CARTA will replace aging vehicles and grow its Care-A-Van fleet, giving riders with disabilities more reliable access to the paratransit service they depend on, officials said.

The agency secured funding through the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Section 5310 program to add 10 new vehicles, with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the city of Chattanooga providing a 20 percent local match, bringing the total investment to $1,010,000. 

Officials said, "Care-A-Van is stretched to the limit. Ridership has grown sharply in the past two years after new management implemented technology to improve service, and much of the current fleet has aged well past the point of reliable service. CARTA will retire five of its oldest vehicles and keep five in service, then add all 10 new vehicles to the fleet with a net gain of five vehicles dedicated to closing the gap between the demand riders are placing on the service and the capacity CARTA can currently provide."

"Demand for Care-A-Van has skyrocketed, and our riders have told us loud and clear that they need us to keep up," said CARTA CEO Charles D. Frazier. "These new vehicles let us retire the oldest ones in our fleet and still grow our capacity, so we can serve more people with disabilities in our community. I'm proud of our team for finding a way to deliver both a newer fleet and more of it. This is a mighty win for our riders and our community." 

The newer vehicles will also give riders a safer, more comfortable, and more dependable trip every time they book one, it was stated.

CARTA expects the new vehicles "to help the agency keep pace with demand while giving Care-A-Van riders the safe, reliable, and comfortable transportation they count on."