour after over a decade of service.  Many drivers get only one day of vacation and two days of sick leave per year.  Many work “split shifts” driving during the morning, taking a forced 2-4 hour time off the clock and then driving again in the evening.  Others are required to work overtime.  Bus drives must pass tests, have a CDV license and a clean criminal record
• Proposed CARTA Five Year Plan http://www.ridecarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Agenda_Board_2012_0418_Part-3-of-4.pdf
• April 2012 CARTA Ridership and Financial Report http://www.ridecarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Agenda_Board_2012_0418_Part-2-of-41.pdf

For updates on this effort, see our plan for speaking out at the May 16 CARTA Board meeting.

Charleston, SC-  Riders and supporters of Public Transit will collect petition signatures and demonstrate their opposition to further service cuts by CARTA on Tuesday, May 1^st. from 1 to 3 pm at the Mary Street Transit Center in downtown Charleston (80 Mary Street, Charleston, SC, across from Hughes Lumber).  The demonstration will be supported by the Hungryneck Straphangers (Formerly known as the East Cooper CARTA Riders) and will be conducted legally in accordance with city regulations.

Materials for the May 1, 2012 Stop the CARTA Cuts Demonstration provided by www.supporttransit.org

Those wanting updates on the event can check the calendar and website at www.eastccrider.com or call (843) 870-5299.  The Transit center can easily be reached on CARTA.  Trips can be planned online using Google Map’s Transit function.   Here is the Google Transit Link for a Trip from Mount Pleasant.   Here is an Image of demonstration location

If there are sufficient demonstrators, we’ll send teams to spread the message to other transit centers in the region. leaving by bus right from Mary Street.

Last week a five year plan was presented to the CARTA Board to cut transit service in the Charleston area by another five percent.  The plan further suggested cancelling even more routes to increase service on the overburdened #10 route and add an express route serving the Boeing plant.  The plan included no strategies to restore night bus service desperately needed by people working late shifts in the medical and food and beverage sectors.  The plan contained no timeline for advancing towards construction of the long planned regional transit hub near the airport.  It would require eliminating drivers job’s and other skilled positions held by men and women who have worked years serving the public.

The Hungryneck Strap hangers organization feels this plan is inappropriate at a time when CARTA ridership has risen over 13% in a single year to a system record of 425,895 in March.  Transit services are essential to the economic survival of the area’s service workers, who already accept long commutes to work.  East Cooper’s #40 bus route is running standing room only many mornings and evenings.  The CARTA system is also used extensively by tourists, students, veterans and the disabled.  Increasing numbers of riders from Mount Pleasant are using the bus to link to employment as well, recovering time from their commute to catch up on reading and online activities.  The Hungryneck Straphangers is finishing a yearlong effort to increase ridership East of the Cooper which is pushing their new East Cooper Connector Route to its required ridership target and helped raise ridership in their area by over 3500 rides per month, establishing a successful model which could be replicated across the region.

The Plan can be read online on the CARTA website.

Tel A Ride Van in Downtown Charleston

“We understand that CARTA has to adjust service based on economic limits, but this plan fails to include any strategies for retaining the current service level or meeting real needs in the future.  As our economy changes from one based on the automobile and cheap oil to one focused on talent and mobility, the content and scale of CARTA’s funding model must evolve as well to serve our area.  If we depend on service jobs in tourism and medical services, gentrify the city and push affordable housing inland, we have to have a transit system which connects workers to employment opportunities and their other needs.” Said William Hamilton, coordinator of the Hungryneck Straphangers.

You can sign an Online Petition to Further CARTA Service Cuts

The Demonstration will be one of thousands around the world held that day to raise awareness of environmental, economic justice and human rights issues.

You can read our position paper with alternative proposals online in Google Docs Continue the Progress

A facebook event signup has been established for the demonstration at http://tinyurl.com/chsmay1

You can download a printable, PDF Flyer announcing the event to use.

People East of the Cooper, from the Mayor of Mt. Pleasant to Middle School Students were all working on improving our transit system on March 13.   The process which has pushed ridership on our #40 Trans Mt. Pleasant Bus up 30% and gotten ridership on the #401 East Cooper Connector to 1400 riders per month continues after more than a year’s effort by government, non profits, churches and schools.

Town Leaders take a Ride

Mayor and Members of Mount Pleasant Town Council taking a route tour on the CARTA 401 East Cooper Connector

The Mayor of Mount Pleasant, four members of town council, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Planning Dpt. and several other Town Government representatives joined Linda Page and CARTA staff on board the #40 & #401 for a ride to and from Mount Pleasant Town Center from Town Hall.  Our #401 circulator bus route, which is still working towards achieving its ridership goals.  The #40 has shown spectacular growth.  The ride was linked to a CARTA promotional effort coordinated with similar promotions throughout the country celebrating the increase in ridership throughout the United States which was moving at a 6% annual rate as of December as increasing employment brings sidelined workers back on to transit while increasing gas prices make transit more competitive.  CARTA has exceeded the national trend with 17% growth over the last 12 months.  Along the route, our elected representatives saw places where upgraded stops were needed and were briefed on upcoming plans to put GPS tracking on the buses.  The ride was covered by local media, including WCIV TV 4′s Report.

Bus to the Beach Promoted to C of C Students

That afternoon, East Cooper CARTA riders renewed outreach efforts on behalf of our transit system at the College of Charleston, taking updated information on the #402 Island Flex Route to the beaches to the Offices of Admissions, Student Government and Student Media.  We had face to face conversations with counselors at admissions, student leaders and reporters about how the beach service worked and how the #40 connected it to downtown, from which students can have a fee round trip to the beach by using their ID as a bus pass.  We had made this trip before, however the new route began running too late for effective outreach last spring.  This time, with warm weather just beginning and memories of last week’s spring break fresh in the student’s minds, we got a very positive response.  About 50 schedules were distributed.  Details on the Free Bus to the Beach for C of C Students are online here.  OUr efforts were rewarded with a tweet send to hundreds of students the following day about the service, with more promotional efforts sure to come as the weather warms.

Preparations for Medical Complex Transit Canvas

In the evening, we got an update on preparations for transit canvass of the East Cooper Medical Complex being planned by the Moultrie Middle School Beta Club on March 30.  The Hospital has assigned staff to guide the students so that the canvas can reach the nursing and public information counters throughout the hospital.  More route schedules for the #401 were ordered from the printer by CARTA.  The students are studying the system, learning how to use Google maps to plan trips and working on outreach to the fellow students at the school as well.

Thanks to efforts like these, we’re making progress based on community engagement, not preparing for a public hearing where most of our routes are being reexamined for possible changes or cancellation as West of the Ashley and James Island were the following day.

See a quick video overview of the East Cooper Transit System at right from Youtube at right.

A year ago, as we prepared to launch these new routes, the common assumption was that people East of the Cooper wouldn’t ride CARTA.  We now know that isn’t true and that face to face outreach and educational efforts work here.  While the automobile will certainly continue to be a major part of our transportation system, the community is clearly moving towards a diversified hybrid system where transit, pedestrian travel along improved sidewalks and cycling along the new bike lanes and paths is becoming a significant part of how people East of the Cooper Move.

Middle Schools in Mount Pleasant, SC can compete in January 2012 to see which can put the most riders on the 401 East Cooper Connector CARTA Bus in a promotion called Bus Bowl being presented by East Cooper CARTA Riders (www.eastccrider.com).

Starting On January 7^th and ending February 2^nd , Students and supporters of each Middle School choosing to participate will be able to tell the bus driver which school they’re riding for.  The #401 East Cooper Connector Route stops near five East Cooper public and private Middle Schools Moultrie, the University School of the Lowcountry, Laing, Palmetto Christian Academy and Blessed Sacrament.

Scores and Rankings will be posted here as they become available.

Rides taken in the first week of the competition (January 7 – 14) will receive double points.  There will be an announcement of the weekly winner each Tuesday and a trophy will be awarded to the winning Middle School in February.  Outreach programs to help build Middle School CARTA ridership are planned throughout the month.

Schools can also book group field trips and after school outings for their students on the #401 and other routes on the CARTA system for discounted group rate by calling (843) 724-7420.  The University School of the Lowcountry has been using the #401 for this purpose with great success and even created a YouTube video of one of their trips.

A promotional flyer for the Bus Bowl competition can be downloaded in PDF format

Updates on the competition will be posted on this website as well at the Route’s #CARTA401 Twitter Feed and East Cooper CARTA Rider’s Facebook Page.

The CARTA #401 East Cooper Connector is a wonderful resource for Middle School aged students in the East Cooper Area.  It serves both movie theaters, seven shopping centers, the Coleman Blvd. business district and Old Village, Waterfront Park, and the new Shem Creek park.  It serves over 500 business locations and five major community recreation facilities.  The #401 connects with CARTA services running to the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island, downtown Charleston and Tri County Link services to Awendaw, McClellenville and Moncks Corner.

Started April 17, 2011, the #401 carried 1301 riders in November.  The new East Cooper route system has attracted over 3000 more riders per month in the past year.  It’s a safe transportation resource for young people and students.  The #401 is perfect for younger riders, running on a circular route once an hour with over 25 stops along the route.  Combined with the new #40 Trans Mount Pleasant  service now running to Wando High School, where a bus stop shelter will soon be constructed, East Cooper students now have safe, reliable public transit access to their entire community.

Efforts to raise community awareness of the #401 will continue in February with a Black History on the #401 Bus event highlighting the historical locations found along the route.

For more information contact William Hamilton through www.eastccrider.com, at wjhamilton29464@gmail.com or by calling (843) 870-5299.

Mount Pleasant, SC- East Cooper Residents will join their neighbors for a convenient, CARTA Transit enabled trip downtown on Sunday, October 9th. to enjoy the Second Sunday on King Street Festival, which will include a photo op and online elements for folks making the trip.

Download printable flyer on October Transit improvement events E. of the Cooper

The event will be tweeted with hashcode #CARTA40 online.  There will be a brief get together and photo op at 3:15 pm at King & Wentworth Streets.  King Street will be closed and full of activity, outdoor dining, street entertainers and special sales all afternoon.  Updated information on the planned activities and entertianment can be found at Susan’s Second Sunday on King Blog.

Riders can access the King Street Event (which stresses the downtown traffic and parking system) by using the CARTA #40 bus. Bus fare is $1.75 each way, cheaper with a prepaid pass and free for College of Charleston Students using their ID as a bus pass.

Sunday runs into the City by the #40 include 11:35 and 1:35 starting at Wando HS, with parking available stops at Oakland Market Super Walmart, BI-LO Town Center (on Hungryneck), BI-LO Shelmore & Harris Teeter Houston Northcutt.  The #40 runs every two hours on Sundays.  See the Full Official Schedule for the #40.

People enjoying a car free King Street on Sunday afternoon.

Inbound stops to board the #40 for the trip into the City can be found on this Piccassa Photo Map with stop times in the captions which can be accessed by clicking on the image.

Parking in Mount Pleasant and taking the bus downtown avoids the cost and hassle of Parking Garages and Meters and allows everyone to enjoy the spectacular trip over the bridge.  The #40 stops at the visitors center, where a two block walk or Free DASH bus ride will take participants to King St.

For more information see www.eastccrider.com or call W. J. Hamilton (843) 870-5299.  Official CARTA Bus Information can be obtained by calling (843) 747-0922.

We’re Going Somewhere Together™
East Cooper CARTA Riders

Press Advisory
Friday, April 15, 2011

For immediate Release:

On Sunday, a new Transit Rider’s Advocacy Group just formed East of the Cooper will begin to drive CARTA and our other public transportation agencies operating in Mt. Pleasant, The Isle of Palms, Daniel Island and Sullivan’s Island from a culture of giving bus rides to the unlucky to a community committed to efficient, reliable mobility for everyone. The East Cooper CARTA Riders, Inc. will begin work to transform the bus route system East of the Cooper from an afterthought to the leading component of the CARTA system.

Read the rest of this entry »

Insert picture with lighthouse on this one

Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 10:00am
Isle of Palms Beach, Sullivans Island & Mt. Pleasant Town..