Some worried that federal cuts could impact CARTA, others confident funding continues

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A local organization said they are concerned about potential public transportation cuts in Washington, and how it could impact transportation programs in the Charleston area.

Specifically, William Hamilton, executive director of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, said he is worried that CARTA could lose funding as the federal government cuts grants.

“Our outreach crew today will be working to reach people in Charleston’s hospitality, food and beverage industries about the absolute importance of protecting public transit and affordable housing in the city,” he said.

Hamilton and his organization walked around the downtown area talking to businesses about their concerns that federal funds could be cut, possibly as early as Tuesday.

“In Washington, they’re going to attempt to pass a continuing resolution, which will effectively be the federal budget for the next several months. We have not been able to determine exactly what is in it, but we suspect that there are cuts. We do not know the depth of them, and we haven’t been able to get that much information. Nancy Mace did respond to us, but we don’t know what the numbers mean because we don’t have context for them,” he said.

Mike Seekings, chairman of the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority, or CARTA, said he’s confident CARTA will be funded.

“Right now, at a time where some changes is happening at levels above us, we keep a very close eye on it. But for now, and today, and in the near future, we feel very confident that CARTA will be funded,” he said.

Seekings said he spoke with CARTA staff about these concerns.

“In advance of talking to you today, I checked in with our team at about noon- and as of noon today we know of nothing coming down the pike up in Washington, DC that will affect us negatively. There is by the way a lot going on up there that will affect us positively. So, we keep an eye on that, too, with Lowcountry rapid transit on the horizon.”

Hamilton says he is concerned that if there is a cut to CARTA, that cut will impact the people who can least afford it.

“Charleston has struggled with an economy that does not work for its working people for its entire history. Now we have people who cannot pay their rent because we don’t pay them enough to live here anymore. They don’t make enough to keep a car and park a car downtown. They don’t make enough to have an apartment, much less buy a house,” said Hamilton.

Chairman Seekings said the Lowcountry Rapid Transit money is being funded 50% locally and 50% by the federal government.

He said they do now have the local money ready for that, and he believes federal grant money will be available fairly soon, as soon as a few months from now, once the design phase of that project is complete, adding that he feels Lowcountry Rapid Transit may become a reality sooner than later.