Staff outline path to form CARTA regional transit authority; city, county urged to act together

Staff representatives presented the findings of a transit governance study and steps to form the Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transit Authority (CARTA). Ben Chambers (S17) and other staff summarized the law enabling an RTA, explained that current legislation provides the vehicle to create CARTA without new state law, and said the initial membership would include the city and county with options for surrounding counties to join as voting members.

Chambers said the authority's roles would include regional planning, recommending priorities, administering dedicated funding if and when available, and seeking federal and state grants. He told the meeting the next steps are adoption of bylaws, setting up committees (finance, technical), pursuing demonstration projects to prove regional collaboration, and starting legislative outreach on funding mechanisms. "The existing legislation that we have gives us a vehicle to be able to address those things," he said. Several elected officials urged early, coordinated outreach to the General Assembly and noted the value of bringing surrounding counties into a lobbying coalition.