CARTA Ending Two East Cooper Routes

Citing low usage, CARTA plans to scuttle Route 401 in Mount Pleasant later this month, but it will add a new route connecting downtown Charleston to Patriots Point, some hotels and stops along Coleman Blvd.

The bus line also will cease service to Isle of Palms and Sullivan's on its little-used Route 402, according to plans presented to the Mount Pleasant Town Council this week. It plans to replace that service with its Tell-a-Ride service for patients with medical needs.

CARTA will add one bus to its Route 40 in Mount Pleasant, which should reduce wait times to 40 minutes.

"It's always painful to take away service," said Jeff Burns, CARTA's route planner. "We looked at the usage. (CARTA) strives for about 30 percent cost return, and these routes were way down in the single digits."

The islands route, Burns said, only 15 users were regularly using the route. CARTA was only recovering 3 percent of its costs on that route.

The new Mount Pleasant route, however, could be popular with tourists. CARTA hopes Mount Pleasant hotel operators will promote the route as an easy way to travel between downtown Charleston and spots east of the Cooper River.

The new Route 41 will shuttle passengers from the Charleston Visitor's Center to Patriots Point, down Harry Hallman Blvd. to the Mount Pleasant Visitor's Center, to hotels at the base of the Ravenel Bridge and then it will move along Coleman Blvd. to Rifle Range Road.

CARTA is studying whether to add a seasonal bus route from downtown to the beaches, which could reduce congestion and parking issues. It's also looking into a route that could link North Charleston, Daniel Island and Mount Pleasant.