How do I ride the bus?

May 13

Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) runs 17 routes, and serves about 3 million riders a year. Ready to join these ranks?

By Kate Belz, Contributor

Prepare your fare

There are two ways to pay your fare: with exact change on the bus, or with a pre-purchased unlimited ride pass.

The cost:

$1.50: Standard one-way cash fare
$0.75: One-way fare for seniors, students and persons with disabilities
Free: Children ages 5 & under—with a paying passenger
Care-a-van: $2.50 one way, $5 round trip.

Buy an unlimited ride pass: 24-hour, 7-day, and 31-day passes are available. Here’s more info about how much they cost and where to purchase them.

Map Your Route, using one of the following tools:

CARTA’S trip planner - An online tool that works with Google Transit to help you plan your trip using date, time, and starting/ending points.
Route map and schedule - View online, request a paper copy be mailed, or pick one up at service agencies, libraries, malls, banks and on the buses.
Call the CARTA Information Line at (423) 629-1473, and ask for help planning your route.
The CARTA Care-a-van provides transportation for the temporarily or permanently disabled. You can read more about that program here.

How to catch the bus

CARTA bus stops are identified by red, white and blue signs like the one above.
Get to your stop early, and wait directly at the stop. Drivers have to stick to strict schedules and they don’t linger!
Track your bus using CARTA’s bus tracker tool and text updates

Riding and getting off

Pay your fare: You can either slide cash fare (remember to pay exact change!) into the fare box, or tap the fare box with your unlimited ride pass.
Pay attention to the stops as you go; you want to be prepared for when you get off. Staying alert will also help you get to know new sections of the city.
When you get close to your destination, pull the yellow cord or press the yellow tape above your head or between the windows.
Remember: Drivers can only stop at the designated bus stops.

If you need more training

CARTA’s Travel Trainer program works with people with disabilities to help them navigate the bus system. For only the cost of a bus fare, they’ll take bus trips with you until you feel comfortable riding independently.

Other modes of public transit

CARTA’S fleet of electric shuttles downtown provide free rides between from the Chattanooga Choo Choo to the Tennessee Aquarium, with stops at every block in between. Shuttle buses run about every 15 minutes, Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.; and shorter hours on the weekend.
CARTA also operates the Incline Railway on Lookout Mountain— the steepest passenger railway in the world.

Join the conversation with CARTA

CARTA board members are appointed by the Mayors of Chattanooga and Hamilton County.
Board meetings are open to the public. They are held the third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. in the CARTA Board Room located at 1617-B Wilcox Boulevard.
Read more about participating in CARTA board meetings here.

Did you know?

CARTA’s electric shuttle fleet is one of the largest in the country, and the organization has been involved in numerous high-tech research projects aimed at revolutionizing energy efficiency in transit.
CARTA is funded by: City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County governments; state and federal funds; bus fares; revenue from the Incline Railway; and revenue from the parking operations.

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