Carta seeks $1 million in county funding for operations and capital matches; proposes school, on-demand pilots

Charles Frazier, chief executive officer of Carta, told the Hamilton County Commission his agency seeks roughly $500,000 for operations and another $500,000 as local capital matches, and outlined several pilot programs aimed at reducing duplication and increasing access.

Frazier said fixed-route ridership is up more than 5% and shuttle ridership downtown rose about 18% year over year; he said 41% of Carta trips connect riders with job opportunities. To save money for local partners, he said he has worked with school-district and county staff and identified a roughly $200,000 annual savings opportunity by reducing duplicated transportation services.

On specific budget items, Frazier outlined a $150,000 pilot to transport students to an alternative-site school and job locations, a summer learning pilot to move up to 200 students for eight weeks, and caravan enhancements for riders with disabilities in unincorporated areas. He also asked the county to subsidize regional routes serving Red Bank and East Ridge and to cover a $3 subsidy per trip for the city of Chattanooga’s primary disabilities program to avoid fare increases.

For capital, Carta requested $230,000 as a local match for paratransit vehicle replacement (a seven-year life) and $390,000 to match grants for replacement of 14 fixed-route buses (a 12-year life). Frazier described the total ask as “roughly $1,000,000” and asked to follow up with commissioners for more details.

A commissioner asked for comparisons to other counties; Frazier offered to provide a county-by-county comparison in Tennessee. No formal county action was taken during the presentation.