Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority

The meeting began with acknowledgments of quorum and observance of a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance. Public comments included a representative from ATU International discussing the recent contract ratification (81%) and expressing understanding of the organization's financial constraints while emphasizing employee commitment. Board discussions acknowledged the union's position and the organization's financial dependency on stakeholders like the city and county. The board recognized two employees, Dwan Bush and Kelvin Dial, as January Ambassadors for their quick and professional response to an employee vehicle accident on December 23rd. A surprise announcement highlighted Carta receiving the 2026 APA Ad Wheel Awards first place for its Carta maps and school Read and Ride program, which saw significant student ridership increase. Staff updates focused on the long-term 'Plan Chattanooga' transit vision, which includes objectives for universal access, seamless integration (including microtransit zones and countywide 'Caravan' availability), and future-proofing development alignment. Operational updates detailed the ongoing Transit Improvement Plan, focusing on 'Phase Zero' tasks like data cleanup and schedule optimization, which were noted as overdue items needing immediate attention.

The meeting began with acknowledgments and a moment of silence, followed by the presentation of the Ambassador Award to bus operator Terell Barnes for her compassionate service to the community, including assisting a formerly incarcerated individual and providing food to unsheltered persons. Key updates included the Chief Executive Officer's participation in the Hamilton County Schools leadership program, leading to potential transportation partnerships; the launch of two new bus wraps in collaboration with the City of Chattanooga to promote public service careers and the city's new brand identity; and progress on infrastructure improvements at the Incline Railway upper and lower stations, including building an ADA restroom and refurbishing the covered area, scheduled for November. Discussions also covered revisiting a development concept for the lower station land involving enhanced parking, retail space, and affordable housing units. Furthermore, informational scripts were updated for the Incline Railway, and board members were invited to record greetings. The successful partnership with the UTC Honors program was highlighted, noting positive shifts in student perceptions of Carta after a transit tour. The Midtown Connect nonprofit event participation, including a 'Read and Ride Trick or Trial' initiative offering free rides for students, was reviewed, setting the stage for a potential permanent fare change proposal. Early discussions regarding a potential partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to host mobile libraries on buses were mentioned. Finally, updates on contract negotiations with the Amalgamated Transit Union indicated regular meetings and productive discussions, although an agreement was not yet finalized. Action items included the approval of minutes, consent agenda items, and the presentation and recommendation for approval of the annual Financial Audit for the year ending June 30th, which supports fiscal accountability and transparency mandates.

The Board Meeting Agenda included several key operational and financial discussions. Information items covered an update on the Transit Improvement Plan (TIP) and a proposal to temporarily activate the Shuttle Park North Garage rooftop via the 'Picnic Project' at no direct cost to the agency. Action items involved the approval of the December 2025 Financial Report, which showed an overall operating loss year-to-date, and the approval of the FY2027 Operating Budget Framework with preliminary assumptions regarding service efficiencies and reserve funding. Furthermore, the Board was asked to authorize negotiating an emergency contract with The Reinert Group LLC for the interim management of Incline Railway ticket sales and concession operations following the non-renewal by the previous vendor. Other action items included approving the Statistical Report for December 2025, authorizing a contract amendment with Vision Hospitality for additional Embassy Suites parking spaces, approving various new procurements over $50,000, and authorizing the submission of the FY2027 budget request to Hamilton County for operating support and capital match.

The board meeting agenda included discussions on welcoming and ratifying the appointment of the Chief Financial Officer and reviewing the Board Member Attendance Policy amendment. Key staff reports featured the CEO Report, which highlighted milestones in the Read and Ride program and positive year-over-year parking utilization increases at Shuttle Parks North and South due to the first hour free program. Ridership trends were also presented, noting record-high Care-A-Van trips and significant growth in Fixed Route ridership. Action items included the approval of the Procurement Report, which detailed new contracts for recruiting services and DOT physical examinations, as well as reports on Sole Source Procurements, including specialized work for the Incline Car Window and Electric Shuttle Vehicles. A significant discussion involved the approval of Phase 1 of the Incline Master Development Plan to evaluate expanding the Incline Railway into a larger tourism asset. Financial reports were presented, showing transit revenues exceeding budget and favorable expense variances across several operations.

The meeting included recognizing a driver, David Toridge, for the August Ambassador Award due to exemplary community engagement during a Dolly Bus event. The Board approved the minutes from the previous month. Staff reports covered extensive marketing and communications efforts, including high engagement on social media related to flood assistance, ongoing utilization of the Dolly Bus at community events, and the launch of free transportation via Cardigo services for Hamilton County Recovery Court participants. Updates were also provided on transit operations, including the release of a new transit guide and successful in-house management of bus advertising. Furthermore, efforts to boost ridership for the St. Elmo shuttle route using flyers and updates on the City sticker parking pilot program were detailed. A new Mox Express Saturday route serving students was launched in collaboration with UTC. Finally, the successful reopening of the Incline Railway following a fire, preceded by a media day, was reported, alongside excellent ridership numbers since resumption. The Board also discussed plans for celebrating the 130th anniversary of the Incline Railway in November.