The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) hosted open houses starting December 1, 2025, to gather community input on short- and long-term service enhancements, including more routes and frequent pickups amid post-pandemic traffic shifts. The ongoing $625 million Lowcountry Rapid Transit (LCRT) project, a 21.3-mile bus rapid transit system from Ladson to downtown Charleston’s Medical District parallel to I-26, features dedicated lanes for electric buses carrying up to 90 passengers, 20 stations, and service every 10 minutes for a 70-minute end-to-end trip. Construction is slated for 2027 with operations by 2029, funded by local sales tax and federal grants, aiming to boost safety on high-crash Rivers Avenue with new sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike facilities.​
Remaining Open Houses and Feedback
Today’s Downtown Open House occurred on December 3 at Charleston Main Library (68 Calhoun Street), followed by North Charleston on December 4 at St. Matthew Baptist Church (2005 Reynolds Avenue). Residents can submit feedback via ridecarta.com/now-next survey through December or at CARTA bus stops and park-and-rides in West Ashley, downtown, North Charleston, and Mount Pleasant during early December. CARTA’s five-year plan integrates these changes with LCRT construction and post-launch operations.​
Project Benefits
LCRT addresses regional growth with 50% projected household and 30% job increases along the corridor, connecting to hospitals, colleges, jobs, and amenities without expanding roads. It includes 11.7 miles of dedicated guideway, traffic signal priority, and park-and-rides, enhancing pedestrian safety where crosswalks are currently sparse. This supports the user’s interest in Lowcountry community improvements and public services [user-information].
