CARTA Wants You To “Park Once”
Chattamatters NOW!
The city of Chattanooga has an innovative transportation initiative aimed at reducing traffic congestion downtown and William Newlin of Chattamatters told us all about it…
The “Park Once” program, developed by CARTA (Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority), encourages visitors and residents alike to park their cars at designated garages and explore the city using FREE electric shuttles.
How the Program Works:
Participants can simply park their vehicles at one of CARTA’s participating Shuttle Park garages and then hop aboard a zero-fare electric shuttle to visit popular attractions such as the Tennessee Aquarium, the Chattanooga Choo Choo, St. Elmo, the Southside, and the North Shore. The shuttles operate frequently, approximately every 5 to 10 minutes on weekdays, making it easy to hop between destinations without the hassle of parking multiple times.
Incentives to Encourage Use:
The first hour of parking at two of the garages is now FREE, encouraging visitors to park once and spend the day exploring. Additionally, for weekend visitors, a $25 Weekend Parking Pass grants unlimited access to both CARTA garages and metered street parking from Friday evening through Monday morning.
Key Parking Locations:
Shuttle Park North: Located at 211 Broad Street, near the Tennessee Aquarium.
Shuttle Park South: Located at 1362 Market Street, adjacent to the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Shuttle Routes and Service Hours:
The downtown shuttle route connects Shuttle Park North and Shuttle Park South, traversing the heart of Chattanooga’s attractions. It operates daily, with shuttles arriving every 5 to 10 minutes on weekdays. The North Shore shuttle provides a weekday service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and runs on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., linking the North Shore district to downtown.
City’s Goal:
By implementing the “Park Once” strategy, Chattanooga aims to streamline visitor experiences and reduce street congestion through the use of electric shuttle technology. City officials hope this initiative will serve as a model for sustainable urban mobility in the region.
Find out more at CHATTAMATTERS.COM, follow Chattamatters on Facebook and Instagram, and to listen to previous Chattamatters NOW segments click HERE.
SOURCES: CARTA & Chattamatters
