More Stops on the Free Trolley Service

CARTA unveils shuttle expansion

Staff Report
Published Jan. 13, 2010

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority this week rolled out an expansion of its popular free trolley service.

The King Street route of the Downtown Area Shuttle now extends to Spring Street and includes three new stops at the King Street’s intersections with King Morris, Ann and John streets.

Requests by business owners north of John Street, where the route originally looped, led to the extension, the authority said.

The service has been well-received since its November launch. CARTA numbers show that ridership from early December to early January was more than 12,000 riders year over year.

City officials who originally pitched the program said the idea was to get more tourists, locals and cruise ship passengers riding DASH; to make getting to peninsula shops, sites and restaurants easier; and to reduce traffic on the streets.

Funding for the three-rout program is provided by the city of Charleston, S.C. State Ports Authority and Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The three agencies will pay a combined $360,000 this year.