The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) officially launched CARTA OnDemand Feb. 1, a first-in-the-region partnership with transportation companies Uber and UZURV.
The pilot program offers door-to-door service for seniors age 55 and up for up to 20 trips per month to and from the Medical District on the peninsula and an additional 10 trip per month to or from the WestEdge Publix.
All CARTA Tel-A-Ride customers are eligible for unlimited use of the service on the peninsula.
βThe focus of CARTA OnDemand is on one thing: putting our riders first,β said CARTA Board of Directors Chairman Mike Seekings. βThe enhanced level of service offered through this partnership with Uber and UZURV will make traveling easier for the most vulnerable transit users.
“Direct, on-demand access to necessities such as doctor appointments, the pharmacy and grocery store is an unprecedented step forward for public transit in our region, and it is something we hope to replicate in the future,” Seekings said.
Registration is now open online or in person at the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments . Current Tel-A-Ride customers are pre-qualified for the program.
The service operates 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Trips with UZURV and Uber cost $4 each way, and rides can be scheduled as far as 30 days in advance or with as little as 1-hour notice.
Users can book rides through the Uber app or by calling the CARTA OnDemand call center at (843) 592-3505. Masks are required while using the service.
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