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CARTA seeks county support for parking pilot, transit subsidies and rural service pilots
Summary
CARTA CEO Charles Frasier presented six requests including a $115,000 annual subsidy to fund a second free parking hour in two garages, continuation/expansion of transit pilots for drug court and disability services, a $50,000 childcare-transport ask, and $90,000 local match to apply for DOT grants for rural mobility.
Charles Frasier, CEO of CARTA (doing business as the Chattanooga Parking Authority), presented a multi-part budget request to the committee covering parking, targeted transit pilots and new mobility initiatives.
On parking, Frasier described a prior first‑hour‑free pilot that increased use and revenue in two garages and proposed the county underwrite the lost revenue for a second free hour at a total annual cost of $115,000 ($80,000 for Shuttle Park North, $35,000 for Shuttle Park South). "We made the first hour free... total revenue increased for CARTA by 46% for that garage," Frasier said, arguing a second free hour could remove obstacles to downtown visits.
Frasier also sought continued funding for several transit pilots: $100,000 to continue additional driver and fuel costs for a drug‑court transportation program; $111,800 to subsidize Caravan service trips for persons with disabilities in Redbank and East Ridge; and $50,000 to support a private childcare–to‑school shuttle where CARTA brings federal grant funding of $40,000 and the provider meets a local match. He described a rural County Connect pilot that would require a $90,000 local match to apply for a DOT “critical trips” grant (the grant would cover vehicles and operating costs if awarded). Frasier said the grant application would only move forward if the local match were committed; if the grant is not awarded, no local funds would be spent.
Commissioners pressed CARTA on program details, coordination with city partners and line‑item clarity. CARTA promised follow-up documentation and clarified several program budgets would be contingent on grant awards or private revenues; no formal county action occurred at the hearing.
